Great Ocean Drive

On Monday we left Melbourne and started making our way back home via the Great Ocean Drive. Beautiful scenic drive with lots to see. We stayed the night up in the mountain in the Great Otway Park, at a camp spot. It was a very cold night so we enjoyed a nice warm camp fire. 

The coast

Kara and her massive tent

Too many burgers

The next day we did some more driving along the coast and stopped to see the 12 apostles (only 8 now), the Arch, the Bay of Islands (in Peterborough) and a few other scenic stops. 

The 12 Apostles

Some randoms jumped in front of the camera

Danger!

The Arch

Bay of Islands

We crossed the border into SA and are staying at Blue Lake Caravan Park in Mt Gambier for the night. The Blue Lake has been formed in the crater of a volcano that had erupted years ago. At the beginning of November the lake turns into a vivid blue which stays that way until about March where it gradually changes back to a grey blue. Pretty cool to see.

The Blue Lake

Week 3

On Monday 7th we left Tawonga and travelled south to a small town called Dargo. We took a gravel track further into the bush and stayed on the Mitchell-Wonnangatta River at 'Black Snake Creek' campsite. Ant drove 3 hours back to Melbourne to pick up Kara and then drove back to join us.

River crossing

On Tuesday we did a bit of 4 wheel driving. We drove up to the top of the mountain. What a beautiful view of the mountains! 

At the top!

The track going down the mountain

We couldn't be bothered cooking and Kara was already sick of camp food so for dinner we drove back into Dargo for a pub meal at the Dargo Hotel. Yum!

Sunset on the way back to camp

On Wednesday we packed up and spent the day driving. We stocked up supplies in Maffra and continued on until we got into Baw Baw National Park. We found a campsite on Aberfeldy river and stayed there for the next 2 nights. 

Cooking dinner over the fire

Saw some horses splashing in the water

On Thursday we did a bit more 4 wheel driving while Mum, Amanda and Nicole stayed back at camp. Later on in the afternoon we had a swim in the river and could wash our hair! We also spotted a huge race horse goanna. It was over a metre long from head to tail!

Family photo

On Friday we got up on time, packed up and drove to the coast. We went to Phillip Island and stopped for lunch there. Really nice location by the water! Dad's friendly cousins offered us a house for accommodation so that's where we are staying for the weekend. Once again we can have nice warm showers.

Saturday and Sunday

On Friday we packed up and left our spot by the river and travelled on. The weather has been forecasted to be very hot, in the 40's, with total fire ban, so it isn't wise to take the 4 wheel drive tracks further into the bush, just in case of fire. So with a change of plans we travelled into Tawonga and stayed at a caravan park. 

View of Mt Beauty

On Saturday we took a day trip up to Falls creek, up near Mt. Beauty, where you can go snow skiing in winter. Not much snow today though.=P

Rocky Valley Lake in Falls Creek

Right at the top!

Ski run

Timer Shot!

On Sunday we drove to a quiet spot on the river, we listened to a sermon on John 5, and then we moved our chairs and sat in the river to keep out the heat. It was quite a relaxing day; eating, drinking, reading, making boats out of sticks and leaves and having boat races. 

Getting ready to release our boats down the river. I won!!

Camping along the River

On Tuesday we continued our travels up through the mountains and into a town called Jamieson, and then took a gravel track into a camping spot called Granny's flat. Here we had only the luxury of a drop toilet. We camped right along the river.

Anthony, Damien and I decided to take a 4 wheel drive track further into the bush to have a look and found the perfect camp spot so the following day we packed up and moved. Here is the first part of real off road 4 wheel driving! 

We stayed along the river in a quite spot under the trees. The weather has been really hot so we went swimming in the river. Such a beautiful spot to stay! All we hear is the chirping birds, the sound of bugs, and a flowing river! We also made use of a chemical toilet which mum set up, and we showered in the river. We stayed here for 2 nights.

Camp site

Got the fire going

Boys having a go at fishing...didn't catch anything that day.

Floating down the river in the blow-up boat.

Sitting in the rapids.

On Thursday afternoon I spotted a yabby, so Brandon ran off to get the net and we caught a yabby. Dad did some fishing (caught one small fish) and the boys went yabby hunting and caught 6 yabbys.

Past week

From Thursday 27^th to Monday 31^st we stayed in Big4 Caravan Park in Dandenong, just outside of Melbourne City. On Friday we took the bus and then the train into the city. It was really busy but pretty cool to see. We had a delicious lunch and went to the Old Melbourne Gaol (jail).

On Saturday Damien and I went to Fountain Gate for a shopping Spree and spent lots of money. Mum, Dad, Amanda and Nicole did some driving around and went to see sand sculpures, and then went to visit some family. Ant and Brandon decided to go to the MCG to watch the cricket and it went like this. Ant: ‘Can I please have 2 tickets for the game?’ Security Man (looking at him stupidly): ‘Don’t you think it’s a bit quiet today?’ Ant: ‘Ye, does seem like that.’ Security Man: ‘Maybe that’s because there is no game.’ Ant: (I am so stupid)…so they just did a tour instead.

On Sunday we went to the Reformed Church in Box Hill and then had a big lunch at Dad’s cousins house with some other family.

On Monday we left Dandenong and headed north into the high lands. We drove through mountains and hills. What a magnificent scenery! Landscape is quite different from WA. We also drove up to Lake Eildon, flat calm, perfect for wakeboarding!! Tonight we are camping in Taggerty. (Monday night - new years)

The drive up the mountain

Lake Maroondah

Lake Eildon

We stopped on the side of the road and had homemade ice-cream with fresh cherries from Cathedral Cherries.Yum!

Photos

Just a few photos from the past few days...

 Stopping for morning tea

At Madura Caravan Park 

Camp Spot 

Look who we saw on the Nullarbor! 

S.A Border

The Big Galah! 

Scenery as we drove through S.A.

Melbourne!

Today we travelled from Port Adelaide to Melbourne City! The next 4 nights we will be staying just outside of Melbourne in a caravan park in Dandenong. We have done over 3000km in less than 4 days to get here!

Melbourne!

Tonight we saw a possum...so this photo is just for you Kara (Kara means possum in Aboriginal doesn't it?!)