Jervis Bay

We stopped in the Jervis Bay Guesthouse in Huskinson and were upgraded to their best room with a big spa bath. The room provided fabulous views past the banana leaves to the sea and we enjoyed the beach being so close. However the weather on our last full day was cool and cloudy. We made the most of it with a boardwalk through a mangrove forest and several walks in Booderee National Park, including one to Murrays beach which was as good as it gets. We also had a look at Hyams Beach which claims to have the whitest sand in the world - I believe it!
Our last day dawned grey but after breakfast it brightened up. So with the car packed and ready for the airport we did not have to question each other as to where to go - Murrays beach. We were able to spend a couple of idyllic hours there.
We had to set off for the airport but made a detour to see 7-mile beach and again the strong seas surprised us, and Kaima and its blow-hole.
Finally in the airport we spent the last of our dollars and reflected on an amazing holiday.

Narooma

Narooma was a great place to stop and explore the villages of Tilba Tilba and Central Tilba, with all its gift and craft shops, and Mystery Bay, which provided yet another magnificent, almost deserted, beach which we were able to enjoy in sunshine. C had 2 hours of horse riding and we both enjoyed the Foxglove Spires garden which was a labour of love for a family for the last 22 years. It looked a very high maintenance garden so we feared for it in the future.

Mallacoota

We enjoyed a lovely forested drive along the Princes Highway to Mallacoota, situated in the very south-east. This is in a very remote area and is quite beautiful and is now one of our most favourite places. We had amazing accomodation in the 1920's Karbeethong lodge which overlooks Bottom Lake (actually an inlet) and provides one of the best possible views to wake up to. There is a long verandah across the front of the building to take advantage of the view. The beaches, particularly Batka beach, were absolutely wonderful with the drawback for C that swimming was almost ruled out because of the fierce (and cold) seas.
We booked a wilderness cruise with Captain Rumbottle who was quite a character. He, despite being told by the park authorities that he should not, feeds a sea eagle! We were thrilled to see this eagle sweep down and take a fish from the sea about 20m from us - breathtaking! Many other birds and a Ghoanna (a large lizard) on the shore. A great day which we finished off with a pizza and sauvignon blanc picnic at Bastion Point.
We were very reluctant to leave Karbeethong lodge and Mallacoota.

Great Ocean Road

We drove out of the Grampians in the Port Fairy direction and just for a break stopped at Mount Eccles National Park. There were a number of walks available and we chose the crater walk, around a collapsed volcano or three. It turned out to be a superb walk in lovely weather. Many birds to spot,varied views down into the crater and the icing on the cake! A koala in a tree overhanging the path and then an echidna!
We stopped at 'Daisies by the sea' B&B in Port Fairy and had a beautiful room with patio doors opening onto a small garden and then down onto a lovely beach. We walked along the beach to the Wharf area of Port Fairy and enjoyed a good fish meal there.
We set out driving east and stopped at Logans Beach and the sun came out. We were now on the Great Ocean Road, one of the really great road journeys in the world. The sea is amazing. It has claimed 160 ships and it is so rough (on what was probably a calm day) that it did not feel safe to paddle! We explored other beaches and bays with lovely sand and great coast lines with rocks breaking up the line of the sand. These beaches are deserted. If one was of the right inclination it would be possible to lay naked in the sun and never be disturbed. We returned to Port Fairy for a walk around Griffiths Island and saw 16 baby, fluffy, pink throated swallows who were lined up for their first flying lesson.
The next day we were on the much publicised part of this drive. The eroded coastline yields the Twelve Apostles, almost a trade mark for this part of Oz. Unfortunately the weather had changed and it was very cloudy and grey. We stopped at most of the features, London Bridge, The Arch, The Grotto etc. and thought they were more interesting than the Twelve Apostles, which we came to last. There, I could barely stand still enough in the wind to take photos, and then it poured with rain!
We moved onto 'Spindrift' B&B in Apollo Bay, again with a great view and the beach just across the road. We did the Barham River Scenic Drive, which was so good I had a permanent smile on my face, followed by a walk through rain forest with marvellous gum trees to a little waterfall. Calm and tranquil, the sun shining, this was a highlight of our trip. Next was Cape Otway National Park where we picniced with a view of the lighthouse and an incredible blue sky and sea. Possibly the best picnic spot ever! Then we did part of the Grate Ocean Walk and discovered so many koalas including mother and suckling baby. Wow! At least 15 koalas in the trees within about 1 km. We arrived at Franklins Point and again watched the sea in awe. Some guys were fishing and it looked a though the waves were bound to sweep then away, but they never did.
We moved on and crossed to the Mornington peninsula via the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry, by-passing Melbourne. We camped and enjoyed the beaches around Point Leo, before the next move.