Due to the recent flooding, roads to Halls Gap through the Grampians were closed, so we had take the less scenic route via Ararat. This meant we could stop off at the Chinese Gold Miners Museum, where we learned the history of the Chinese immigrants who came to Aussie during the great gold-rush, and we had a go at panning for gold ourselves! We reached our lodgings for the next couple of days to find parts of it had been affected by the recent flooding, but the ...

Another busy day! Woke up to find kangaroos grazing outside our window, very cool! After breakfast, visited the wallaby and koalas, and stroked the young swamp wallaby! The Ocean Ecolodge was a great stop-off, shame we couldn't stay a bit longer! Drove the rest of the Gt Ocean Rd, and stopped numerous times to take pics or just gawp! Had lunch at 'Cheeseworld' in Allansford, arrived safe and sound in picturesque Port Fairy, ready for a shower and tea!

Pt 1. Melbourne - Cape Otway Sal, once again expertly navigated us out of the city, and we cleared Melbourne without any 'tram-related' problems! The coast road was beautiful, and we could see where the road had been blocked near Lorne, due to the flooding and land-slides, scary! Reached our lodgings for the night, the Ocean Ecolodge at Cape Otway, fantastic place! Kangaroos and koalas all over the shop! Went for a guided walk through the bush, which was great,...

Spent yesterday mooching 'round Fitzroy, and decided that we really quite liked Melbourne! Had another lovely day today, took a tram to St Kilda, and in the evening met up with Sal's cousin Toni and her husband, Peter, who took us out for a great meal and afterwards, a walk along Melbourne's South Bank, top night!

Well, after the 'wow' factor of Sydney, Melbourne was initially a big disappointment, no iconic sights like the bridge or the Opera House, no great central hub like Circular Quay, no beautiful harbour or ferries. We were underwhelmed, but today, after wandering around the huge Bohemian Quarter we realised, Melbourne is cool! That's where it beats Sydney, it has cooler shops, cooler bars, cooler cafes and restaurants, cooler people. Sydney's not cool, it doesn't h...