Sunday 14/4 on the Great Ocean Road

After a good night's rest at Port Campbell we explored the rugged coastline again. London bridge, the grotto, Loch Ard Gorge, Thunder gorge...awesome sights, breathtaking scenery, amazing show of the power of the ocean as it slams itself against the limestone cliffs. Mutton bird island was amazing too ..for the baby birds, left by their parents alone after they reach 1kg in weight (about 1month after they hatch) - take to the skies on their own without parents helping or being around even...and start flying 30,000km to Siberia via Japan! using their instincts...

The journey east continues..the Great Ocean Road

We started on the 247km Australian listed heritage Great ocean road at torquay and ended it in Peterborough - via Anglesey, Lorne, Apollo bay, cape oatway national park, port Campbell ...was a breathtaking drive. Through rainforest, beside sheer cliff faces and facing the bass strait and the southern ocean. We stayed overnight port Campbell. Some of the highlights on the first day include the 12 apostles

Fri 12th..first "work day" in ballarat

Day of chores and errands - first off to the school uniform shop to buy Aranntee's school uniforms. The blazer costs $180/-....brand new. Others we buy pre-loved. Then off to the book shop to get the school books. Then off to send by express mail the signed original documents to the conveyancers. Took best part of the day till 4pm to settle all that. Then we decided to leave ballarat itself to explore the Great Ocean Road..in the south of Victoria - reputedly the largest war memorial every built, in this case, in memory of the fallen soldiers who fought and died in the First World War of 1914-1918. Supposed to be a very scenic drive too. We ended up in Torquay. A small 5 room hotel. Watched surfers brave the cold evening winds surfing in autumn. Dinner at a Chinese take-away. Girls seem more fascinated by fascinated by the parrots, lorikeets, crows, magpies, wrens and rabbits in the hotel compound

We arrive in Ballarat

Pushing off from the Naracoorte caves around lunch time, we crossed the SA-VIC border and immediately the speed limit got reduced to 100kmh - with reminders that cameras are used all over Victorian roads to enforce speed limits! We passed by the majestic and rugged Grampian Hills - part of Grampians national park, through the towns of Horsham and Ararat..before arriving in ballarat at about 445pm. Hooray! We made it! Just a quick admin errand - had to pop by Hayden Real Estate to pick up documents from our conveyancers for the purchase of our intended home in magpie.
We stayed at the Ballarat Colonial motor in that night. Ahhhhhhhh..thank the heavens we arrived safely. 3300km in 7days, 6 nights. Mandurah, WA to Ballarat, Victoria.

Naracoorte - the "Limestone Coast"

Driving from Adelaide, we arrived at SA's border town of Naracoorte at 930pm. Late start the next day and (Thursday 11/4) saw us arriving at Naracoorte world heritage caves. We were not prepared for the amazing experience here too. Apparently millions of years ago, Naracoorte was the coast..with the seas lashing onto its soft limestone hills. The result, the world heritage listed Naracoorte caves. We only went into the Wet caves (there was Bat Cave, Queen's Cave etc) and we experienced the interpretive centre. Amazing amazing stuff. The giant marsupial lion, the giant marsupial kangaroo, giant marsupial Tasmanian devil, giant Goanna - some 6m long and weighing 2.5tons!

Adelaide's Chocolate Heaven

After port Augusta, we zipped through Adelaide - stopping to buy a heavy cache of HAIGH'S CHOCOLATE..Australia's oldest manufacturing retailer since 1915! Lovely aroma..sending Gerry and me into levels of ecstasy in non-ordinary reality. And that's before we started tasting the chocolates. Ended the evening driving after dusk arriving at our next destination - Naracoorte.

Wadlata Outback Centre

Another highlight of SA is the Wadlata Outback Centre. A treasure trove of information packed in 3D exhibits, videos, and wide screen movie. Starting with 5,000 million years ago, it explains the formation of Australia from Pangea, to Gondwana land when Australia was fused with South America, Africa and Antarctica..right through to the Cretaceous period..to the arrival of humans some 60,000 years ago. The graphic animation of the formation of the flinders was my favorite! So to the aboriginal creation stories. Gerry loved the European explorer phases of the 19th and early 20th century. Sturt, Giles ..too many names to remember. A tribute to the cameleers (Indians but commonly known as afghans) was there too..and the great Ghan train..a complete carriage replica. The exhibits were too many to name - kids could operate the cycle operated radio to sample what the SCHOOL OF THE AIR for outback kids was like. I personally liked the section on the and loneliest mail run in Australia. It completed the experience to view a movie on current folks living and thriving in outback south Australia even today. Artists, restaurant owners, drovers, farmers and opal miners ...fascinating and inspiring. 5 star rating for this experience for sure!

Drunk in Port Augusta?

Port Augusta was a lovely town - population about 19,000. Was kinda lost for a while, cop thought I was driving under the influence..pulled (farid) over and gave me a breathalyzer test. I passed. Explained that I was looking for a petrol station that had "Coles" discount. She (cop) kindly gave directions. Advised me to rest when I am tired. Whew!

Kimba - the town in the middle of Australia

Driving east from Baird Bay, we ran out of daylight. We chanced upon the town of Kimba - behind the "giant galah" in the town centre read the sign, "you are now at the midpoint between Sydney and Perth". After a quick photo of the sign and the galah, we set off again for Port Augusta, expecting to arrive there sometime around 930pm. The folks were telling us to drive carefully and slowly as there had been many accidents involving kangaroos causing damage and injuries to humans , cars and Roos. So we did...well below the speed limit and kept our eyes peeled for Roos. Trusting in the roo deterrent sirens/whistles installed on our roo/bull bar...our driving skills and the power of prayer. Along the way we Saw a number of Roos at the side of the road contemplating whether to cross or not...

Swimming With Dolphins at Baird Bay

We met a French Gentleman who had this really compact video camera with underwater housing. He was with us swimming with the dolphins and took some amazing footage. He was so sweet. He shared with us his video footage. Even then, the video...any video doesnt do justice to our experience of swimming among the dolphins...a pod of 6 or so dolphins..they came pretty close to us..mostly about 1-3 metres away but when we were able dive down with them, we were able to come to a mere 10cm touching distance away! The dolphins took pleasure in "checking us out" - swimming in and out of our group.  We could hear them using their "clicks" to communicate with each other (and maybe with us too?) - their clicks rising and falling in frequency. There were other sounds too...amazing! If only we were able to understand them. One of the Best wildlfe encounter of our lives. Here is one of the many video clips we have that tries to offer brief glimpses of our experiences.

Swimming with the dolphins and sea lions

We had an amazing 2 days we had with the folks at Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience. Learning about dolphins and sea lions as well as observing them at VERY close quarters in the wild (between 10m and 10cm away from them!!!) - in their natural habitat. Definitely THE HIGHLIGHT of our trip...and a lifetime of inspiring and wonderful memories.

Three Course Dinner at Baird Bay Campsite

There was a nice communal shelter at the Baird bay campsite. Gerry prepared a delicious three course dinner with our trusty "meth-fueled" Trangia stove..laksa soup, mushroom cous-cous and vegetarian mee goreng (friend noodles) - yummy!!!!

Baird Bay Campsite

Our tent and the awesome Baird Bay surrounds..where we spent two days and a night.

Afternoon Siesta at Baird Bay, SA

As Farid was pitching tents and unpacking the gear from the ute, Gerry and the girls enjoyed an afternoon siesta in their hammocks at the Baird Bay campground.