Having visitors from overseas is fantastic, as you get to play tourist with them and see things through their eyes and if you're feeling a bit jaded about life and wishing you were off jaunting overseas like everyone else you know then remember to play tourist in your own hometown/state/neighbourhood.
For people who live in places like Europe where you can drive for a couple of hours and be in another country, they don't always understand the concept of driving for an hour to get coffee (if you really like that cafe) or to go to dinner, to go to a sporting event with the kids or to go to a concert, so to do a road trip of nearly 600kms in a day and not think anything of it is not really that unusual for us in Australia (not that I am saying we do it everyday but if we're feeling adventurous that's exactly what we do.)
Anyway...an early start was needed as the starting point on the Great Ocean Road was a 3 1/2 hour car trip away....(we decided to go inland on the way there and the scenic route the way home!!) although after driving through the towns of Winchelsea and Colac I think that the 'non-scenic' route is quite pretty and demands a better look next time around.
First stop was Gibson Steps
which as you can guess are steps going to down to the beach....it's a pretty lookout and like many places on the Great Ocean Road has some amazing rock formations and cliffs.
From here the next stop was 10 minutes up the road to the part of Port Campbell National Park that is home to the Thunder Cave, so called because of the sound that the waves make as they 'thunder' through the caves (unfortunately like many areas along the Great Ocean Road, erosion has caused some of the limestone formations to collapse-and the entrance to the cave is one of many victims...as the arch above it collapsed),
Broken Head with it's sweeping views, Loch Ard Gorge, Island Archway and The Razorback,
all amazing limetone
formations that you can only hope will be around in years to come in things other than photos or videos (although I am sure that erosion will create even more spectacular sights)
Next stop the 12 Apostles, or 7 now(although there
were only ever 9 to start with but they were called the Apostles for tourism purposes, originally they were called The Sow and Piglets until 1922....which I guess didn't inspire people to come look at them).
The only issue I have is that how many people actually stop to appreciate the sights properly, to savor the sounds, sights and smells or just snap a photo and move on.(I confess I do a lot of snapping :) I do love my photos, but I also like to savor the moments too, to enjoy looking and marvelling at the amazing being that Mother Nature is. I try and make the most of it because I am not sure if or when I will be back or what will be different the next time I visit. Case in point....last time I was at The Apostles there were 8!!!!!) The Apostles are spectacular and need to be savored for longer than it takes to take a selfie in front of them.
The 12 Apostles behind us, we began the long, scenic trip home along the coastline, or part way through the Great Otway National Park, with over 100,000 hectares of parkland.
Next time around I would like to do the tree top canopy walk or ziplining, but time was against us so we made do with a detour towards the Cape Otway lightstation...for a $20 entry fee you could have access to the lighthouse and grounds around it but we chose not to explore the grounds but to enjoy the forested area around it.
From the lightstation to home is nearly a 4hr trip (without stops) along the coastal road, and with breathtaking views at every turn, from Apollo Bay to Torquay and everything in between, there is so much to see and explore, that a day trip no matter how terrific, does not do it justice so if you ever have the opportunity to do the great Great Ocean Road trip, take your time and savor each twist and turn, explore and enjoy and I hope you love it as much as I do.
