Gday
We hired a Nissan C11 from Peter Pan Backpackers agents, Who we have found all over Australia to be able to hire, arrange trips or tours with huge discounts below a parent companies own prices, Thrifty who we got the car from wanted £70 Per Day we paid £25 Per Day, same company, same car (Big difference). On Thursday 25/02/2010 we started our 4 day Great Ocean road trip (one of the top scenic drives in Australia), 660miles from Melbourne to Adelaide following the coast, The scenery is dramatic and wild, Vast deserted beaches with massive waves (some top surfing for the very good).The 12 Apostles are probably the highlight, as twelve over 60m high limestone obelisks stand amongst the waves just off the beach against a backdrop of unclimbable cliffs, Little towns along the route are lovely and Quaint with a sleepy old western Ned Kelly feel with wooden houses and verandas. The first night we stayed in the town of Lorne to be woken by Cockatoos and kookaburra squawking outside our window, In the town formally known as Belfast, It changed its name in 1883 to Port Fairy ( I know, no quips, they were all at the Mardi Gras in Sydney), We watched Australian fur seals and a 6ft Stingray (well scary) swimming in the harbour as we sat with the warm evening sun on our backs (yes its hot again), With a couple of wild kangaroos hopping across the road into the scrubland and more parrots flying around (its animal magic or what). From the Grampian mountains the drive took us to salt creek with 30 miles of salt lakes and into the Cooke plains where the road is straight and you can see for miles with the heat haze shimmering in the distance, We stayed in the small beach towns Robe & Port Victor before we arrived in Henley, a suburb of Adelaide, another vast deserted white sand beach directly across the road from our accommodation. Although officially winter has started (1st March) its still a glorious 27 degrees with a slight breeze.
Wednesday 03/03/2010 back in Sydney for lunch with our nephew Matthew before he flew home to the UK 3 hrs later, Accommodation isn't as expensive but the YMCA is still full with the Village people, Thursday with the sun shining brightly we crossed the harbour to Manly by ferry (best views of Sydney's sky line) and spent the day doing what we do best (on the beach doing nothing). Then on Friday it rained (we can hear the giggles and sighs of Oh shame) But Saturday the sun was out with vengeance 34 degrees and our only decision was Bondi or Manly beach..
Sunday 07/03/2010 we flew to Maroochydore on the sunshine coast and then on to Noosa for 9 days, you can't help but fall for this part of Australia. Set around water it's a lovely peaceful place and only gets to cool 24 degrees in winter, (Its our favourite place in Oz). Wednesday took us to Fraser island, the worlds biggest sand spit island with purist of fresh water lakes (crystal clear and warm, and great for swimming in) from their own underground supply. The 75 mile long beach is used as the road, 4x4,s whiz along at the edge of the surf, We even saw a turtle making its way back to the sea and Oonagh was praised for her dolphin spotting skills. Friday we went to Australia zoo, Owned by the late Steve Irwin the crocodile hunters family, We had a great day they even allow you to hold Koala's in Queensland, feed kangaroo's, and constant live shows all perform in the Croc Hunter style. The last couple of days in Noosa have epitomised the Australian out door life style, sitting on the beach watching the Queensland surf festival, even Pat Rafter the ex tennis pro took part in the veterans, Current and ex world champions from around the globe competing, Bar-Bs sizzling, and surrounded by bronzed bikini clad surfer girls in glorious sunshine, Isn't life tough !!!
Our Time in the promise land is up for now after 7 Weeks and that is only a flying visit really (Australians take a year out to drive around their own country), Perth was quiet and clean, Alice was a great experience (even with the flies) Sydney has such a relaxed feel with Melbourne as a cooler little sister, Adelaide has great beaches but why bother apart from the Great Ocean road. And Noosa hits all the right buttons for us.
In the words of the late Steve Irwin "Crikey what an adventure,"

Good on yer the Chaffer's