Our trip along the Great Ocean Road started early with a quick farewell to Mornington and the train into Melbourne to pick up a car.We drove to Geelong so I could visit a primary school for the day.While I was talking shop Sam did some sightseeing around the city and port.We got on the road in the afternoon though with 400km to cover before we could stop for the night at Port Fairy.Pretty towns and lighthouses were stopped at and photographs taken before we got to the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and a stunning coastal drive.We stopped a few times along the way (Port Campbell) before finally reaching Port Fairy in the dark and just in time to get to the takeaway for some noodles before they closed.

The next day we spent the morning in Tower Hill nature reserve walking and spotting koalas up trees, emus and wallabies.On to Cape Bridgewater for some more coastal views and rock formations (the petrified forest which looked much like you'd imagine Mars to be).We also stopped at Mount Gambier to see the blue lake - this is bright blue in the summer (luckily) when we were there and turns grey in the winter.It is the main water supply for the area.We had a quick chocolate stop in Beachport before reaching the hostel in Robe.Definitely the plushest yet - a big English Victorian style building with high ceilings and a library room as well as lounge over looking the lake.We strolled along through the town and had fish and chips for dinner by the beach.

We kept driving the next day along the Coorong National Park with miles of sandflats.A quick stop for lunch by the beach in Meningie before crossing the river at Wellington on a ferry (more of a platform) that goes back and forth.Then onto Adelaide to drop the car off and meet my cousin Sarah as she finished work for the week in the city.

Liz