Goodbye Melbourne in the sun, hello Great Ocean Road in the rain!

Checked out of Hilton and took a taxi to the airport where we picked up a Mitsubishi SUV, our transport for the next 8 days. Headed out toward the GOR and grey skies. Landscape initially all very flat, then undulating as we approached Surf Coast Shire (as the road signs say). It is farming country. Saw cattle, sheep and llama.

Every so often you pass a sign giving the day's fire risk - not surprisingly on green at the moment.

As we hit the town of Anglesea we got our first sight of the ocean which is stunningly turquoise in colour. The road then followed the coast, twisting and turning as it hugged the shore line. Incredibly beautiful. The trees are interesting - don't know the species but the most common type along here seem to have a loose, coarse bark that strips away as it weathers, leaving beautifully smooth looking white branches. Couldn't get close to take a proper look. Saw a few trees that were a mass of intensely red flowers. Along the roadside agapanthus, montbretia and red hot pokers grow wild.

Stopped in the town of Lorne at lunchtime. How to describe it? All a bit hicksville, but with a big beautiful beach. Trouble is it had started drizzling a bit so we weren't up for walking. Had some very tasty whitebait for lunch then hit the road again.

The road then becomes more beautiful, passing tiny coves with golden sand, larger beach area with people braving the sea, rocky areas. It dips down as it passes creeks and climbs coming out of them, all the time with amazing vistas out to sea. As we approached Apollo Bay where we are staying for two nights the weather worsened. Also Hicksville but a slightly more upmarket version than Lorne. The temperature dropped to 16 degrees in the middle of the afternoon and the drizzle became more persistent. We are told it's unseasonably miserable weather, but we will make the most of our time here.

Just been checking forecasts for the next few days. Due to be cold and drizzly for a few days but improving by the middle of the week. Around 30 in Adelaide forecast at the weekend and over 40 degrees at Ayers Rock, then warm (28-29) in Cairns but with the added bonus (!) of thunderstorms. Doesn't really matter. Whatever will be will be ... Sung à la Vera Lynn of course!

Table booked in a seafood restaurant for tonight. Looking forward to that.

Just back. Very good meal. Crab ravioli as a starter for me and very lightly cooked scallops for Eddie, then we both had the fish of the day which was trumpeter fish - new one on me, excellent. Back in hotel looking forward to tomorrow. No pix today due to adverse weather.