The GOR : Apollo Bay to Port Campbell

I now know what people mean by "Victoria can have all 4 seasons in one day".  We haven't had snow but it has been everything else but not quite hot enough to take your clothes off for a swim, not for us anyway!

We arrive at Apollo Bay in sunshine but left in rain.  We only found out about the lookout above Apollo Bay the evening before we left when our host asked us if we had been up there.  It is on private land but has amazing views over the Town.  I guess that is why it isn't on maps nor are there signs to it.  There is a sign once you are there however!  So my photos will start with that.

Apollo Bay

Mariners Lookout

Apollo Bay was a vibrant town, it reminded me of a busy seaside resort in the UK.  Its beach is sheltered and it is surrounded by the beautiful Great Otway National Park.  It has something for everyone.

Great Otway National Park

Mait's Rest

Most of the walks we have come across are either too long or too rugged for us to cope with but today we came into Mait's Rest mainly to look for Koala's; on the road in.  He was still there nearly 2 hours later but fast asleep.

The walk was on the flat through the rain forest and was stunningly beautiful but in a different way.  It was so quiet and lovely even though it was raining.  Hope you like lots of pictures of trees and ferns.

A tree had fallen down and David's video shows it best.

Cape Otway Light Station

A very interesting place.  The lighthouse was established in 1848 and was know as "the Beacon of Hope".  It was also used as a Telegraph Station linking the mainland with Tasmania as well as an important "secret" RADAR station during World War II.  These days it is used as a great viewing point for the 25 species of whales which pass by from May to October.

Castle Cove

Gables Lookout

It was walking to Gables Lookout that we were both struck at how the landscape away from the Cliff's edge is just like walking in the Scottish Highlands amongst the gorse and heather, especially when we went down some unsealed roads to see some of the lookouts we decided not to attempt due to the number of steps or steepness of the slopes.  We also came across another 4WD sign - guess what we didn't even turn into the track - once bitten twice shy!!!

Princetown

Well we had this chosen for a lunch stop as the map showed it as the start of the Twelve Apostles area and the name was quite large on the map.  Well as you may have guessed it wasn't large at all.  Nothing was open out of the 3 buildings which were at the top of the hill but at least they did have public loos.  The area was still lovely so have put together some of the photos. 

Port Campbell National Park

Gibson Steps

WOW WOW WOW - what a cardio workout.  Took quite a while for both of us to get down them let alone up there but they are sensible and the steps criss-cross down the cliff face so you can stop after each tier to let the younger ones past (you mean fitter darling)!  Boy is it worth the effort.  This beach has to be my favourite so far.  We walked along the end away from the other tourists.  It was so quiet apart from the roar of the waves.  The sun was shining and you are surrounded by these huge beautiful cliffs.  Stunning.  Here come thousands of shots and we haven't got to the 12 Apostles yet - although I think the ones we could see were the start.  I did take a video which I think best shows it.

Twelve Apostles

It is funny but I actually found this area underwhelming.  I think it was just too touristy for me.  You had helicopters taking off at the bottom of the huge car park.  The main building felt squashed and was packed.  The viewing platforms were laid out well to allow for the huge amounts of people but it took away some of their majesty.  Having said all that they are spectacular so are worth waiting your turn.  (Karen be patent).

Loch Ard Gorge

We will learn all about the ship Loch Ard when we go to Flagstaff Hill in Warrnambool in a couple of days time.  This area is part of "Shipwreck coast" which has several interlinked lookouts with spectacular rock formations and to get to the various areas you walk/drive through the Scottish highlands landscape - for us who love Scotland it is stunningly beautiful even in the mist and rain which it often was.

The Razorback

Shipwreck Walk

The Arches

Sadly shut so we couldn't go.

Thunder Cove

One of our favourite areas - we loved.  All your senses were used - even touch as you were hit by the spray.  We spent two hours going to the various lookouts even though it was a real "Scottish" morning with fine mist rain but it was warmish!

None of the pictures or videos really manage to capture the intensity of the place.  It was vast.  We took hundreds of photos and videos.  

The calm before the storm - we walked down to the beach where the river meets it - what a contrast:

We followed some other tourists out onto the edge of the rocks but were sensible enough to stand far enough back not to get soaked.

Mutton Bird Island

This is definitely a phenomenal coastline and if we were fitter, we would have loved to have done the trek along the cliff tops.