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| The Great Ocean Road |
To The 12 Apostles Via The Great Ocean Road
Twice I traveled the famed Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. And twice I was awed with the breathtaking view along the way. This coastal road, built by Australian soldiers, covers more or less 240 kilometers and passes through the beautiful towns of Lorne, Anglesea, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell. This winding road ends at Warrnambool but I didn't get to see that place.
First one I visited was the seaside town of Lorne with its alluring scenery and cluster of cafes and restaurants that offer good food and drinks. With a population not exceeding one thousand, this small and quiet town facing Louttit Bay is visited by thousands during weekends and holidays. Here I got to taste freshly-hauled oysters, courtesy of Devie and Rene. And when the southerlies started blowing, I took a seat under the shade of a tree and gazed around. Truly, Lorne, with its concrete jetty extending farther to the sea, is a lovely place and it is no wonder that poets and writers like Rudyard Kipling and Zane Grey were inspired to write while visiting the town.
My second trip via the Great Ocean Road was several months after. It was a family outing and the final destination was Port Campbell where the 12 Apostles are located. On the way, we made a brief stopover at Apollo Bay for our lunch. And my son Alexander had a power nap while I walked around the town for selected shots. I saw a church, a monument, a beautiful park, a golf course and I walked leisurely around the commercial center. A clean and tranquil town.
We were now nearing our ultimate destination - the 12 Apostles. When I say 12 Apostles, I am not referring to Peter, Andrew, Thomas, Bartholomew, etc. The 12 Apostles here are actually limestone stacks found on the shores of Port Campbell. It is a major tourist attraction in the state of Victoria. There is a boardwalk and a viewing area which is free to the public.
Viewing it at the actual site makes you think that it is more beautiful than what you see in posters and pictures. It is the most beautiful natural attraction of Victoria. And it is incumbent for those who have not seen it yet to see it now. Why? The 12 Apostles are threatened by erosion caused by the waves and, in a few years, there is that great possibility that they will be gone forever. Visit Australia now and see this natural wonder.
- Konted
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| The Great Ocean Road starts at Anglesea |
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| The Great Ocean Road was built by Australian soldiers |
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| A sharp bend |
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| A view of Bass Strait |
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| View of Lorne from an elevated place |
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| Signage warning |
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| The beach front at Lorne |
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| A lean crowd |
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| The Aussies love the sun |
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| Wading in the shallow portion |
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| With Melbourne resident Rene R. |
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| This is why the beach is clean |
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| Maximus and his shovel (again) |
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| There are big hotels and inns at Lorne |
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| Entry point to the town of Lorne |
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| Main street |
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| Fishing is a favorite pastime |
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| Other natural attractions |
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| The newly rehabilitated pier of Lorne |
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| The jetty is made of concrete and wooden planks |
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| Easy to catch fish in Lorne |
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| Fresh Crayfish is reasonably priced |
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| Try this seafood resto |
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| There are many fishing activities in Lorne |
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| Fresh oysters for $ 10 |
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| Near Pier seafood resto |
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| On our way to Apollo Bay |
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| Aerial view of the town of Apollo Bay |
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| Apollo Bay commercial center |
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| Clean and beautiful park |
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| Part of the historic Great Ocean Walk |
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| Ordinances protect and pamper animals |
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| Old hotel |
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| Old small church near the rotunda |
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| Memorial to Apollo Bay WW I and II veterans |
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| Commercial wharf |
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| There is an abundance of fresh seafood in Apollo Bay |
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| Another popular seafood resto |
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| A good view of the Apollo Bay golf course |
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| There is an annual golf competition |
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| View of the town proper from the golf course |
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| On the right track to Port Campbell - our final destination |
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| Arriving at Port Campbell National Park at 2 p.m. |
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| Needing a sweater and a jacket for the cold weather |
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| Follow the warning |
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| To the viewing deck |
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| Part of the 12 Apostles taken against the sun |
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| Good shot |
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| Closer shot |
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| Just couldn't resist taking more shots |
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| The actual color of the limestone stack is yellow gold |
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| A large limestone stack |
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| Clearer shot of the 12 Apostles |
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| This one is just beautiful (file) |
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| Middle limestone stack is eroded by strong waves |
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| Another magnificent view |
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| With our spiderman-grandson Maximus |
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| Finally, the spiderman reveals himself |
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| At Port Campbell's town proper |
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| First class resto |
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| Business is good in Port Campbell as 2 million tourists visit the 12 Apostles yearly |
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| You can buy your sports wear and gear here |
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| One of the many good restaurants |
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| No shortage of hotels even during peak season |
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| More clean motels |
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| Timboon ice cream is popular in Victoria |
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| Newly built apartelles |
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| The roundabout at Port Campbell - take note of the busload of tourists in the background |
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| Maximus and his favorite Fish and Chips |
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| Just a minute away from the commercial center |
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| Good balanced shot |
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| All is quiet at the foreshore |
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| Taking the Colac-Melborne route on our way home |
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| A big dairy farm |
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| Our bonus for the day : double rainbow |
