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.