Exploring Australia - 2014: 4 - 6 November 2014

We left Portland and headed East to Peterborough a relatively short distance along the Great Ocean Road. After setting up the caravan we took a look around the coastline nearby. There is a great little 9-hole links golf course right on the coast with lovely views from the dunes. Also nearby is the Bay of Islands with its many sea stacks. This is the start of the most spectacular section of the Great Ocean Road with cliffs, sea stacks, inlets and bays.

The next day we took a helicopter flight over the Bay of Islands and along the coast to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge and then back to Peterborough. We had perfect weather and a fantastic flight with just the young lady pilot and ourselves. After the flight we headed out to explore the Loch Ard Gorge. This is the site of Australia's most famous shipwreck. The Loch Ard ran aground on Mutton Bird Island and of all the people on board only two survived! This area is spectacular as can be seen in the photos.

The next day we headed out to see the Twelve Apostles by the morning light which is better than in the afternoon. We did the normal tourist spots as well as descending the steps to the beach to explored the coastline as far as we could at the base of the cliffs. We went to London Bridge and saw where the Little Penguins come home to nest each night. On the way back to Peterborough we found the steps cut into the cliff where fishermen try their luck. The steps are now closed and are very scary. Finally we packed some wine and headed back to London Bridge to see if we could see the Little Penguins. We were way too early and the penguins only arrived after sunset after a 3 hour wait!