Day 40: Mallacoota to Lakes Entrance . . . Tuesday 4th December

Said our goodbyes and off to Lakes Entrance (90 mile beach) we we told that it was very commercialised and it certainly was, but it was more second rate commericalism, with lots of campsites and empty shop units, quite disappointing as the beach was lovely. It did have an internet café though and we managed to pick up our emails and also uploaded the latest blogs/pics on the web site. We found a site with pool on the road out towards Bairnsdale for the night and in fact quite by accident we looked back at the view whilst climbing out of Lakes Entrance and that was it's most endearing feature (see pics). Our site was adjacent to George Bass Motel for the over 60s "young at heart" it was something on the lines of Butlins Holiday Parks, we got away from that pretty quick but they were ferrying them in by the bus load.

Day 41: Lakes Entrance to Wilsons Promontory National Park . . . Wednesday 5th December

Got away early due to rain falling on the roof of the van. . . decided to travel towards Wilson's Prom because once again this was a recommendation from Helena and Paul. We journyed through Sale with long roads and very flat country all around, not very inspiring then onto Torra and Yarram both lovely towns and scenery completely changed with rolling hills and plenty to see. At Foster we took a left for Wilson's Prom (Tidal River) and if our new Aussi friends haven't been there please take our advice and visit, it's something very special. We came through enclosed roads which just meandered to a check-in National Parks Office and were then directed to the Visitors Office at Tidal River some 20k further on,with the weather improving all the time. The scenery opened out to mountains with zig-zag roads and wonderful views across small bays (see pics) rather reminiscent of the South of France through the Alps. The site was once the training ground for the Australian and New Zealand Commandos (267 from each country) during 1941/2. They trained for covert missions in Burma, Malaysia, Singapore etc. The site was very well organised for today's campers with wooden lodges and camp grounds for individuals and school partys etc. They had Rangers organising day and night hikes. There are many walks from the site so we decided to do one directly on our arrival from Norman's Bay to Oberon Bay around the headland, cannot describe how beautiful it was (see pics). Even managed to get a fews photos of the local Wombats.

Day 42: Guess what decided to stay!!!! . . . Thursday 6th December

Very hot start to the day so we chose another couple of walks firstly to Picnic Beach and then onto Squeaky Beach . . . yes it's because the sand squeaks when you walk over it . . and it's not golden but off-white. All walks are accessed by crossing mountain ridges to the next inlet, there is one road into Wilson's Prom and walking is the best method of travel once you are in there. Not over-crowded in the camp but enough for us, apparently to get in over the Christmas period you would have had to register the previous January and then your form would have been put in a lottery to see who gets tickets . . . it's very popular. I think that we picked the best time to see it.

Day 43: Wilson's Promontory to Cowes, Phillip Island . . . Friday 7th December

Woke up at 6 a.m. to very high winds and thunder storms, very loud. There was plenty of activity with people packing up their tents and leaving. We later learnt that a part of the surrounding mountainside had caught fire and we might have to stay put as another storm was on it's way. Some two years ago the whole area was covered with a forest fire covering miles, one of the campers that Keith was talking to said that it was very frightening, all the campers were evacuated to the beach and boats with news/film crews aboard, a lot of the male campers were working with the Rangers and Fire Service to get the fire under control, as you can imagine she was very concerned that it was going to happen again . . . so were we!!!!! Most fires start this way and we have seen many areas completely devastated by fire but the areas seem to regenerate very quickly. We were given the all clear to leave about 9.30 a.m and made our way back to Yanakie and then onto Fish Creek, Wonthaggi and finally Phillip Island. We had come for the Penquins . . . once again another recommendation, but they are not around until dusk and apparently the numbers are falling each year. We decided to visit the world famous surf beach at Woolameira there were about 14 surfers around and some of them where very adept although the surf could have been better. Then onto Smiths beach and the Grand Prix circuit which is used every day for practice. Arrived at the Beach Park Tourist Caravan Park around 4.30 p.m, good site with plenty of facilities including washing machines . . . that time again. Rang Michelle as she had told us that she was visiting friends in Melbourne and perhaps we could arrange a meet, so we are getting together tomorrow afternoon.

Day 44: Cowes, Phillip Island to Breamlea . . . Saturday 8th December

What a brilliant day, after a leisurely breakfast we made our way to the Koala Sanctuary just down the road from our overnight stop. At first we thought it was going to be a complete waste of time and then we got accustomed to where they slept in the trees. Walkways had been built to get the best advantage for viewing, they sleep around 20 hours per day (sounds like a good job to me!) and the rest of the time constitutes grooming and eating. We were lucky to see mother and baby together (see pics). We then travelled through London-like traffic to the bay area of Melbourne . . . St. Kilda Beach very up-market to meet Michelle for lunch. She had flown down from Sydney to see a friend and us of course and to do a few days work in the Melborne Office. Although we didn't go to the city the highrises look the same as Sydney almost the same shapes, it appears larger than Sydney with more industrial areas. It was Saturday and we ended up in the orthodox jewish area so there were plenty of black frock-coats, hats and of course ringlets to be seen, could have been in the Finchley area of North London. We had arranged to meet at Stoke House was a really buzzing restaurant overlooking the beach and we all had a great meal with lovely company for the afternoon. It ended all too soon and after dropping Michelle off at about 6 p.m.we made our way to Geelong and Breamlea for the start of the Great Ocean Road, the next step in our Oz adventure. Night falling and decided to have a look at this part of the coastline, there is always a walk through from the campsite to the beach and this is no exception. The coastline is rugged with black rocks along the shore with rocky outcrop that's great for fishing, I think that Keith wishes he had more time to spare then he could spend some time fishing to his heart's content.

Day 45: Breamlea to Campbell River, Lorne . . . Sunday 9th December

The Great Ocean Drive began with a visit to Torquay the sun was shining and everyone was on the beach either surfing, swimming, kayaking or running in team event. (pic of the Aussi dream). Down to Bells Beach, Anglesea and Point Roadknight, with its lovely calm beach for small children and Hobie Cats (sailing catamarans). Went on to investigate the lighthouse at Aireys Inlet, what a picturesque place with lovely small cottages surrounding the lighthouse, weather started to deteriorate so we headed for Lorne just along the coast and passed under the famous wooden arch with sculpture alongside of the men who built the road at the end of World War I. They had carved it out with shovels and picks to commemorate colleagues who had died during the War in 1914-18. We found a great campsite at Campbell River - really only for tents but she made an exception for us . . . the old gibbers. Lorne was a very busy town mainly due to the fact that they had a quadrathon, including a swim in the sea followed by kayaking, on to their bikes and finishing with a run. As our campsite was the only one around it was pretty busy but as you can imagine everyone was in bed early exhausted. Early evening we found a lovely walk behind the site following the river and its swimming holes.

Day 46: Campbell River to Port Campbell . . . Monday 10th December

Weather a bit iffy again and our first stop was at Kennet River Lookout (see the pics . . . worth a thousand words!) then onto a recommended lookout at Cape Patton, great views shame about the rain. Stopped at Apollo Bay we stopped to stock up on some essentials (food) we also visited the Fishermans Co-operative and bought some really enormous prawns and scallops for tonights meal (yummy), from there we veered away from the coast whilst still on the GOR through Otway National Park with its lush green rolling hills and rainforests (more pics). Cape Otway and its lighthouse provided the setting for our lunch stop (always eating ain't we?) After lunch we had a walk through the bush to see the lighthouse cemetry but no one was very chatty so we left them to it. There was a campsite quite close to the lighthouse but the flies were so bad we decided to push on in the hope we would find a less fly-populated spot. Back to the coast again and visits to Gully Cove and Gibsons Steps really amazing scenery, these were just before the main event . . . the Twelve Apostles although there are only 9 now left standing, and if you saw the power of the sea you could understand why! I think in as little as a year this will be a totally different attraction with a fee to enter and restaurant, shop, hotel etc all in the process of being finished . . . but for us it was free! Made our way into Port Campbell on the only site, albeit a good one sandwiched between the sea and the river.