The Great Ocean Road Part 1

We are back on the road, slowly chipping away at the miles between us the Perth (biggest City on the west coast).  Per our standard operating procedure, we are taking a very indirect route.  The first part of this drive is via the Great Ocean Road.  Built along the rugged southern coast of Victoria, this road connected coastal towns and light stations extending west from Melbourne.  It is a scenic road, and popular with tourists and locals alike. 

At the start of the trip, we drove through a variety of seaside towns.  Most with some interesting attraction or two.  Here is Bells Beach's Addis Point (the surf film Point Break was filmed in part here).  Every year Bells Beach hosts the Rip Curl Surf Competition.  They were setting up the stands as we watched.  According to the internet, this region is the core of Aussie surf culture. 


Of course along the way, the wildlife loves to pose for us (especially the birds?).  This  little guy is only about 3.5” long.



This coastline has a long history with European settlers.  Hundreds of ships have wrecked along it.  To combat this Light Stations were built starting in the mid 1800s. Many of them survive to this day.
 




Just another  stretch of beautiful wave-smashed coastline.


Some towns like Lorne, have great walking, and relaxed vacation atmospheres. We did several walks here to view the  wildlife, and several waterfalls.


There is also a 30ft deep canyon in the middle of the forest.  With sheer rock walls, its definitely a change from the open air of the Great Ocean Road.



Once more, the birds posing for us.


This is a continuing theme. 





Lets take a break from posing  birds for a sleeping Koala.