Last days of the Winter Holiday

After our rainy visit to Lorne a couple of days ago, we decided to risk it all and try again. It was overcast, and it did drizzle on the way, but overall we were quite lucky this time.

Up behind Lorne is Teddy's Lookout. A couple of geocaches up there drew our attention to it and we're glad they did as it was a great lookout. It gave us a dramatic view looking west from Lorne, to the entrance of the St George River and at the Great Ocean Road as it wound its way out of town and around the steep headland. Seeing the road here was another reminder of how hard a job it must have been for those returned soldiers who first built the road!

We parked in Lorne and had a wander along the waterfront and then back along the shopping strip. There were heaps of families out and about. Lots of surfers in their winter wet suits, lots of people at the cafes and eateries. So much for social distancing here. Lorne has an eclectic range of shops - it is as if it is trying to be another Noosa. It does have colour and character, I'll give it that, from the rundown looking old Lorne Theatre to modern boutiques, cafes and street art. 

It was back to the cottage in Aireys Inlet for lunch. After lunch we took the drone for a fly along the beach at Fairhaven. 

Around 4pm we went back to Step Beach for low tide and explored the rook pools and the base of the cliffs that are not accessible during high tide. From down there you can look back up to the lighthouse.

Before long, it was Monday again which meant it was time to pack up and head for home. Sadly, we had to leave our little cottage which we'd loved. We had this young king parrot turn up to see us off which was nice!

Rather than just head home via Geelong and the world's most boring freeway, we decided to head to Queenscliff and catch the ferry across to Sorrento and head home that way.

Stopped briefly in Point Lonsdale to see the lighthouse, but it was covered in scaffolding undergoing major renovations. Watched a small ship head out of the bay, through the treacherous heads. The view under the jetty was rather nice. 

This old guest house in Point Lonsdale was quaint and well preserved. 

Then we went to Queenscliff where the homes went from quaint to grand. We did not have time to explore too much as we had a ferry booked. 

There are two ferries that ply the waters between Queenscliff and Sorrento. They have the imaginative names of 'Queenscliff' and 'Sorrento'. Queenscliff was mored at Queenscliff. We stood and watched as Sorrento came across the bay and docked before us. 

This mural on one of the large concrete pylons where the ferry docks is nice and colourful.

Around midday we drove on board meaning we would be leaving a few minutes late. We stood up on the top deck to enjoy the 360 degree views. It was not as cold and blustery as it had been standing at the lighthouse in Point Lonsdale. A seagull joined us on the railing, hitching a ride across the bay. It was also interested in the sandwiches we were eating. 

As we left Queenscliff we could see the black lighthouse and the white lighthouse - the ones that ships have to line up in order to see the passage through the heads. Both lights were illuminated in the grey sky. Despite patches of drizzle and dark clouds, it was clear enough that we could see the city skyline in the distance. 

As we neared the eastern shore, the quarantine station on Point Nepean appeared in view, as did some cute beach huts and homes with a view. The homes got bigger as we passed Portsea.

Before we knew it we were back in the car waiting for the chance to drive off the ferry and head for home. Another great family holiday done and dusted.

More of the Surf Coast

A summary of last couple of days... we paid a visit to Torquay and looked in some of the surf gear shops. Ethan and Gemma spent some of their birthday money on new back packs. Gemma also got a new purse/wallet to keep her stash of cash in. The boys and I enjoyed a latte each.

While in the area we visited Bells Beach - a well known surfing beach. There were heaps of people there, plenty of brave surfers out in the water. The views along the coastline and down onto the beach were magnificent. 

There were some lovely murals at Bells Beach - they were on the public toilet block though!

We went back to the house for lunch and then later in the afternoon explored Fairhaven, including some geocaching. One took us to Distillery Creek picnic area where there were these lovely yellow eucalyptus flowers - they covered the ground like a yellow carpet. We then went to the beach at Fairhaven. 

Ethan and Jeanette decided to walk home along the beach... but they had to negotiate 'Aireys Inlet' and get wet feet to get home! 

The next morning we drove along the coast to Lorne. But as we travelled there the drizzly rain got heavier and it looked like it had settled in for awhile. So we did not stay in Lorne for long, but returned to the cottage and got the fire going, played some Uno and had home made soup for lunch. Ethan thought he'd help out by finishing off the last of the soup... straight from the cauldron!

Later in the afternoon the weather cleared so we went on a short walk up a hill behind Aireys Inlet for some more great coastal views. 

There is a small pond / wetlands area not far from where we are staying, so we went and had a look there next.

Finally we went to Sunnymeade Beach which is on the eastern side of Aireys Inlet. We enjoyed the short foresty walk down to the beach and then along to the cliffs at the eastern point of the bay.

The clouds out at sea were very dramatic with their imposing shapes and the changing colours of the late afternoon. There was also a rainbow out on the horizon the whole time we were there. 

Which leads us to today - the weather had improved with just scattered cloud around. Mid morning we drove through Anglesea and back nearly as far as Bells Beach. Zac has worked on a few puzzle geocaches in the area - many of these have required some research or problem solving. We went in search of one of these, at a paragliding jump point. It was a short walk to the spot. The views were again magnificent, across Bells Beach. In the distance we could make out Point Lonsdale lighthouse and Point Neapean, meaning we could see the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. 

Some people walk to this point and exit via a very different method... by launching themselves off the edge with a large piece of material to catch the air. We walked away!

We got a history lesson while in the area as we ventured down another path (part of the Surf Coast Walk) to an old abandoned Jarosite mine. We were parked on Jarosite Rd, and now we know why it was called that. Jarosite is red ochre. The rich red ochre found in this location was used by indigenous people for centuries, then when white men came along they used in during the 1920's to provide the base pigment for red oxide paint. This paint was used by VicRail, so that might mean the ochre from here was in the colour for the famous 'red rattler' electric trains of the same vintage. The mine closed and was abandoned in 1927. The only remnants left are an old dam and a well. 

After that fascinating piece of history we visited the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie which is a few km's out of Anglesea on the Geelong Rd. We enjoyed icecreams and hot chocolates outside away from the crowds. It is a similar set up to the Yarra Valley Chocoaterie - same sort of logo, so it must be owned by the same people or it is franchised. 

A quick stop in Anglesea before heading back to the cottage for some lunch. 

This afternoon we went walking around near 'home'. We went to another of Aireys Inlet's beaches, Sandy Gully. Enjoyed the walk along the cliff tops to the beach, then down on the beach. Finally we ended back at Step Beach and as the tide was low we could explore the caves and cliffs that were cut off by surging seas the other afternoon. 

Early on in our stay we posted pictures of the inside of the cottage - this is what is looks like from the outside.