Thursday 12 January 2006

We left at 10 am to tour. First we went to the Deakin University original campus and then headed for the Great Ocean Road along the Southern Ocean. To get there we went through the Otway Range of mountains, lined mostly with euchalyptus (gum) trees. The road along the water was one spectacular view after another. We stopped in Appollo Beach to buy a beach towel. The road went away from the water at Apollo Beach.

Still more Great Ocean Road

Lunch was Lavers Hill, Blackwood Gully Tea Rooms and Craft Gallery. We had barramundi ( a cod-like fish) and chips and an Australian Riesling. Three varieties of wild parrots visited the bird feeder while we were there. While Barrie and Joy had coffee, I walked a bit on the rain forest trail behind the restaurant.

We drove a bit to Melba Gully State Park rainforest trail. It was very beautiful.

When we got to the Ocean Road water views again we parked and walked to the 12 Apostles Rock formations. There are only 7 rocks now, but they are big sandstone like formations in the water. The flies are thick and furious. We drove once more and stopped at Loch Ard Gorge where a ship had wrecked in the 1800's.

Site of famous boatwreck -- Loch Ard

Returned from the road trip at 8pm and Joy made a beautiful plate of antipasto for each of us. We all sat at our computers and worked on various tasks.