Bits & Pieces - The World & Me: Melbourne, Australia 2013

06th August 2013

Breakfast was in a nice cozy place called The Bay Leaf Cafe. We ordered our individual breakfast sets and of course, coffee. The coffee here is terrific according to my sis. It’s her best throughout this whole Melbourne trip.

The Bay Leaf Cafe

Bagel with bacon

Bacon and Eggs on toast - scrambled eggs

Bacon and Eggs on toast - sunny-side up

Pancakes with blueberry, maple syrup and butter

Long Black

Mocha

English Breakfast Tea Set

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Credits - Bay Leaf Cafe Apollo Bay Facebook Page

While waiting for food to be served, we decided to have a few quick snaps. The café is facing the beautiful ocean and we managed to get some nice shots while the sky was sunny. One point to comment, just as what was shared in forums, Melbourne’s weather is very very unpredictable – one moment it is sunny, the next moment it rains and who knows minutes later, the rain might be gone (arghhhhh). Always have on you a waterproof jacket with hood for days like that. It saves the trouble of opening and closing the umbrella which can be tiresome and useless in such windy weather.

Street of Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay - Beachfront

Apollo Bay - Beach

After breakfast and buying some pastries at the bakery next door, we started Day 2 of our GOR drive.

Today, we will drive from Apollo Bay to Warrnambool. Along the way, we will visit the stunning Twelve Apostles, another highlight of our trip.

As we exit Apollo Bay, our first destination was a detour to Cape Otway Lightstation. Wild koalas are known to be living in abundance along Cape Otway Nature Parks. Since we failed to see them yesterday at Kennett River (as we couldn’t find the “koala walk”), we decided to try our luck today.

Cape Otway Lightstation detour

Driving slowly down the narrow road leading to Cape Otway Lightstation and at the same time looking up at the trees, we kept our eyes wide opened as we do not know where to spot them, which one is eucalyptus tree, etc. Almost giving up after searching anxiously for a while, we spotted our FIRST wild Koala. Everyone was overjoyed!!! We immediately pull over for photo taking. A car coming in the opposite direction told us that there were more down the road. What are we waiting for? Everyone hopped back into the car and off we go in search for more Koalas.

True enough, a few other cars were already stopping by the side and right away, you know the KOALAS are there!!! It was really a very special experience seeing koalas in the wild. They are so cute and all cuddled up. Most were just lazing or sleeping while some moving slightly on the tree, reaching out for food – the eucalyptus leaves. In fact, the trees are quite ‘naked’ so the koalas are fairly easy to be spotted after you spotted your first.

Wild Koalas

Wild Koalas (This one is so cute!)

Wild Koalas - Grabbing its lunch

Unwillingly, we bid goodbye to the koalas and continue the drive to Cape Otway Lightstation. Unlike the Split Point Lighthouse, we cannot see anything from the carpark. However, there is a Lightstation lookout about 300m away.

You can either pay an entrance fee of AUD18.50 per adult for a guided tour if you really want to see the Lightstation or try the lookout. As we do not want to pay and enter just for photo-taking (we are not interested in the guided tour too), we opted for the lookout. Half way into the walk, we met some fellow Singaporean travelers telling us the lookout was not worth visiting and altogether, we headed back to the carpark.

Cape Otway Lightstation

Path leading to Cape Otway Lightstation Lookout

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Credits : Cape Otway Lightstation

Next stop brings us to Gibson Steps lookout. This is the first sightseeing stop-off in Port Campbell National Park. You can actually descend all 86 of the Gibson Steps and walk down to the wild beach for a ground-level view of the 12 Apostles. Of course, we didn’t do that. Some photos were taken before we leave for the next stop-off – THE TWELVE APOSTLES.

Gibson Steps

Gibson Steps (Can you spot the 1st Apostle???)

Gibson Steps

THE TWELVE APOSTLES – finally I am back after 17 long years!!!!

The Twelve Apostles are created by erosion million years ago and there are only about 7 magnificent rocks left standing today.

There is only 1 big carpark opposite the Twelve Apostles lookout where you can park your car. Wanna ride the helicopter for a bird’s eye view of the Twelve Apostles? This is also the boarding area. Walking to the lookout is less than 5 minutes.

Twelve Apostles

“Wow….!!!” and “Ohh…..!!!” filled the air. Tons and tons of photos were captured for we don’t know when our next visit will be. One live no regrets now after seeing the Twelve Apostles erecting strongly right in front of me. Just like what people always say, you have never been to Melbourne if you did not visit the Twelve Apostles.

Twelve Apostles

Arrival at Port Campbell Town marks almost the end of our Great Ocean Road adventure. We have a short stopover and some snacks before we finished the last leg to Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge.

Port Campbell Bay

Port Campbell Jetty

Port Campbell Bay

Port Campbell Bay

Port Campbell Lookout

Port Campbell Lookout

Loch Ard Gorge

“Apart from natural beauty this site is steeped with history from the night of 31 May 1878. This location saw the dramatic survival of only two young people, Eva Carmichael as a passenger and Tom Pearce as crew.

The ship on a 90 day journey and was one day from arriving in Melbourne when it struck an outer reef. Sadly over 47 perished in The Wreak of the Loch Ard with only four bodies being retrieved and buried.”

According to Wikipedia, Tom Pearce was hailed as a hero, and continued his life at sea but drowned several years later in another shipping accident. A sailor who cannot escape the fate of dying in the sea.

Loch Ard Gorge

The Grotto

Located 3km east of Peterborough the Grotto is a favorite amongst many travelers. Beautiful reflections are experienced in the still water that sits at the base of this open cave. The natural formation of the cave has framed many a photo with the wild ocean providing a spectacular photographic backdrop.

The Grotto

London Bridge

No longer complete after an unexpected collapse on 15 January 1990 where two tourists were stranded on the outer part until they were rescued by a helicopter. Can you imagine the fear of the tourists who witnessed the whole process of soil collapsing? A once in a life experience that I definitely do not want to encounter.

London Bridge

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Credits : The Great Ocean Road

Leaving GOR behind, we entered Warrnambool where we will stay for the night. Accommodation is at The Gallery Apartments. We booked a 2 bedroom apartment which comes with 1 Queen, 2 single beds and a roll-away bed. The living room, kitchen and roll-away bed are downstairs while the 2 bedrooms and toilets are upstairs. It was another “WOW!!!” and you will know why from the photos posted.

The Gallery Apartment

The Gallery Apartment - Living room

The Gallery Apartment - Kitchen

The Gallery Apartment - Queen bed

The Gallery Apartment - 2 single beds

The Gallery Apartment - Bathroom 1

The Gallery Apartment - Ballroom 2

The Gallery Apartment - Amenities

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Credits : The Gallery Apartments

Breakers Restaurant – the one and only seafood restaurant in Warrnambool, serving the freshest local seafood in town, is where we have selected from a list of restaurants to have dinner. Is there any privilege for being the first customer? Our order includes house made crayfish & prawn spring rolls, roasted pork belly, seafood risotto, fresh market fish fillets and Breakers seafood platter. Some wine will be perfect to go with the seafood feast – our first and only wine tasting session during the entire trip.