Day twenty nine

Today we headed for the Twelve Apostles - we had been told that it got really busy so we were up at the crack of dawn to set out and were on the road by nine; well, we are on holiday. 

The place was busy but not crowded and was well worth the drive. 

As we drove away we passed more and more coaches on their way there. 

We stopped at a marshland area as we had spotted lots of water birds. 

From we headed to Castle Cove and made our way down to the deserted beach and enjoyed our lunch with just the ocean waves for company. 

We then tried to go to Cape Ottway Lightstation but were not prepared to pay nearly twenty dollars each so settled for an ice cream and some bird photographs. 

Our last call was a short walk in the rainforest along a well market path through groves of tree ferns. 

Our last treat of the day was this splendid female satin bowerbird shouting at us from the bushes in the car park.

Day twenty eight

On the Great Ocean Road. 

We drove out of Melbourne at ten o’clock and took our first break at Angelsea.

and a short walk along the ocean shore. 

Then on to Erskine Falls which was more a dribble than a fall.

Lots of kangaroos along the way.

and at Kennett River we saw our first koala in the wild. 

Then a short drive along this beautiful coast road to Apollo Bay and our Airbnb. 

Day twenty seven

Macey is lending us her car (VW Tiguan) to do the Great Ocean Road trip so we went for a test drive today to the Dandelion Mountain Range (actually they are called the Dandelong Mountains but where’s the fun in that?)

Autumn has arrived here so the colours were all around. 

Although the Park was extremely busy (Anzac Day is a public holiday) there was still wildlife around. 

This wallaby was enjoying something deep in the bushes.

And this is why it is called a Lyrebird. 

We have left our bird identification book back in Sydney so I can’t tell you what these are....

(OK I have just Googled it - Crimson Rosella.)

Then back to Melbourne, via a bakery where we had quiche and salad, to prepare for the next big adventure.

Day twenty six

We hopped on the train this morning in to the CBD (yeah, I didn’t know either. It’s something to do with Central business something or other.).

We wanted to book a sleeper for our return to Sydney next week but were sent all over the station before we were told it was the wrong station. 

We walked by the river to cool down.

We then took a boat downriver to the town of Williamstown, full of history. A local was just heading out on an Historic Tour so we joined in and heard all about how industry had left the area. But there were some highlights. 

We also got a good view of the city across the harbour. 

Then we headed to the right station, got different directions from three different people and eventually got our tickets. 

Day twenty five

A leisurely morning. We walked a short way to a local park, admiring the local buildings on the way, then sat and enjoyed the sunshine. 

After lunch we took the train in to the centre with Masie as our guide. We lakes around the central area, looked in at the art gallery, drank coffee and picked up details of boats for a trip tomorrow. 

Walking back home from the station we passed a gum tree where two lorikeets were making a great fuss and seemed happy to continue making a fuss as I photographed them. They were bobbing heads and then preening and making their raucous calls. 

When I got back home I edited the photos and by lightening the shots could see that a possum had gone to sleep in the lorikeets roost!

Day twenty four

A good night’s sleep in the the Airbnb at Crib Point, the house is large and set in a large plot.

We drove a short way to a boardwalk through a wetland and enjoyed a pleasant stroll through wetland that was not very wet as the tide was low. Very few birds around but warm sunshine and good company. 

Then we returned to Melbourne to Masie’s house ....

... and had a short walk to the local shops....

....  before returning for a take-away meal, which may have been Thai, or Chinese or possibly Vietnamese. We also finalised our plans for the next week or so, involving trips in to the city and a few days away down the coast before returning to Sydney for our last few days here. 

Day twenty three

We arrived in Melbourne last night to stay with Gracie’s mother, Macey.

This morning we took a walk around the Camberwell area where Macey lives then headed off with James and Grace and Gilbert, Grace’s brother. 

We drove out to Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula where we were joined by Bob, Gracie’s father. We met at a winery and sat and ate Italian food on the terrace overlooking the vineyard. 

After a very amusing lunch we headed out to Crib Point where we had booked an Airbnb. We then headed out for a walk through the adjacent woodland before returning to cook a barbecue supper. In the woods were no birds but several decaying cars