MELBOURNE - Going on a Scenic Roadtrip

The Great Ocean Road

This is THE most awaited part of the whole trip. Researching and looking at photos fueled the fire.

Yes, on our 3rd day, we went on a road trip to Australia's most scenic coastal drive --- The Great Ocean Road.

A national heritage site, the 240+km stretch of road hugs the south-east coastline of Victoria. Passing through quaint towns, surfing beaches, historic ports, whale lookouts, shipwreck coasts,  breathtaking mountain ranges, majestic rainforests, scenic coastal towns and national parks.

We left Melbourne from the West Gate Bridge and visited charming towns, beautiful beaches and breathtaking wonders of nature:

*Torquay 

Our first stop for morning tea. We had time to check and take a photo of the beach. A surfers haven.  

Yes, we missed the surf shop outlets. Unfortunately, they were still closed and we have a long trip ahead of us.

Torquay Beach

Quaint Torquay

* Bells Beach 

Home to World Surfing Championships. This is where I thought the black specks I saw out on the sea where penguins, and quickly realized that those were surfers trying out the waves at such a cold and early morning! brrr... We were, after all, in one of Australia's best surfing beaches.

Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia

North view of Bells Beach

No, those are not penguins...

* Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot is 2000miles from the South Pole. So named because of the obvious shape of the beach.

Horseshoe Bay from a Lookout

* Great Ocean Road (GOR) welcome arch  or better known as a memorial arch, dedicated to those who built this road in World War I.

The Great Ocean Road welcome arch

MELBOURNE - Going for Gold!

Sovereign Hill town

Our 2nd day in Melbourne, and we are going for gold! Yes, we spent our day in an old mining town in Victoria, Australia. 

Ballarat has gained popularity during the gold rush period in 1851, being home to the richest alluvial goldfield in the world. Population boomed then, as people all over the world seek their fortune in this place.

Long after the gold has run out, the town has retained its rich gold heritage in the form of opulent buildings, fountains and tourist attractions.  

And if you want to experience how it was during the gold rush, Ballarat has Sovereign Hill. 

Old world appeal @ Sovereign Hill

An open museum recreated to look like the gold township in the 1850s. Costumed ladies and gents, venture underground to see and feel how it is to be a miner, tour the town in a horse-drawn coach, shop 1850s style, see how gold is melted and molded into bars, utensils, etc., and try your luck and pan for real gold. If you find one (or more), it's yours.

The farms during the 1850s

A typical gold panning site

Town's bulletin board

Marching along the streets of Sovereign Hill

The Church and the Fire station

From the medicine man

A typical vehicle back then

MELBOURNE - Of Wombats, Koalas and Penguins

Yarra River

After the long slow train ride  through New South Wales countryside from Sydney,  we arrived Melbourne early evening. We were hosted to a Persian dinner by the relatives of my former office mate in a quaint restaurant in one of Melbourne's streets. It was early to bed for us after the dinner as we have a full 1st day in Melbourne.

Awesome Day 1:
 

Yarra River from Southbank

Morning was free so we did a DIY rush tour of Melbourne. Walked to State Library, Tram ride around the City. Stroll towards Yarra River and Eureka Skydeck 88 and Federation Square. The beauty about exploring Melbourne (or any other 1st world city) is the availability of free (or almost free = cheap fares like $1/24hr) rides to major tourist sights. Boy,  are we glad to take in the sounds, sights, smell and hulaballoo of Central Melbourne at practically no costs!

Melbourne streets

View from the Southbank

Clockwise: Federation Square; Indian Festival @ Fed Square; Skydeck; NGV

View from Skydeck with the Olympic Complex and Melbourne's Art Centre with its "tutu" roof spire

St. Paul's Cathedral, Flinders St.

Land Down Under - The Majestic 12 Apostles

The Seahorse

A majestic place like this deserves a separate blog.

We originally did not plan to take the helicopter ride, but decided last minute because my guts was telling me not to miss this great opportunity--this once in a lifetime chance. And oh how glad were we----the view was just amazingly spectacular!!!

The Great Ocean Road--- is a 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia. In Victoria, Australia to be exact.

The 12 Apostles, situated between Apollo Bay and Port Campbell in The Port Campbell National Park, was originally named 'The Sow and Piglets'. The name was changed in the 1950s to tempt more visitors to see them.

These famous residence of The Great Ocean Road were created from the 70 meter limestone cliffs by the relentless pounding of the Southern Ocean. To date only 8 of the original 12 apostles are still standing as the ocean continues to erode and shape the coast line.     

Razorback, Baker's Oven, London Bridge, Salt and Pepper Shaker, Seahorse--- are just a few of the names of these sea stacks.

An appropriate highlight of our Melbourne trip no doubt!   

It is one of the most majestic places I have ever seen.  I stand in awe at the wonders of nature. Truly, how beautiful and wonderful this world is!

Check out my other posts on Australia:

 Day 1 in Melbourne - Of wombats, koalas and penguins

Day 2 in Melbourne - going for Gold

Through the New South Wales countryside

Four days in Sydney

The Land Down Under - New South Wales

I am one for slow and long drives along the countryside. I want it unhurried, and I want to enjoy the experience and see the picturesque rural scenery.

So, when the choice came up to either take the train or plane to Melbourne from Sydney, without hesitation, I chose the former.

Although it is of less convenience than taking the plane, I like to savor the trip. Planning for it was easier. I made sure our hotel in Sydney will be just a stone's throw away from the Sydney's Central Station, so it will be easier to move around to catch our early morning train ride to Melbourne.

We took the Countrylink  train to Southern Cross (Melbourne). The good thing about buying your ticket ahead is that, you may be able to chance upon a AUD1.00 fare for your child. I did! Yey!

First Class

Wide legroom, yes.

Brekkie :)

Don't get me wrong. If you are one who does not want to waste time, or in a hurry,  or easily get bored, travelling to Melbourne by train will not be for you. We took the early morning trip so we arrive Melbourne  11 hours after (yes, 11 hours!). Did we get bored? Actually no. We enjoyed the view of New South Wales' countryside. We enjoyed jumping on to the platform of each stations to just stretch our legs or do a very quick look-see, in between catching a shut-eye.

We passed by towns with cool and unusual names:

* Strathfield*Campbelltown* Moss Vale* Goulbourn* Gunning* Yass Junction*Harden*
* Cootamundra*Junee*Wagga Wagga*The Rock*Henty*Culcairn*Albury*Wangaratta*
* Benalla*Seymour*Broadmeadows*Southern Cross (Melbourne)