Today is our much-anticipated drive along the Great Ocean Rd. We start at Port Fairy and will make our way north to Airey’s Inlet. The first hour of the drive was scenic, with lots of grazing cows and sheep with no ocean in site. Eventually, we make the turn up the coast and the views are amazing. The pictures are really going to have to tell the story, because there are no words to do it justice.
Mary
—————–
Port Fairy is pretty much the start of the scenic portion of the Great Ocean Road’s scenic portion for those travelling west to east. It takes a few miles for the ocean views to begin, but once they do it’s fantastic.
Google Maps forecast a 2-1/2 hour drive to our next stop – it took us almost 6 with all the stops. One pullover after another provided spectacular views. For a while, there was little company at the lookout points. Soon, however, the busloads of day-trippers (largely Oriental) from Melbourne started appearing at the cool spots. Good thing we weren’t travelling the same direction as they!
Our lodging for the night is in what looks to be a typical American motor lodge –‘Airey’s Inlet Inn’. It turns out to be a surprisingly good choice with a brew pub (!) right across the street (‘Rogue Wave Brewing’). The proprietor recommends a short walk to a path overlooking the coast which ends up being one of the best walks of our trip. Shockingly blue water, cliffs, and a lighthouse just down the path. The Split Point Lighthouse, locally known as the ‘White Queen’, has appeared in a number of movies, including one of the ‘Mad Max’ flicks and is quite famous. Beautiful.
Dick
Just one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
Just incredible, eh? We came in from the west side (Adelaide) and the weather was perfect until we hit the 12 Apostles, then light rain. Bummer, but still super cool!