G'day,

Am back from our three day trip along the Great Ocean Road and I must admit before the trip I thought it was 'bigging' it up a little with the whole GREAT thing but I can honestly say it blew me away. The scenery is unbelievable and turn after turn in the road produced another beautiful bay and stretch of unspoiled coastline.

Anyway the trip starting by heading north west from Melbourne to an old gold mining town of Ballarat, they have a mock up of the old town at a place called Sovereign Hill and actors roam the street acting out saloon brawls and bank robberies!! Was pretty cool, you get to pan for gold and watch how they smelt it etc, (Kate, it was just like a science lesson!!). We grabbed a brew at the bar and a guy looking like John Wayne pulled up outside with his horse and cart, all very strange but feel like I learnt a little about Ozzy history!

From there we headed south and finally onto the Great Ocean Road, the towns of Apollo Bay and Lorne are amazing, sleepy surfer holiday resorts with huge sandy bays, they all look like a scene from Home & Away. We stayed in Apollo Bay the night and got back on the road the next morning to find the 12 Apostles and Bells Beach and once we had fought our way through the Chinese crowd loading on and off busses I wasn't disappointed with the views.

We then managed to find a load of Kangaroos at a local golf course in one of the towns… hilarious that the golfers have to go around them on a daily basis to get to the green..

Anyway, the journey was amazing despite the rain and the turn in the weather (from 37 one day to 17 the next!)

Looking forward to my last week here in Melbourne before flying up to Cairns to meet Miss Baker. Going to a big bbq Saturday night (and they mean business out here with their bbq's!!) and I have still got the neighbours set tour and the cricket ground to look round… plus am hoping for the sun to come back out so I can get a day at the beach!

Bye for now…

Laura xx