This was our longest day to date. +Jill and I got up bloody early and on the road by 4:45 so we could get to the start of the Great Ocean Road by sunrise and catch a view from a beach or cliff. We got there at 6am in the nick of time as the clouds were starting to show pinks. Their cooperation and coloring made a pretty spectacular start to the road and the day ahead.
 |
| Sunrise at Torquay overlooking the Southern Ocean |
After enjoying that for a while, we slowly drove south stopping at several viewing locations to take in the drive and snap some photos.
 |
| "Official start" to Great Ocean Road |
Eventually we made it to Kennett River - a tiny town with a dirt road up into the "mountains" that has koalas in their natural habitat, i.e. sleeping in trees 20+ hours a day. We drove up slowly and spotted at least 5 of them along a few km of road. We got lucky with one that was high in a tree from the ground but that tree was over a cliff from the road and right at our eye level. Boom!
 |
| Awake koala sighting in the wild! Wow!!! Just Wow!! |
After this diversion it was time for "brunch" down the road in Apollo Bay. I couldn't resist a dish of pesto and eggs on ham and sourdough called "Green Eggs and Ham" on this day. To top it off, a mom was at another table reading "The Lorax" to her son.
 |
| Weather cleared up just in time for our arrival |
It was now time for the main attraction to this wonderful drive. The Southern Ocean and the Twelve Apostles. These are rock formations in the water after years of erosion created by relentless waves. Eventually these stacks also erode away and collapse into the sea.
 |
| Looking west on some of the 12 Apostles from the lookout |
This was something I wanted to see on the trip and we got there as it was clearing so the lighting was interesting with a constantly changing sun/shade mix. It was well worth the long drive and I took a ton of photos to go with our effort.
 |
| Looking eastward from the lookout on to some of the 12 Apostles |
After this and several other stops along the Southern Ocean, we headed north to the Grampians. As we approached, it was so unusual to be driving on essentially flat farmland and see this small/isolated mountain range just sitting there.
 |
| Royal Mail Hotel: Egg Yolk and New Potatoes, Salt Fish and Crackling |
We came here for hiking and of course Jill found a well known restaurant called the Royal Mail Hotel. Several people we have met along the way have told us to have dinner there and Jill informs them that we are doing just that.
 |
| Royal Mail Hotel: Tomato on Toast, Hand-Made Sheep's Ricotta |
I cannot do this part justice in writing, maybe Jill can, but they have an omnivore or vegetarian multi-course dinner. They did a great job of substituting when the omnivore option did not appeal to me. The service was fabulous and everyone worked well together as a team the entire evening.