The Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island, Australia

Rain continued to follow us as we left Mt. Gambier and drove to Warrnambool to start our drive along the Great Ocean Road. As the raindrops fell we just kept hoping for an hour or two no rain. There are many places to stop and hike along the coast. The recommend spots are indicated by the  information signs along the drive.

We got our wish for a dry sky as we wound around the twists and turns that lead to Loch Ard Gorge. Excited to see the beautiful red cliffs, we jumped out of the car and followed the pathways to the lookout points. The wind was strong and the waves were heavy. The break in the rain offered us a dramatic view.

Just a few kilometers further north is the most famous point along the Great Ocean Road, The Twelve Apostles.

There is a huge parking lot, a visitor center and pathways that lead to the view point. There is no charge to park or go to the viewpoints. We walked all the way to the end of the pathway stopping at each lookout to get the best view possible. It was amazing! For those that have seen the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, it is equally fantastic.

The Twelve Apostles have been on our bucket list of years, a we weren’t disappointed. I could have stood out there for hours just watching the waves crash against the rocks but the torrential rain was headed our way again.

 As we drove, I researched where we would stop for the night using an app that was recommended to us by an Aussie couple we met in Vietnam. It is called WikiCamps and it can be purchased on the app store for $4.99 USD. It has been an awesome tool because it not only offers and interactive map and list of campsite but also points of interest, tourist stops, rest areas, picnic spots, etc. The app has reviews from other travelers, comments about how much things cost and what amenities are offered at each stop. We stopped for the night outside of Geelong (southwest of Melbourne).

 

The next morning, the rain had stopped and we were excited to do some hiking with hopes of sighting the elusive Koalas. You Yangs National Park was very close to where we stayed and has some great hiking trails. Visiting the park is free for both the trails and the picnic areas. We set out on a hike but unfortunately, we did not find any Koalas. We were happy to see many other types wildlife.

 

Since we have been to Melbourne before, we did not venture downtown in our campervan. Instead we went around the south side on the “rural route” to avoid the heavy traffic and toll roads. We enjoy seeing the countryside which is very green and full of cows. Our destination was Phillip Island, home to a very large colony of fairy penguins. Fairy penguins are the smallest species of penguins in the world and are blue and white rather than the normal black and white. Every night visitors can experience the completely natural phenomenon of the Penguin Parade. There are up to 5,000 penguins that live on the shores of Phillip Island. They come in from the ocean about 30 minutes after the sun sets. It is safer from them to make it to their burrows under the cover of darkness. In the winter the water is colder and less food is near the shore forcing the penguins to swim out father to find food.

Their search can take up to weeks at a time which is why the number of penguins parading home each night changes throughout the year. There were just under 400 penguins the night we visited. We were not allowed to take photos during our visit because the light of the phones and cameras disorientates the penguins.

On Phillip Island there are other attractions to see as well including The Nobbies, whale watching and surfing. The Nobbies is the farthest western point of the island. A long boardwalk system has been built along the cliffs, as well as an information center and Antarctic film display. A small rock island can be seen from The Nobbies boardwalk. It is referred to as Seal Island, home to as many as 30,000 seals. Eco boat trips can be taken to around Seal Island to get a closer view. We enjoyed the boardwalk trails and the beautiful weather.

 After our morning visit to The Nobbies, we continued making our way around the southeast coast. Throughout the long day of driving we enjoyed the views of both the farmlands and the coast. Stopping for the night at a beautiful little spot in the town of Lakes Entrance. Our campsite was right on the water allowing us to soak in the overwater sunset and sunrise. We were visited in the morning by a family of black swans. They were tapping their beaks against our van door looking for food. I love seeing the animals!  

Another full day of driving takes us to Pebbly Beach. We were excited to see kangaroos. Can kangaroos swim?