The Road from Mount Gambier to Robe

Southend

These cliffs at Southend were almost skeletal in appearance, made of limestone, hence the name the Limestone Coast. 

Beachport

One helluva pier at Bridgeport, 3/4 of a km long.

Mount Gambier

We stayed for a couple of days at Mount Gambia at a decent campsite that had ensuite showers and toilets, which was a bit of a luxury. There was an Easter dog show happening at the time so there were dogs everywhere. It has to be said we felt very sorry for some of them as the treatment by their owners was a bit lacking. Lots of lonely dogs whining, we won't be going to dog shows any more, come to think of it we haven't been to any anyway.

There were two weird sinkholes in town that you can descend into with plants and grass growing in them and they are lit up at night. There was also the Blue Lake which is a volcanic crater the water in it has deep blue appearance, we did the walk round it and have to say it was impressive. 

A limestone cave with stalactites and stalagmites on the way to Mount Gambia

The Blue Lake

A big collection of cacti 

Apollo Bay to Port Fairy, the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a great drive, lots of twists and turns, and around some of the corners you are hit by an amazing view. Below are some shots of various stops along the way. There was evidence of the recent bushfires but on the whole the coastal drive wasn't too effected. We didn't go to the 12 Apostles as they didn't allow dogs, we had seen them before on a previous trip when there were more standing anyway.

A view of London Bridge 

Views of Bay of Islands

Port Fairy

Port Fairy is an old fishing town with a lovely wharf which you can walk the length of. There was a gallery trail round the town which we followed. We saw some glass blowing at a guys studio and he was very informative talking us through the processes involved and the properties of the different glasses he used. He has created some unique vases and jewellery, Phil received a present of some earrings as a surprise which went down well. One artist let us pick some apples from her garden when we paid her a visit! We later stewed them with cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar! 

Our campsite was on the edge of town and we met up with two couples who invited us round their caravan for dinner at Easter. We had sore heads the next day, must have been the dodgy oyster.

Views along the wharf at Port Fairy

Sun Set on the Beach at Port Fairy

Apollo Bay

Local cheeses and a paddle of some great craft beers each, nice way to spend an afternoon, and they let the dogs in too.

A day trip from Apollo Bay to Colac. Lake Colac was as dry as a chip as was all the surrounding countryside. Below are some photos from Red Rock Lookout which is at the top of a series of volcanoes. They are lying dormant at the moment no tremors felt but there were some humongous flying ants/bee things which we gave a wide birth.

Above is the amazing view on the road coming back down into Apollo Bay, scorcher of a day not a cloud in site

Yes more sunset pictures, Apollo Bay Beach but it was something special.

Sunrise at our campsite.

View from the fish and chip shop at Apollo bay looking back to the mountains. Damn fine fish and chips too.

Queenscliff

Queenscliff is a gorgeous little town on the western headland of Port Philip, overlooking Sorrento. It reminded us of Southwold in Suffolk. Old houses, cafes and art galleries. The campsite was good set around the oval, we had a horrendous gale which blew down some branches and a school party had a narrow escape, luckily moved to the camp kitchen by the staff that night.

On the way to Queenscliff, somewhere in Vic!

Phil and the dogs on the beach

A view up the high street.

The cliffs at Queenscliff 

Clearing up and chainsawing of the fallen branches.