15.01.2013
We left Melbourne early on day 9, eagerly anticipating the start of our journey on the Great Ocean Road. This was part of the road trip we were most excited about, and it certainly didn't disappoint. The road stretches 243 km (151 miles) along the Victorian coast line - spanning both the Surf and Shipwreck coasts - and it meanders through rain forest, as well as beaches, coastline & cliffs. It was built between 1919 and 1932 by soldiers returning from WW1; dedicated to the wars casualties, it is the worlds largest war memorial. It starts with this impressive sign stretching across the length of road, making for an exciting start!
The road begins at Torquay, a beautiful and sleepy seaside town. In the UK, there is a coastal town with the same name which is also famous for its beach, but this one definitely comes out on top! The hot sun was shining brightly as we took these photo's at the start of today's drive.
The sky and sea were both a rich, inviting blue and with not a cloud in the sky, the golden sand made our shots the picturesque Australia you see on commercials back home. It has been difficult choosing which photo's to accompany this post because there are just so many beautiful sights along the way. It is truly the most beautiful and stunning road I have ever travelled along. So much so, we found it hard to resist stopping at every twist & turn of the road to take yet more pictures. This said, we found ourselves stopping at any excuse to stop and admire some of the beautiful scenes. I have included a snapshot of images, taken from inside & outside the camper van, to give you an idea of just how breathtaking our views were.
An hour or so into the drive, we stopped yet again - but this was a planned lunch break at Apollo Bay. Before eating, we spent an hour on the beach soaking up some rays and making the most of the view. And of course, we couldn't resist a dip in the sea to cool us down from the beating sun. All this sunbathing can be hard work, and so we enjoyed a giant pizza on the beach front, followed by award-winning, Ferrero Rocher flavoured ice-cream at the the Ice-cream Tub. It tasted delicious, and we can see why it has won awards.
Apollo Bay - a beautiful spot for a spot of lunch!
It is an incredible drive along the coast line, which sees the van just metres from the ocean at its closest point, wind along tight corners, through beautiful rain forest canopy, past sandy beaches and curve along stunning cliffs. The journey would continue tomorrow, but for now we were headed through pretty countryside towards Johanna Beach, our free camp site for the night.
We arrived at the camp, situated right next to a long, secluded beach with large, crashing waves. You would think we would be getting bored with all this sun, sea & sand by now but we definitely were not. We decided to take a long walk along the beach, in the shadow of these magnificent rugged cliffs.
Before we knew it, the sun was sinking in the sky and we stayed on the beach to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever had the privilege of viewing. It was over way too soon, and not even the chilly winds which picked up while the sun disappeared below the horizon could dampen what was a fitting end to a magical day in Oz.
But this exhilarating, amazing day was not over just yet. As if we hadn't seen enough beautiful sites to last a lifetime, our seclusion and location meant we had magnificent views of the night sky; littered with more twinkling stars than either of us had ever seen before. Away from major cities, the Australian night sky regularly offers a fantastic glimpse towards the stars, but these were by far the best pictures we managed to capture on our trip.
Check out my next post for even more beautiful images as our journey along the Great Ocean Road continues, including a visit to the famed Twelve Apostles. If anything, there are even more amazing sights to come!
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