Part 2 - The Great Ocean Road

ilseluypaert
Dec 23, 2023
3 min read

24-27 December 2023

After 15 hours driving, we are now close to the start of the Great Ocean Road. Today is our last sleep in a bed. We fill up our food supplies for the upcoming days in the national parks and enjoy a dive in the camping pool.

Suddenly Aiko decides that if she wears a snorkle she doesn't need any floaties...!? She walks very confidently into the water and aims for the middle, no need for a plan B. And yes, right she is... Aiko is swimming ! So proud of seeing our youngest crossing the waters in freestyle 😍!

What a luck to have our cabine just in front of the jumping pillow. The kids are playing outside until sunset, while the parents enjoy a drink.

Torquay

First town along the Great Ocean Road, Torquay, famous for its surf. After a picnic at the playground we head for the surf beach. Rains drops start falling, so we go for coffee and Rip Curl outlet instead. Now everyone has a warm jumper and wetsuit, all prepared for a cold and rainy dip in the ocean

Lorne

Little detail, 200m walk-in campground, but i got great helpers to carry all our stuff from the car to the site. We are not alone, and got some furry friends nextdoor.

Christmas Day

We started Christmas day with a dip in the Southern Ocean. Oh so happy we brought our wet suits. With only 17 degrees and rain all day we almost forget it is summer. What a great feeling though to be out in the waves.

After a warm lunch in the local resto (to stay dry) we do some driving along the coast (to stay dry) and visit Split Point Lookout (and get wet ;-)

As it doesn't stop raining, we head back to our tent early and spend the rest of the day cocooning. Tristans asks his dad all about electricity, nuclear and thermal power plants, batteries, evaporation and dissipation, etc Chloe and Aiko spent time in fantasy land playing roles, and I do some yoga poses and watch them all.

After packing up our campsite in the rain, we are so happy it stopped raining for a while and enjoyed picnic on the beach!

Cape Otway Light House

Some history lessons at lighthouse, about mail ships bringing thousands of letters, first telegraphs connection with tasmania, japanese explorers in WWII and whales.

Highlight of today is without any doubt this koala who suprised us while claimbing out of his tree to find a fresh one. Hopping to a fist one, which didn't quite was what he was looking for and then a second tree where he want all the way up to the thinnest branches to eat some yummy leaves.

Also we got a roof over our heads tonight which allows us dry lots of wet things and a minigolf session where every one wins !

Twelve Apostels

What is supposed to be the highlight of the Great Ocean Road is hidden in the clouds. (Still masses of tourist busses, so don't come in peak season)

Just a stop in the middle of nowhere where the quite makes it all the more magic.

Warnambool

Arriving at Surfside Holiday Park, some of us braved the cold ocean water and tried catching some waves ! Bravo to Thomas, Tristan and Chloe! In the meantime Aiko drove Foxy and Blue Rabbit around. How fun is camping when it is dry :-) Next morning breakfast and bathing at the Deep Blue Hot Springs !