The Great Ocean Road: Part One

This week Wednesday and Thursday we had a chance to explore the Great Ocean Road. The Great Ocean Road is a 243 km (151 mi) stretch of road from Torquay to Allansford. We started from Altona and actually went even further than Allansford, all the way to Port Fairy. It was a fun-filled, adventurous, gorgeous journey. 

Our general route for the two day trip

Instead of having to rent a car, we were blessed to be able to borrow one. We've been attending a church here in Melbourne (more on that in another blog post), and the first time we visited we connected with one of the pastors. He just happens to be from Altona, found out we were going to the Great Ocean Road, and offered his car to us! We reminded him that we drive on the other side of the road in the States, but his offer still stood. So cool. 

So, Brandon, myself, and our housemate Lisa who we invited along set off on our Great Ocean Road adventure. Brandon did most of the driving, and I must say that he did an impeccable job. His engineering brain was perfect for the task. Lisa is from England where the driving is similar to Australia, so she could give advice if needed. It also helped that we didn't encounter any kangaroos which sound like the deer of Australia. 

Well, enough backstory and on to the many, many pictures! 

Brandon driving on the opposite side of the car and the road. We're following a truck full of sheep and one sheep dog

We took the speedier highway west and then cut through a forested road down to the Great Ocean Road. Our first stop was Princetown (barely a town) to get some gas from the one gas pump. We still were wondering where the ocean was at this point. 

The beginning of our Great Ocean Road trip in Princetown

Finally we saw some ocean and stopped at a few places throughout Port Campbell National Park to take in all the sights. 

One of the many beautiful views from Port Campbell National Park

It's the ocean! 

A plant research area that made us think of my brother's work in Alaska

Razorback, one of our favorite rock formations of the trip

Craggy edge of Razorback

Razorback as well as other formations and cliff coastline

Interesting shaped formation

Entrance to Loch Ard Gorge

Loch Ard Gorge where two passengers, Eva and Tom, of a group of 54 people survived a shipwreck. Tom went on to become a ship captain and survived two more shipwrecks! You can read more here.  

Thunder Cave

Bright blue water flowing in and out of Thunder Cave

Mutton Bird Island

We're all starting to look a bit windswept and sunny

But then the fog started rolling in making everything look very ethereal

At The Arch

London Bridge (fallen)

London Bridge used to look like this until January 15, 1990 when the main arch collapsed. Two people were stranded on the newly formed island and had to be rescued by helicopter. You can read more here. 

See if you can spy the trickle of a waterfall that's running under the platform to the beach area

The Grotto, probably our favorite rock formation

The camera doesn't capture the vibrant green water of The Grotto contrasting with the blue ocean and red-orange rock. It was quite mystical while we were there. 

The waves looked like swirling milk as they crashed over the rocks in this area

Good reminders for Brandon as he drove along The Great Ocean Road

Vast beach and coastline at Bay of Martyrs

Glowing orange cliffs as the sun begins to lower in the sky

Bay of Islands 

The islands with their sharp spines were eerie as the sun lowered 

Hanging out at the beach at Port Campbell waiting to pick up a pizza

Brandon drew five different dimensions in the sand

We picked up our Persian pizza with walnut, feta, pear, potato, tomato, and sesame seeds and drove to The Twelve Apostles to watch the sunset

The strange combination of pizza ingredients was delicious

The Twelve Apostles as the mist rolled in and the sun rolled out

Some more of the apostles. I believe there's only seven now. The others have been toppled by the sea. 

Bringing Michigan to Australia

Some birds decided to joint my Michigan impression

The sun nearly setting

Saying its final goodbye

After the sunset, Brandon drove in a dense fog from The Twelve Apostles to Warrnambool where we stayed at an Airbnb for the night. We were tired, but happy and ready for a good night of sleep before the next day of exploring.