THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

So left Ballarat, went through Geelong & on to the Great Ocean Road.

Bells Beach

Craig shreddin - Ha!

Called in at Bells & then first stop was Lorne. Stayed a few days. Its a bit touristy but otherwise very nice. Warm weather. Bit of fishing, bit of swimming, lots of walking. Visited Erskine Falls. Got the monkey off my back & caught first fish albeit a little Herring - forgot to take photo!

Lorne

Erskine Falls

Beautiful Lorne sunrise

From Lorne we headed to Blanket Bay in the Great Otway NP. Its repititious I know but another beautiful spot. Bush on the beach. When we got there early Friday morn there was no-one around - oh the serenity. By about 5 it was packed. Not to worry, again loads of walking & fishing.

Koalas everywhere

Its a hard life - Blanket Bay fishing

 Went & had a look at Cape Otway lighthouse.

Cape Otway lighthouse

Anyway spent a couple of days at Blanket Bay before noisy neighbours got the best of us so we headed back on to the Great Ocean Road. Stopped at the 12 Apostles with the intention of just doing the walk out to the look out but we couldn't resist & ended up doing a helicopter flight over the 12 Apostles (techincally only 9) & London Bridge. What a buzz! 

Copy that

Up front -  woohoo!

Yeah!

So we are now at Warrnambool. Staying a couple of days, weather terrible. Car service, resupply, then meandering on to South Oz!!

(ED      LUVEN IT)

HOPETOUN, BALLARAT

Well we headed to Hattah-Kulkyne NP. Not really what we expected. Green algae meant no fishing or swimming so we barred it & stumbled on the little town of Hopetoun. Lovely little town with the beautiful Lake Lascelles. Magic spot & all free. Free camping, hot showers, BBQs. Met a nice old fella who kept us supplied with worms for fishing & fresh fruit & also offered us jobs (yes we declined). Craig caught a couple of yellowbellies, me still nil. Also got some yabbies. Had our first swim. Spent a few days here, magic spot & highly recommend it.

Our camp

Me nil

Sunset on Lake Lascelles

Left Hopetoun & called in to the Grampians amidst gail force winds & pissing down rain. We didn't hang around for long & spent a night at Ararat (again in pissing down rain).

Unbelievable how many racecourses around these parts. Warracknabeal, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat, Hamilton however the cloest we got was a losing bet on the Caulfield Cup in a strange little Ararat pub!

We have now been in Ballarat for a couple of days. Have been living it up in a hotel. Luxury.......... As we were driving into town we spotted Craig's Royal Hotel & of course we had to stop for a couple of cold ones at Craig's bar! You can imagine the carry on. Beautiful old hotel built in 1825 & now restored to its former glory.

Craig's bar

Visited the ex-prisoners of war memorial & spent yesterday at Sovereign Hill & went back again last night for the dinner & Blood on the Southern Cross sound & light show. Dined with a couple of lovely ladies from Melbourne in the Charlie Napier Hotel. Sovereign Hill is like Old Sydney Town used to be - set up as life on the goldfields in the 1850's.  Did a 110 feet underground mine tour, watched a bloke do a $165,000 gold pour, red coats marching, bit of muskett firing, street theatre. Cost a small fortune but had a really good day & its well worth the look.

Sovereign Hill

Red coats

Me & a red coat

$165,000 gold bar!

Old miner in his hut - better than our set up!

The United States Hotel

Wise words

Heading off today for the Great Ocean Road.

MALLEE COUNTRY

Day 42. So left Jindy early last week & first stop was Oura Beach west of Wagga. Free camped on the Murrimbidgee river. A few people about but fishing not much chop. We then headed into MIA1 State Forest looking for some where to camp but the black water on this part of the Murrimbidgee was terrible  - everything looked dead. Things you hear about black water & fish belly up seem to be true - the river needs a good flushing. Camp spots weren't quite like our little book said so we changed plans & stayed at Griffith a night. Next day headed back onto the sturt highway & called in at Shear Outback Hay. Watched a bloke struggle to shear a sheep - think it might have been his first in a while!

Moved on to Balranald, stayed a night, then left early & headed into Mungo NP. Camped at Main Camp.



Our camp.

What a magic place, full of history. Did an aboriginal guided tour to the Walls of China. Explained the history & plants & wildlife. Erosion is taking its toll yet at the same time uncovering fireplaces & bones that are over 40,000 years old.

Walls of China

Did the 70km self drive tour around Mungo. Visited the old homesteads, tried for yabbies in the old wells but no luck. 

Lake Mungo - she's dry.

Dug out at Yanci Homestead.

We had beautiful weather, near full moon & clear skies at night. Beautiful place!

Now at Buronga Mildura, camping right on the mighty Murray! We are on the NSW side & just over the bridge is VIC. The river here is just full of carp & not much else at the moment. Locals say its the worst fishing in a while.

The mighty Murray.

Our camp.

Did a cruise down the river on an old steampaddle boat - The Melbourne. Went throught Lock 11 which is at the moment a dropr or rise of 2.5 metres.

Water down.



Water level up.

We are now in unfamiliar beer territory! We can't buy New or Old! Terrible state of fairs drinking Carlton Draught in little handles!

A handle - whats that all about?

Heading off today for Hattah-Kulkyne NP. Having  a ball!