The Great Ocean Road, VIC

The last day of February saw us leaving Mount Gambier in SA, and travel to the coast to cross over the border into Victoria and travel the Great Ocean Road. 

The first day of the Great Ocean Road took us through rolling hills, farmland, eucalyptus forests and glimpses of the coast, and then over a last rise the road met the ocean at the Bay of Islands, the start of the beautiful limestone stacks jutting out of the ocean beside the sheer cliffs along the VIC coastline. A few kilometres west are the more famous 12 Apostles (named for tourism but of which there have only ever been 9, in 2005 one of the stacks collapsed, so there are now 8 to see)  Such beautiful scenery, and I had the amazing opportunity for me to take my first helicopter flight, from the 12 Apostles all the way west along the coast to the Bay of Islands and back. 

Damien had really been looking to driving this 243kms stretch of road, and I really wanted to take some dawn photos of the 12 Apostles so we planned an overnight stay at Princetown at the town recreation reserve (just 4kms east of the 12 Apostles Marine National Park). 

So up at pre-dawn it was freezing at 10'c for a pilbara girl, I put on all the layers I had. After a short but hairy 4km drive from the caravan to the 12 Apostles visitor centre (narrowly missing a few roos on the way even though I was travelling at a very conservative 40kms an hr), I trekked my way with camera, lenses and tripod from the visitor's centre a few hundred metres on the special walkway built under the great ocean road to the coastal lookout. Thinking briefly of the family still snuggled up in bed was soon put aside at the first breathtaking view of the 12 Apostles up close. Their sheer size and majesty is inspiring and somewhat spiritual. I hope you enjoy the photos :)

The second day saw us travel the second leg with even more spectacular scenery. From the 12 Apostles you travel through the majestic forest on steep and windy roads and hairpin turns often with recommended speed of only 15kms an hour to allow for the very narrow roads and sheer drop offs. Then suddenly, the coast would appear throughout he tress and the road would hug the cliff face with forrest on one side and ocean on the other, only to find around the corner a steep descent to water level and then back up and into the forest again. As much as I would have loved to take some photos here, it was  just not possible to find anywhere safe to stop the car where the scenery was spectacular.  Eventually we found our way to Anglesea where we stopped in for an overnight stay with friends from Hedland, then completed the last part of the drive to Torquay famous for its surf beaches (Bells Beach appears in the movie Point Break).

Border security crossing from SA to VIC... not a quarantine officer in sight! 

Lots and lots of .... wind turbines (not all pictured) - Codrington Wind Farm, VIC

From the Air - London Bridge (bottom left) and looking east toward the sensational coastline approaching the 12 Apostles - Port Campbell National Park, VIC

Dawn looking out over the 12 Apostles - 12 Apostles Marine National Park, VIC

Dawn at the 12 Apostles looking east with the sun breaking through the clouds - 12 Apostles Marine National Park, VIC

This is London bridge which once had another arch that met the mainland on the left of the stack. It collapsed in 1990 and left two people stranded on the outer stack until they were rescued by helicopter. It was later revealed that they were a married couple - just not married to each other! London Bridge, Port Campbell National Park, VIC

It's so fun driving!

This is the recreation reserve we stayed at near the 12 Apostles. Princetown recreation park - Princetown, VIC

One of the only photos we could stop for on the second day of travelling the Great Ocean Road, as the road was so twisty and narrow it was too difficult to stop with the caravan in tow.

Little known fact, the Great Ocean Road was built to commemorate those who served in World War One. At 234km long it is the world's largest war memorial.

Damien looking out over the Great Ocean Road, VIC

Catching up with friends from Hedland - from left, Cooper, Alison (me), Blaire, Tilly and Kat - Anglesea, VIC

Cooper having fun with the the girls from Kat's group of family and friends - Anglesea, VIC

Paragliders (in the distance over the head) at Bells Beach - Bells Beach, Torquay, VIC

Damien attempting to look like a character from Point Break - Bells Beach, Torquay, VIC

Paraglider coming in to land at - Bells Beach, Torquay, VIC

Stopped in for lunch in Geelong and the kids to have some fun on the foreshore - Geelong waterfront, VIC

Cooper having a great time on the bungee tramp

After the Great Ocean road we headed north to the historic gold rush town on Ballarat to visit the iconic living museum of Sovereign Hill. There was so much to see we sent two days making sure we visited everything we wanted to see. This kids had a great time and Damien and I both loved it.

Main Street - Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

Ladies from the era relaxing at the Apothecaries Hall - Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

Hanging out with the kids waiting for the trooper to demonstrate how to fire a musket - Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

Cooper posing with the local law enforcement - Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

The underground mine - Soverign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

Panning for gold - Soverign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

Blaire and Damien striking it rich.... well trying at least - Soverign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

The kids got to choose one thing to buy in the old fashioned shop and they both chose harmonicas. Without any prompting they both wandered over to the musicians and joined in. The musicians were amused and welcomed the kids to join them, it was very sweet.

Kids paying twinkle twinkle little star with the musicians.

Taking the coach around town - Soverign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

Taking the coach around town - Soverign Hill, Ballarat, VIC

Before leaving we visited the site of the Eureka stockade. They have created a playground next to the memorial in the image of the troopers storming the stockade. It was sweet to see Cooper and Blaire holding hands and walking together to go and investigate.