Werribee South, Victoria {Caravan Park}

A lovely couple {again from NSW} that we meet at Halls Gap, suggested if we needed to stay at Werribee South Caravan Park.  What a lovely, quiet little park.

Another change to do some school work before heading down for a walk along the foreshore, a play at the park before heading home for an early dinner.

   

The reason for our night here, the promised trip to Werribee Open Range Zoo.  What a lovely place, the kids loved every minute of it.

   

    

  

Next stop MELBOURNE!

Geelong Show Grounds, Vicoria {Overnight}

Our original plan was to spend two nights in Geelong to explore the surrounds, but after arriving at the show grounds, we could only have one {stupid up coming long weekend, stupid country music festival}.  That said it is a great place to stay if you are ever in the area.  Just over $20 for all of us with power & hot showers.

We arrived early afternoon unhooked and without setting up went out to have a look around the city.  Bugger being a little later as we missed a big Sunday market that was on, but we did get to see some amazing old buildings, eat tasty ice-cream and see a replica ship arrive in the bay.

   

We packed up early Monday and left the camper at the showgrounds and went out to explore Point Lonsdale and surrounds.  It is definitely a holiday destination with heaps of houses empty, even fancy looking ones!

    

 

The kids loved that they got to see another seal just off from the lighthouse, even closer than our big walk!  We headed back to the camper, had some lunch before hocking up and heading to Werribee for the night {we promised the kids the zoo}

Princetown Reserve, Victoria {Great Ocean Road}

After our national park revelation we had to come up with an alternative for the Great Ocean Road.  We had originally planned to stay at a few different places along the way.  With a little research we decided on Princetown Reserve, which for the big price of $25 a night we had a lovely grass spot and beautiful hot showers. There was even a wildlife show every night.

 

After a long drive we hung around the camp ground for the afternoon and did some school work {the kids most favourite part of the day}.  We decided we would head out for the whole day the following day, driving back to Warrnambol, taking in all of Port Campbell National Park along the way.

Our first stop was the 12 Apostles, which is very well known and busy compared to when Justin & I had visited more than 10 years ago. We picked the right time to go and there was thankfully only a handful of people out already {and no big tour buses}.

 

  

 Next we stopped in at Loch Ard Gorge and Thunder Cave.

 

A little further up the road we stopped at The Arch and also London Bridge, which has long fallen down {and reminds me of the old nursery rhyme everytime I think about it}.

 

We stopped at Cheese World on our way into town and brought way too many cheeses {and could have brought a heap more mind you}. Next stop was the visitors centre, where we grabbed some information on some other things to see.  A few antique stores later we headed down to an amazing park for some fish & chips {it was well after 2pm by this stage you can just imagine Mr 12pm for lunch}.

One more antique market to checkout before we decided to trek back to Princetown for the night, a night which included homemade pizza with fresh mozeralla.

Saturday we headed out to explore the Otway Fly.  A beautiful treetop walk set in the rainforest, surrounded by national park. The kids loved it, even Kyla who didn't enjoy the last treetop walk we did in WA and this one was by far higher!

 

 

  

  

 

 Given how close we where to Triplet Falls we decided to stop in and look at these too.  The kids handled the walk well, they loved seeing the Black Snails and the falls themselves looked amazing.  I asked an older man to take a picture for us but when we got back up the top to the car, I realised that he hadn't actually pushed the button.  Bugger it, as it would've been a nice picture with the falls in the background!

 

After our walk we went in search of another set of falls where we stopped to make lunch, no walking to the bottom or near them this time, just admiring them from the top.

Our next stop was the Apostle Cheese Factory, which I can say from experience makes amazing cheese.  Then we headed to the Chocolate Factory for some sustenance in the form of hot chocolate {and of course other chocolate creations}

Home time came, along with the clouds, rain, fighting kangaroos, a rainbow, lovely sunset and of course falling asleep listening to the rain {we have seen a lot of rain so far in Victoria, during summer}.

 

 

Fitzroy River, Portland, Victoria {Free Camp}

Under advice from Tina & Paul who we meet at in South Australia {and no I have yet to find out who they are or a way to contact them} we headed to Fitzroy River.  A little way east of Portland, but still close enough to be able to spent the following day in town.


After setting up, having lunch and doing a little school we decided to head into town for a quick look around at the visitors centre.  Good thing we did as we discovered them setting up for a market right on the foreshore for the following day.  Odd timing we thought but then a lovely local man shared with us that they had a P & O Cruise ship docking for the following day and the town was going to be busy busy busy. 

Tina and Paul advised us that it was a lovely spot, free and loaded with koalas.  Well after our trip to town we headed home for some school and then exploring, we didn't see one koala and felt suitably ripped off!

After a slow start to the morning we headed into town, our first stop being a wander around the markets.  It was a lovely little market, we got some lovely hot coffee, a warm shall for me, a beautiful skirt for Kyla and the kids got twisted potato things.

Our first spot to explore was the local blowholes, sadly the swell wasn't there for us to see it but we did get to take in the coastline.  Loads of wind turbines and some lovely limestone tubes that looked like a forest.

 

Cape Bridgewater was our next stop.  We decided to tackle the walk out to see the Australian Fur Seals.  It was hard work, especially for the kids but it was well worth it to take in the coast line. I'm thankful that we had the zoom lens otherwise the seals would've been only tiny black dots to us!

 

       

 

 

We headed back into town, grabbed some fresh rolls and headed to the park to make lunch.  It gave us a chance to sit down, enjoy the sunshine and the view.

After we regrouped we decided to take a look out at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse. What a lovely spot, hats been maintained and the old keeper cottages have even been turned into accommodation.

    

After our full on day we headed home for a quiet afternoon.  We were all rewarded when we went for a walk, koalas.  I think, from memory the kids counted five and loved being able to see them in their natural environment.

 

 

What a beautiful spot that we could have easily stayed in for a few more days had time permitted, on the come back to list.  Next stop.....