Nelson

Yesterday, we left Killarney Beach and made a few stops on our way to Portland.  First stop was The Crags. Second stop Port Fairy, where we stumbled on a marked, so stocked up the caravan with fresh fruit and vegies.  Third stop was Portland strawberries farm where we did some wine tasting and we bought a couple of bottles of strawberry wine, which were made using only strawberries instead of grapes.  We also got a 1kg punnet of strawberries for $8.





As we headed away from the coast, the change in landscape was marked by flat dry land.








We heard that Port Fairy was renound for its lobsters, but when we were there they said the fisherman were no longer allowed to sell from the boats, and we had to go to a retailer.  They recommended Portland and PortMacDonnall, so why we were in Protland, we went to the seafood shop at the wharf, and he had just finished cooking some 1kg lobsters, and they were being iced down.  We picked up one of those bad boys, and some squid and scallots, for a reasonable, but not boast worthy price..

We left Portland for Cape Bridgewater which was beutiful.  The weather was pouring one minute, then sunny the next, so we spent the day dodging showers.  We took a walk to the seal colony, which boasts 600 seals, but when we got there we saw 5 lounging around in the waves at the beach, and another handfull at the colony location.  Dont know where the other 590 were?  We did see an echidna on the way back and got close enough to touch it (if we wanted).






Walking trail to Seal Colony

Cape Bridgewater beach

 

 



Petrified Forrest

Although you can walk around the coast to the blow holes and petrified forrest, we decided to backtrack and drive the car to avoid a 5km return walk.  The petrified forrest was pretty good, but the southern ocean and cliffs took the prize.  The massive seas were unbelievable, and although the tide wasn't right for the blow holes to be working properly, the sea smashing against the rocks was mismerising.



Huge seas and landscape

Freshwater Springs

We continued walking around the coast to the Freshwater Springs, where they used to water cattle, right on the ocean rocks.  The fresh ground water seeps through the limestone cliff and fills rock pools. Even during these heavy seas, the salt water was not splashing into these pools..

 

 

We decided to push on to Nelson, even though it was getting late.  We found the GPS loved to use dirt roads when there was no need to.  One choice was so bad we turned around and headed back for tar.  (Lidias job now is to screen the GPS road choice)  We saw plenty of  kangaroos on the way to Nelson, which made me a litle nervous driving but we made is without incident.

 

We leveled and set the van, only to find the fridge would not start on gas.  It had not been freezing properly since we left, so we were using the freezer as a fridge.  With a minor adjustment it was working prefectly.  With all that sorted it was time for a strawberry wine and lobster dinner..

 

TODAY,  we decided we would stay in Nelson another day, just to take a break from travelling.  We had an easy breakfast, and tok a 10km return Gorge walk along the Gleneig river, which is a small section of the Great South West Walk.

 

The walk was very scenic, and there were wallabies everywhere.  Didn't notice kangaroos, but the black boy's (grass tree) were everywhere - almost plague populations.  I have never seen so many of these.

 

 

We drove a loop thought Lower Glenelg National Park, I threw in a line for half an hour without even a touch.  It was approaching beer o'clock, so we headed back, and being St Pats Day, polished off a few Guinness's.

Killarney Beach

Before we left Blanket Bay, I want for a walk along the beach.  It was low tide, and there were some amazing rocks exposed for viewing.  All types of shapes and testures, but this one is my favorite...

 

As we were driving out, Lidia spotted some Koalas in the trees.  We had just passed through a forrest of dead trees, which were apparently the Koalas favorite. They have a disease which is spreading, and they dont know how to cure it.  This means the Koalas are being concentrated into areas where the trees are still alive. The point to this story is, I nailed the koala photo, and Lidia was very happy.

 

 

Driving on the best (?) and final section of the Great Ocean Drive, we were amased once again by the costal rock formations.  The waves were so strong and were pounding the coastline.  Its hard to show with photos the strength of it all.  We spent the rest of the day, basically stopping at every tourist trap, doing the walks and taking the photos. Amazing

 

 

 

London Bridge

We had spent a bit more time doing this than we expected, and Lidia made me drive another hour and a half, well past beer o'clock (which I have decided now is 4pm). Even worse, we didnt stop for meat and fuel, becasue I thought we would do it once we dropped off the van. But, there was nothing close, so we had to live from our reserves.

Lidia wanted to cook a vegetarian dinner!!!!  I could not believe this.  Luckily I had a can of ham tucked away for such emergencies.

Blanket Bay

It seems that 9:30 is around the magic time for us to set off in the morning..  It doesnt seem to matter if we sleep in or not, but by the time we pack the car and head off, the time is around 9:30.

Today, on possible the worst day, with all the twists and bends, Lidia forgot to latch the fridge.  When we stopped for morning tea, we found the contents of the fridge freely roaming the caravan floor.  No beer was spilled, so there was no harm done.

Out of interest, here are the muppet mistakes we have made so far:
1. Safety chains not attached x1
2. Roof not latched down x1
3. Roof not put down x1
4. Cupbord doors not latched

So, driving again on the great ocean road, we stopped at Kennett River to see some Koalas. There were loads there, but the only problem was that they were sleeping.  We saw probably 10 over the 500m walk, which is the highest number of wild ones we have seen, not in captivity.

We stopped at Appollo bay to buy some new double pluggers, and some souvenirs then continued on to a rainforest walk at Maits rest.  They had some Mountian Ash trees there 100m tall, although only some of them were still alive and could probably claim the full 100. Beutiful area and walk though.

After the walk we drove into the Great Otway Natonal Park, and to a camping ground there at Blanket Bay.  The road conditions were pretty ordinarry, and the corrigates were massive which gave us all a good shake down.  Made it thought, and have a beach front camp,

 

 

 

After camp was set, we walked a short section of the "Great Ocean Walk" where Lidia had a close call with a brown snake.  Not suprisingly after than we kept ouerself to the camp side and just relaxed.

 

 

 

 

Benwerrin

We left Portarlington and headed to the Great Ocean Road. We had a stop in Queenscliff because we really wanted to see the signature black lighthouse, one of just three in the world. We walked around the fort and I (Graham) suggested we go along the beach side of the fort. It was a high-ish tide, and all of the sand was under water, and the small waves were crashing against the rock wall.  Because the waves were tiny (bay style) we decided to push on. Now, pay attention here because this is the good stuff.  Lidia didnt know how to receive a "boost", as in "give me a boost over that fence". So with cupped hands I gently boosted her up a rock wall to the top, but she grabbed a rock that wasnt securely attached, and it fell down and crushed her fingers.

 



 

She claims that she was saving me, because the boulder was heading for my head, but secretly I think she just enjoyed learning the joys of a good boost. She was dripping blood everywhere so we decided to go back before the sharks came around looking for some action.

We went to a local health care centre in Queenscliff, and they patched her up. Said they dont think her fingers were broken, and gave me a needle tip, so that it the blood started to pressure under her finger nail I could drill it to release it - Im presently standing by, waiting for the chance. Anyway, it could have been worse - it might have been my hand .. Barr ha ha ha...

With that done, we set off on the Great Ocean road. It is such a great drive, and even enjoyable with the caravan on. We stopped at Bells beach for a look and at Point Addis for late lunch.

 

 

We were heading for Blanket Bay camping area, but the day was running out, so we stopped at a free camp just south of Benwerrin. As we arrived, some muppet was attempting to back his van in to a park. We waited and waited as he went backwards/forwards over and over. After he was finished, I absolutely nailed the reverse park on the first attempt, with a minor correction.

With camp set, we jumped in the car and went to Erskine Falls.  Its like a scene out of Jurassic Park

 



















We steamed up some Blue Muscles that we bought in Queenscliff for our entree, then atlantic salmon for main. The people camped next to us were eating instant noodles..... BARRR HA HA HA...

Portarlington

We decide today to pass Melbourne as we've been there and it was a really HOT, HOT day.

We had lunch at the Werribee Park Mansion and Garden.

 

 

 

After lunch we went for a walk around the Victoria State Rose Garden which has almost 5000 roses

 

 

Crowing the estate is the famous Werribee Mansion which was built in 1867.
 

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We decided to stay at the Portarlington Holiday Park. This beachfront park is enormous with more than 1200 powered sites, one of the country's larger park and so far most boring place we've been. But we are happy for the air-condition tody and we are hoping to have better luck tomorrow travelling on the Great Ocean Road

Walhalla

Today it was another stinky hot day but this didn't stop us to go and see the swing bridge in Sale and take a boardwalk.

 

 

 

During the boardwalk Lidia spotted a little, cute, furry animal, which we think is a baby possum (?).

 

 

After than we headed to historic Walhalla. What a lovely little town. We were lucky to get last free place at the camping place and went to explore the once one of Australia's richest town and home to over 4000 gold seekers.

 

 

 

 

 This sleepy mountainside town is now frozen in time and home to only a handful of residents. We missed the ride on the Walhalla Goldfield Railway on the first day, so decided to stay another to take in some atmophere - walking through the town and visiting the Old Post Office, Fire Station, etc....

 

The next day we went for a 8km walk to Thomson Station via the Australian's Alps Walking Track. Luckily we didn't get lost or we could end up in Canberra (only 680 km from Walhalla)

 

The trip from the Thomson Station to Walhalla took about 20 min which winds through the picturesque Stingers Creek Gorge. On our way from the station to the camping side we had a lunch at the Walhalla Pub and Graham was really happy with his Wally Burger.

 

 

 

The rest of the day we just relaxed by the stream and made some "new caravanning friends". 

 

 Love this place!!!!

 

Paradise Beach

As we have been at Lakes Entrance before we decided to drive a little bit more today. The day was long and boring.  We managed to do some fun stuff like a 45 min walk through Mt Drummer rainforest;

 

 some beer tasting at the Bullant brewer at Bruthen (Graham's beer is much nicer)

 

 

 

 and finding a spot at the Paradise Beach (part of the Ninety Mile Beach).

 

 

 This is our first free stop and we can't believe how packed it is. It is due to the public holiday in Victoria as well as heat wave. We were supposed to go and stay at Walhalla (we are going to go there tomorrow) but it was almost 40 today so we decided to go back to the seashore....much cooler.