We made our way down the coat from Tilba Tilba through Eden to Genoa where we stayed on the river at Wallagaraugh River Retreat.  It was down a 10k dirt road, but it was lovely once you got there,  miles from anywhere and the site was almost empty.  The first night we pitched right alongside the river and it was so cold we had a fire that evening.

 

We both tried our hand at fishing and this time we caught something.  Bob caught a couple of bream and a sand flathead and Phil caught a bream.  Unfortunately they were a bit tiny so we had to throw them back in.

 

In the evening the local kangaroos came to visit.  We spent five nights at Wallagaraugh, we had to move the van the second night as it was so windy but not rain.  We went swimming in the river which was warm and clean, went went to a traditional Aussie pub – very old fashioned but the food was great.

 

The weather has been so changeable here, one day brilliant sunshine and then the following we had a massive thunder and lightening storm which we spent under the canopy drinking wine and beer watching the rain.

 

Saturday 24th we left Wallagaraugh and headed further round the coast.  We headed for Lakes Tyer which is a little village next to Lakes Entrance.  We were hoping that they would have some Australia day celebrations going on but sadly as it is a holiday village there was nothing on.  Lakes entrance is a lovely town with lots of shops and boats to look at.

The weather changed for the better and the wind dropped and we had a lovely walk along the beach at Lake Tyer and Bob tried a bit of sea fishing this time – no luck at all.  After fishing we were told that the trawlers came through the night before and wiped out all the fish – that is Bobs excuse!!!  That evening we went to the local pub and saw Brendan Forward playing.  We had a really good evening and were pleased we had gone down to listen.

 

 

 

The beaches are great and here is Phil on 90 mile beach…

 

Tuesday 27th we left Lake Tyer and carried on round the coast up to Lang Lang.   On our way there most of the lights on the dashboard came up.

 

Nothing and changed in the car so we stopped and Bob had a look under the bonnet.  We looked in the handbook but everything seemed to be OK apart from the lights – until we started out and found we didn’t have any indicators. Luckily we were not far from Sale which is largish town and they had a Mitsubishi service centre.  We called in there but they were fly booked so sent us down the town to a small garage who might be able to help us.  We found the garage and the mechanic how looked like Benny Hill came to our rescue.  The fuse had gone and he replaced it ,giving us some spare and said it was a common fault in the Pajero – charged us $20 and sent us on our way – what a relief .

 

Lang Lang is 50 km away from Phillip Island on the way to Melbourne but half the price!!!  We stayed here to two nights and on the second day headed down to Phillip Island.  Our main aim was to see the little penguins in the evening but made a day of it.  First we visited the Koala Conservation place.  Very interesting and well laid out. After the information centre you go out to the boardwalks and try to spot the koalas.  Hide and seek and we had 30 to spot – the lady in the visitor centre said 10 was a good score!!!  We managed to see 13 which we were quite pleased with.  They camouflage themselves very well by looking like the tree.  All bar one were asleep and the one woke up because a bit of tree came crashing past it!!!  After that we headed down to Cowes.  It is really strange as they have tried to make it look like Cowes in the Isle of Wight.  They have a pier and a boat house just the same!!!  After lunch we went to Churchill island.  We only went there as it was in our ticket price!!! It was a Victorian house and a farm, we saw sheep shearing, whip cracking and dog training.  All very nice but something out of nothing.  A visit to the Nobbies centre was next on the list.  This is at the end of the island and you can see the seals on the nearby island through binoculars and the nesting boxes some which had penguins in.

 

After the picnic tea in the car (it was very windy) it was time to go to se the penguins.

 

We had been told to wrap up warm and we were glad of that advice.  It was freezing, the wind was blowing a gale and you have to sit on the beach for an hour before they are due to come in, we were right at the front and the sand was damp on the viewing stand.  Walking down the path to the viewing place we saw more local wildlife.

 

After a long wait (it seems ages) the penguins started arriving.  They swam up and started to come up but then got scared and headed back to the sea.  They are so tiny and scared that birds of prey will get them they do this for ages before finally plucking up the courage to come ashore.  They come in batches of about 10 –20 penguins.  We watched this for a while then went to the boardwalk where you can see the penguins go into their nesting boxes.  It was amazing that they took no notice of all the humans looking at them.  We don’t have any photos as you are asked not too as it not good for the penguins.  It was fascinating and we were both really pleased we had gone along.  We were also pleased that the car had a heater as we had chilled to the bone.

If you look at the App Penguin Parade you can see photo’s and stuff… It is free.

 

Thursday 29th

We left Lang Lang today.  We had really enjoyed our stay.  The caravan site was right on the beach, it was 5 steps from the front of our van to get to the beach, so really on the beach.

 

There were only a few people staying there so we didn’t get to meet anyone new.  We headed off to Melbourne.  We decided not to go into Melbourne, we felt it was another city and with the van it would have been very expensive for us to stay there so we headed straight for the Great Ocean Road (GOR).  We started at the beginning in Torquay which was very much like any holiday town and carried on through Anglesea.  This is where it really starts.  The views are amazing – we can now se why people rave about it. We went through Lorne which is a very chic little village but with stunning views.  We settled for the night in Wye River, we had to drive up a dirt track to the site and apart from a car of three Germans who slept in the car we were the only ones there – along with the wildlife.

 

Following day we carried on GOR with more amazing views.  We took a walk on a beach in-between Wye River and Kennett River and we were the only ones there!!

Headed up to Cape Otway Lighthouse and had a look round outside – very expensive to get in – so went for a walk instead.  On way back from the lighthouse we stopped and saw 4 wild koalas living on the trees by the road.  Brilliant to see them as they should be in the wild.

Mum and cub

That evening we stopped in a caravan park in Princetown.  Caravan park nearly empty apart from the kangaroos who come every evening to eat.  Loads and loads

 

useful advice…

 

On Saturday we decided to head towards the beach and there is a little lane from our campsite to the beach.  On one side there is a walking path and the other a 4WD lane (not road).  We headed up and all was going fine – until suddenly we were stuck.

 

Our tyres buried into the sand and truly stuck.  We started to dig ourselves out but with no avail.  Then a car appeared with 6 teenagers in it.  They stopped and were brilliant.  They didn’t have anything to help us with but they went and got a tow line from the caravan park and came back with it.  They pulled us out and we were very grateful to them.  Here is a picture of Mitch Everett and Will from Colac.

 

 

We found out after that many people get stuck on this short bit of the 16 k track.  After that we decided to stick to the proper roads!!!!  We visited the 12 apostles and again the views were just amazing.

 

 

This last one is taken from the caravan window at the site so it was about 4 meters away…