Our Little Corner of the World: Australia Part 1 of 4: Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road

Monday, December 25, 2017

Australia Part 1 of 4: Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road

We had been planning a trip to Australia for several years, which we pencilled in our diaries when our dear friends from Sydney moved back home from London three years ago. It was also Dallin's choice for his senior year family trip. It was hard to believe that the time had finally come. Australia is a long ways from London, basically on the other side of the globe. Getting there required two long flights, 14 hours to Singapore and a further 11 hours to Sydney from there. After booking the long haul tickets nearly a year in advance we decided subsequently to begin the trip in Melbourne, so after arriving in Sydney we hopped on another plane to Melbourne. We arrived in Melbourne thoroughly jetlagged after over two days after we left London. We managed a good night's rest at our hotel between the airport and the coast (where we were starting our trip) and set off that first morning on the Great Ocean Road to start off our Australian adventure. After two days on the road we returned to Melbourne for some fun exploring the city centre over Christmas. What a terrific start to our trip!

A quick visit to Split Point Lighthouse as we set off on the Great Ocean Road

First glimpses of the gorgeous coastline

Bells Beach

And out of nowhere we see a koala bear ambling along the roadside, and then he climbed up this tree. What a treat!

Gorgeous beach down the Gibson Steps!

First glimpse of the famous 12 Apostles in the late afternoon. The light from behind made the scene a bit hazy, and the crowds were intense.

Loch Ard Gorge just a bit down the road from the 12 Apostles, gorgeous!

After a much-needed night's sleep in Port Campbell we hit the 12 Apostles again first thing in the morning. The light was so much better facing the rocks, and we nearly had the place to ourselves!