Back to the Promised Land

Our Roadtrip has come to an end with a last look at Lake Hume in the morning light:

We then stopped in Wagga Wagga to visit family before heading to Cargo (the Promised Land - lush and green). The sunset that greeted us eas magnificent!

I'll spend the next few days making my way back to Brisbane, farewelling my aunt in Dubbo on the way.

Such is Life!

Sadly our trip along the southern coast of Victoria has ended and we are headed back home. We still managed to take in some sights despite the 600+ kilometres driven today.

Glenrowan (how could I drive past?)

We are camped by Lake Hume for the night. The waters are down, yet it is still beautiful.

We'll be in Cargo tomorrow night.

Petrified!

We spent today exploring west of Warrnambool as far as Cape Bridgewater (near Portland).

The Petrified Forest at Cape Bridewater consists of limestone formations shaped like hollowed trees:

We had lunch near a coastal formation called the Crags, west of Port Fairy:

Port Fairy is a beautiful small town, filled with listed buildings and, as proudly touted by locals, was voted most liveable town in the world in 2012,

On our way out of Port Fairy, we drove past a lake which easily had 500 black swans - unfortunately, too far away to get a good photo. We managed to get some shots of swans, emus, and odd rock formations at Tower Hill Reserve.

We leave the Ocean tomorrow for Ebden (near Albury) for the first leg of our trip home.

Bright, Bright, Sunshiny Day!

What a day to see the wonders of Port Campbell National Park. Words cannot do the sights justice and pictures only tell part of the story ....

Twelve Apostles:

Loch Ard Gorge:

Razorback:

Port Campbell Lunch Stop:

The Arch:

London Bridge:

The Grotto:

We even saw two Echidnas:

Smiles all round:

Cape Otway and a Brief Tour Inland

We spent a couple of hours at Cape Otway Lightstation this morning - little did we realise how important it was to the colony. We also learned that Tasmanians first settled Victoria/Melbourne! 

We headed west along the coast before turning inland for Colac and Red Rock. The views over the dormant volcanic craters and salt lakes from Red Rock lookout were fantastic.

The rugged coastline west of Cape Otway:

Views from Red Rock Lookout:

The Apollo Bay Marina:

The World's Largest War Memorial

We had visitors this morning in Anglesea:

Our visitor was unperturbed by the grey weather and neither were we as we set off exploring the Great Ocean Road between Anglesea and Apollo Bay. Built by returned soldiers during the depression, it is sometimes called the world's largest war memorial - it must certainly be the most beautiful.

Anglesea to Lorne:

Lunch stop at Lorne (and a sample of the many sculptures on display this month):

The magnificent gums on the Barham River near Apollo Bay:

And this photo will give you an idea of the size of the gum on the right of the picture above:

We are staying within earshot of the waves at Apollo Bay and a minute's walk from this beautiful beach:

Where's Miranda?

Today was a bit like a TV/Movie rerun as we went from Echuca (All the Rivers Run) to Hanging Rock (Picnic at Hanging Rock) to Barwon Heads (Sea Change). The weather was good, but the system got a bit shocked at the 11.5 degrees at Hanging Rock at midday. By the time we reached the coast, the weather had brightened and warmed and we had a coffee break at Barwon Heads at a restaurant which doubled as Diver Dan's in Sea Change.

We drove for about 8k along the coastline west of Barwon Heads before heading inland to take the main route to Anglesea for our overnight stop. We only have to travel less than 100k tomorrow to Apollo Bay - so there will be many sight seeing stops along the way.

Hanging Rock (Macedon Ranges):

Barwon Heads:

All the Rivers Run ...

Echuca/Moama is about halfway between Wagga and Anglesea and is a great place to stop and walk through the historic port, watching the paddlesteamers take their tourist loads down the Murray River.

The historic port precinct at Echuca:

Views of the Murray from our overnight stop at Big4 Maiden's Inn Holiday Park, Moama: