08 Great Ocean Road - Day 1

Today is the start of the Great Ocean Road drive, it is rated as one of the best drives in the world!  Today we are going from our motel at Warrnambool, through the national parks at Port Campbell and Great Otway before reaching our destination at Apollo Bay.  The drive is only 176 km, but we have planned many stops along the way.  The day after we will be doing the other half of the drive from Apollo Bay to Torquay.



Unlike the California State Route 1, another world class coastal drive, this section of the drive is mostly inland.  I think they are worried about the erosion or whatever, so for most of the stops, you have to leave the main highway, drive a few minutes to the parking lot and walk another few minutes before you get to the view points.  The scenery is as good as what you see in the brochures … blue sky, big ocean, white waves crashing onto the orange/yellow/brown limestone cliffs and sandy beaches.  Instead of writing about all the places we visited, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.  A couple of observations: (1) there are tons of Chinese tourists (including us) – I am not sure if it is because of the Chinese New Year holiday or what, at one view point, over 90% of the people there were Chinese!  (2) put on sunscreen regardless as I learned it the hard way – I did not use sunscreen or hat for the entire day because we were only making ‘quick’ stops and it was overcast, I was so totally burned by the end of the day.

Bay of Islands














Bay of Martyrs

We lucked into this place shortly after the Bay of Martyrs, I think it is called the Halladale Point ... tidal pool, a small arch, a grotto ... and we have the place all to ourselves!

And you are allowed to bring home
5 kg of these abalones


The Grotto
London Bridge ... 2 people were trapped on the newly formed island on
the right back in 1990!





Arches

water rushing in --->
---> to the Thunder Hole

12 Apostles - an anti-climax because the
sun was in the wrong direction and we've
seen quite a bit of the others

the flip side of 12 Apostles ... see the difference it makes with proper lighting 
beach at the bottom of the Gibson Steps 

Wreck Beach - we walked the opposite
direction and missed the anchor!





















View from Gable Lookout

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