Melbourne, Day 3 (for Feb. 5)

Today was Great Ocean Road day. We left before 9 and reached the road about an hour and a half later. The Great Ocean Road is carved into the mountains along the coast, winding back and forth and up and down like most mountain roads. Again, Tony loved it. Around every corner was a new postcard perfect view. We stopped at Lorne, where Tony and Barb have holidayed in the past, to walk the beach and get some excellent fish and chips. From there the road continued along the coast to Apollo Bay, where it turned inland through hilly farming country before returning to the coast at The Twelve Apostles, a series of limestone monoliths that have been isolated from the cliffs behind them by erosion.



One of the features at the 12 Apostles was the story of one of the many shipwrecks along this coast. The Loch Ard wrecked here in 1875 and 54 people died. Only two survived because they were lucky enough to find their way to the beach in this sheltered gorge.


From there we went on to Port Campbell for supper. We then climbed through rainforest to a plain of rolling prairie for most of the trip home, arriving in the dark just before 10:30. Quite a workout for our chauffeur.