Our week is Tassie was amazing but very hectic. We were sad to leave but were also very excited about the 2nd week of our Easter vacation which we planned to spend in a motorhome on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.
We got moving at 5:30 Saturday morning and caught the 8:05 am flight from Hobart to Melbourne. Once there, we watched the NHL playoffs in the airport while waiting for our (very slow) luggage, got lost while driving to the motorhome place (why are there 2 highways that are labelled #8?!?) and then drove our motorhome downtown in search of the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. We eventually found the MCG (no thanks to that "handy" GPS!) and then found a parking spot for our motorhome. It was a one hour parking but, by this point, we were very late for our 1st ever Australian Rules Football game so we were willing to take our chances!
We rushed the 5 or 6 blocks to the MCG and I was surprised by the number of other people that were equally late! I mean, we were 40 minutes late! The kids were anxious, Howard was trying to rush with his big "meter reading walk" and I was just plain frustrated! When we finally arrived at the MCG, we saw two gates. "Doesn't matter", I said, and so we rushed off to Gate 2. Oops! I guess it did matter and they redirected us back to Gate 1. Once there, the MCG staff outside the building took one look at Howard in his jeans and t-shirt and said, "You can't come in here dressed like that!". WHAT?!?! I mean, we live in a country where men paint their naked chests and put watermelons on their heads to attend sporting events!!! Turns out, all men must wear a collar in the MCG and ladies must wear a leather type shoe. (No flip flops) Well......now we're really ticked off and the motorhome is sooooo far back. We could hear that the 2nd quarter was already underway and we needed to get in there! So, the staff directed us to a souvenir stand where they sold plain golf shirts for $30 or team t-shirts for $90 and the only sizes left were SM or XL. We bought a plain white XL, much too big, and made a quick change behind the souvenir stand. By this point, we are all freaking out and Momma had her umpteenth Australian meltdown! I mean, when you wake up at 5:30 am, you expect to be able to make the 1:45 pm Footy game!
Ok, enough whingeing. (Aussie for complaining.) We arrived at our seats 1 hour late and were up high so had a great view of the entire field. It is very large and round with goal posts on two sides. Each team had 18 players on the field and about 10 officials. Howard and the Bigs knew a few rules but the Littles and I knew nothing about the game. It is a very fast game with whistles blowing and fans cheering spontaniously. The 4 quarters didn't end at exact times (I don't know why) and, at the end of the game, the fans and players burst into a team song. The Richmond Tigers (same tiger logo as our Vermilion Tigers!) defeated Melbourne 133-74. We will return to Melbourne for a tour of the MCG and another AFL game sometime this year.....and we'll wear a collar and leather shoes too!
We got moving at 5:30 Saturday morning and caught the 8:05 am flight from Hobart to Melbourne. Once there, we watched the NHL playoffs in the airport while waiting for our (very slow) luggage, got lost while driving to the motorhome place (why are there 2 highways that are labelled #8?!?) and then drove our motorhome downtown in search of the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. We eventually found the MCG (no thanks to that "handy" GPS!) and then found a parking spot for our motorhome. It was a one hour parking but, by this point, we were very late for our 1st ever Australian Rules Football game so we were willing to take our chances!
We rushed the 5 or 6 blocks to the MCG and I was surprised by the number of other people that were equally late! I mean, we were 40 minutes late! The kids were anxious, Howard was trying to rush with his big "meter reading walk" and I was just plain frustrated! When we finally arrived at the MCG, we saw two gates. "Doesn't matter", I said, and so we rushed off to Gate 2. Oops! I guess it did matter and they redirected us back to Gate 1. Once there, the MCG staff outside the building took one look at Howard in his jeans and t-shirt and said, "You can't come in here dressed like that!". WHAT?!?! I mean, we live in a country where men paint their naked chests and put watermelons on their heads to attend sporting events!!! Turns out, all men must wear a collar in the MCG and ladies must wear a leather type shoe. (No flip flops) Well......now we're really ticked off and the motorhome is sooooo far back. We could hear that the 2nd quarter was already underway and we needed to get in there! So, the staff directed us to a souvenir stand where they sold plain golf shirts for $30 or team t-shirts for $90 and the only sizes left were SM or XL. We bought a plain white XL, much too big, and made a quick change behind the souvenir stand. By this point, we are all freaking out and Momma had her umpteenth Australian meltdown! I mean, when you wake up at 5:30 am, you expect to be able to make the 1:45 pm Footy game!
Ok, enough whingeing. (Aussie for complaining.) We arrived at our seats 1 hour late and were up high so had a great view of the entire field. It is very large and round with goal posts on two sides. Each team had 18 players on the field and about 10 officials. Howard and the Bigs knew a few rules but the Littles and I knew nothing about the game. It is a very fast game with whistles blowing and fans cheering spontaniously. The 4 quarters didn't end at exact times (I don't know why) and, at the end of the game, the fans and players burst into a team song. The Richmond Tigers (same tiger logo as our Vermilion Tigers!) defeated Melbourne 133-74. We will return to Melbourne for a tour of the MCG and another AFL game sometime this year.....and we'll wear a collar and leather shoes too!
MCG in Melbourne Richmond vs. Melbourne
Khye (2nd from left) at the waterfront in Geelong.
I'm going to try to keep the rest of this trip short because the pictures really do speak for themselves....
After the AFL game, we continued a short distance on down the road to Geelong. Travelling at this time of year has proved much easier because there are fewer tourists. We never booked ahead and found great campsites every night. We spent two nights in Geelong and one day at the waterfront. The boys tried the 4 person trampolines, the 100+ year old carousel, and the cold pool. After drying off in the sunshine and stopping for hot chips and a treat, Cody spilled Kent's red slushie on his white shorts so.....back into the cold pool for Kent!
After the AFL game, we continued a short distance on down the road to Geelong. Travelling at this time of year has proved much easier because there are fewer tourists. We never booked ahead and found great campsites every night. We spent two nights in Geelong and one day at the waterfront. The boys tried the 4 person trampolines, the 100+ year old carousel, and the cold pool. After drying off in the sunshine and stopping for hot chips and a treat, Cody spilled Kent's red slushie on his white shorts so.....back into the cold pool for Kent!
Kent in Torquay.
After travelling for hours at a time in Tasmania, the boys were shocked by the slow pace of our 2nd week. On Monday, we travelled the very short distance from Gellong to Anglesea. Along the way, we stopped at Torquay to walk the beach and look for crabs and then it was off to Bells Beach. What a sight! Only one week earlier, Bells Beach was the sight of a world surf competition. The surf was huge and rough....you have to be very brave to surf. Again, we just walked the beach and ran from the waves. There are no lifeguards on patrol anywhere because the holidays are over (in Victoria) and the water is really too cold to swim anyway!
The Great Ocean Road
Tuesday saw us off to Split Point Lighthouse at Airey's Inlet. We joined a tour to the top of the lighthouse...a first for us. It was a super view as you might imagine and not too windy although when we looked up and the clouds were moving, it definately felt like we were moving and falling! We took our time at the lighthouse and the boys played cricket at the beach while I prepared lunch and we made several phone calls home. (Grandma Lovey's been sick and this was a tough day. It was also her 80th Birthday!) From the lighthouse, we wound our way through the bush to the beautiful Erskine Falls. There is nothing quiet or gentle about our boys and the Bigs were very wet by the time we left. (And then Cody tried to wear my shoes for the rest of the week...as if!)
Cody at Erskine Falls before falling in TWICE!
The boys at Apollo Bay.
Tuesday night, we stayed at Wye River and the boys rented pedal gokarts. Even Dad and I "had a go"!. There was another koala in the tree behind our motorhome but far enough away that we didn't have to listen to him snort all night!
Wednesday was a bit more driving but still slow and lazy. We started at Apollo Bay. You can see from the sky that they weather has been cool this week and Autumn is definately here. The water was so rough at this beach that I was getting sea sick watching the poor fishing boat that was making its way out to sea. The swells were so big that we would lose sight of the boat...yuck!
From Apollo Bay, we continued west and then south to Cape Otway on the southern most tip of Victoria. The Cape Otway lighthouse was built in 1848 along this, the shipwreck coast. Hundreds of ships and lives have been lost along these shallow and rocky shores. We weren't sure if we wanted to stop and see another lighthouse but we are glad that we did. The area is a combination of farmland and National Park.
Wednesday was a bit more driving but still slow and lazy. We started at Apollo Bay. You can see from the sky that they weather has been cool this week and Autumn is definately here. The water was so rough at this beach that I was getting sea sick watching the poor fishing boat that was making its way out to sea. The swells were so big that we would lose sight of the boat...yuck!
From Apollo Bay, we continued west and then south to Cape Otway on the southern most tip of Victoria. The Cape Otway lighthouse was built in 1848 along this, the shipwreck coast. Hundreds of ships and lives have been lost along these shallow and rocky shores. We weren't sure if we wanted to stop and see another lighthouse but we are glad that we did. The area is a combination of farmland and National Park.
Cape Otway Lighthouse - 1848
Just hanging out at Cape Otway.
We are so koala lucky! The trees along the road in and out of Cape Otway were filled with koalas. A lady even came to our motorhome in the parking lot and asked us to be careful not to hit them out of the trees with our high motorhome! We stopped to take several pictures (but we missed the shot of the big kookuburra in the tree. My boys are soooo not quiet!) There were koalas eating, sleeping, hanging out looking at us and Khye and I even saw one walking along the edge of the road!
After running around the Cape Otway site and koala spotting, we settled in for a bit of a drive. Our next stop was Gibson's Steps on the Great Ocean Road.
After running around the Cape Otway site and koala spotting, we settled in for a bit of a drive. Our next stop was Gibson's Steps on the Great Ocean Road.
The Gibson Steps.
The steps were once carved from the rock but are now concrete. The beach was perfect sand and amazing to walk in. The water was rough and strong and again, the boys waded into the water and then ran away as the waves crashed over. As it was getting to be late afternoon, we spent only 30 minutes or so here and then hurried off to "the big attraction". The 12 Apostles must be the most photographed spot on the Great Ocean Road and they were only just around the corner!
The 12 Apostles
Because the 12 Apostles is the most popular spot along the road, there is a large parking lot, helicopter tours, and snack bar nearby. We joined the crowds and made our way under the highway to the viewing area. The boys were very disappointed that they couldn't walk along the beach beside the 12 Apostles. The sun was beginning to set and our photos were not turning out well because of the harsh lighting. (Who knew I would fall in love with this picture though?!?) We agreed we would just continue on to our campsite at Port Campbell and we would begin our trip in the morning with another trip out to the 12 Apostles.
The 12 Apostles again.
And so, all of Thursday was spent admiring the views and playing in some water all along the Great Ocean Road. We began at the 12 Apostles, then the Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, London's Bridge and the Bay of Islands. Our favorite, by far, was the Loch Ard Gorge with its shipwreck past (The Loch Ard sank on the last night of a 4 month trip), the story of its' 2 survivors, the caves, the sand and the cliffs. It would be soooo romantic without 4 busy boys in tow!!
The Loch Ard Gorge from the top.
After a picnic lunch and a splash in the cold waters, we hauled our wet boys back up to the motorhome to continue our adventure. The rest of the day's stops were also beautiful but were just for looking so they were quick. By supper, we had found our way to the end of the Great Ocean Road and we were camped at Warrnambool where we stayed for two nights.
On Friday, we toured the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. It's similar to Fort Edmonton or the Ukrainian Village but for seaside villages! The boys were the only kids in the village and were welcomed by the employees and some of the other tourists. It seems every Aussie has been to Canada or is planning a trip to Canada....it's the people and the mountains that draw them in!
In the evening, we returned to Flagstaff Hill for a laser and sound show regarding the true story of the Loch Ard Gorge. The show began in the theatre a short movie and then we picked up lanterns and wandered off through the village stopping along the way to hear the tales of the Loch Ard and its two survivors. The laser and water show was very well done and the entire evening was very enjoyable!
On Saturday, we headed out on the highway....destination Geelong, again! We liked it so much the first time! The highway was very quick and we arrived much earlier than we had anticipated. As we were driving through the city, the boys spotted a couple of waterslides and right beside it was a baseball game. Well, it was past lunch time anyway so we did a U turn and headed back to the ball game. The green fleld, the white ball pants and the slap of the ball in the leather gloves made us all instantly homesick! (It's amazing what triggers emotions when you are away from home!) The boys and Dad walked to check out the waterslides, I made lunch and Khye continued his nap. Then we all had a picnic and enjoyed the ball game! Soon after, we were enjoying the waterslides and amazing pools at the Geelong Leisure Link. What a great, unexpected way to spend the afternoon! (And not one picture taken the entire day?!?!)
Sunday was a long dreaded day. We made the 1 hour drive back to Melbourne, returned and unpacked the motorhome, repacked the van and drove the 5 hours back to Boongarra Farm and unpacked the van again. As if that wasn't enough, Cody and Kent repacked their backpacks and I drove them into Griffith to their respective friends' homes for sleepovers as well!
It was a jam packed two weeks on the road with lots of sight seeing, outdoor activities and animal sightings. It was a very different vacation than our January trip up the east coast and, dare I say, even more beautiful? Australia, like Canada, is so varied in its landscape and vegetation; you always wonder what is around the next corner and wonder how it can get any more amazing....and yet it does.
Check out "heaps" more pictures under More...Easter Holidays....The Great Ocean Road.
JJ
On Friday, we toured the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. It's similar to Fort Edmonton or the Ukrainian Village but for seaside villages! The boys were the only kids in the village and were welcomed by the employees and some of the other tourists. It seems every Aussie has been to Canada or is planning a trip to Canada....it's the people and the mountains that draw them in!
In the evening, we returned to Flagstaff Hill for a laser and sound show regarding the true story of the Loch Ard Gorge. The show began in the theatre a short movie and then we picked up lanterns and wandered off through the village stopping along the way to hear the tales of the Loch Ard and its two survivors. The laser and water show was very well done and the entire evening was very enjoyable!
On Saturday, we headed out on the highway....destination Geelong, again! We liked it so much the first time! The highway was very quick and we arrived much earlier than we had anticipated. As we were driving through the city, the boys spotted a couple of waterslides and right beside it was a baseball game. Well, it was past lunch time anyway so we did a U turn and headed back to the ball game. The green fleld, the white ball pants and the slap of the ball in the leather gloves made us all instantly homesick! (It's amazing what triggers emotions when you are away from home!) The boys and Dad walked to check out the waterslides, I made lunch and Khye continued his nap. Then we all had a picnic and enjoyed the ball game! Soon after, we were enjoying the waterslides and amazing pools at the Geelong Leisure Link. What a great, unexpected way to spend the afternoon! (And not one picture taken the entire day?!?!)
Sunday was a long dreaded day. We made the 1 hour drive back to Melbourne, returned and unpacked the motorhome, repacked the van and drove the 5 hours back to Boongarra Farm and unpacked the van again. As if that wasn't enough, Cody and Kent repacked their backpacks and I drove them into Griffith to their respective friends' homes for sleepovers as well!
It was a jam packed two weeks on the road with lots of sight seeing, outdoor activities and animal sightings. It was a very different vacation than our January trip up the east coast and, dare I say, even more beautiful? Australia, like Canada, is so varied in its landscape and vegetation; you always wonder what is around the next corner and wonder how it can get any more amazing....and yet it does.
Check out "heaps" more pictures under More...Easter Holidays....The Great Ocean Road.
JJ
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