Woodies on tour!: March 2015

Barwon Heads, Torquay and the Great Ocean Road

Whilst in the area of Melbourne we got in touch with two friends who live kind of close to each other. Linzi is an ex colleague of Richards from Grimsby, she lives in Barwon Heads and Pam our friend from Howick. Pam sold up and left Howick to be nearer her family in Torquay, Victoria. Pam asked us to stay for two nights with her initially so we could have a good get together and catch up and also Pam wanted to show us the area that she lives in now. Discussions ensued and we decided to take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliffe, (we had seen this on the TV and quite fancied it). It takes about 40 minutes and saves the long journey through Melbourne City.

Waiting on the docks

Ferry docking

En route to Pam's, we called in at Barwon Heads, a lovely little holiday area, to meet up with Linzi. We had a lovely lunch at "The Beach House" and great catch up with her. Linzi is now a manager at an Equestrian Centre, unfortunately we didn't see her little boy Dexter but we will be back.

Linzi and Richard

We said our goodbyes to Linzi and carried on to Torquay. It was great to see Pam and her new home which is a brand new 2 bedroomed Villa in a beautiful retirement village, it is just the job as we say!!Pam took us straight out for a little tiki tour to view the foreshore/esplanade/beach of Torquay. It was very nice indeed. A great afternoon with lots of talking and a BBQ to follow.
The following morning we had a leisurely breakfast and then headed out to "The Great Ocean Road" where we travelled as far as Lorne for lunch. Airey's Inlet and the Lighthouse was our first stop for morning tea!

There is a significant sculpture and plaques, informing visitors to how and why the Great Ocean Road was built.
A trust started up in 1917 and the first sections were started in 1919.
"The first sections were built buy the GOR trust and handed over to the government on 2nd October 1936" These sections were dug out and laid by soldiers who had returned from WW1 to give them employment.

This first part we saw was a magnificent feat by these men.

Lighthouse and café at Aireys inlet

The arch at the start of the Great Ocean Road

We went for a walk with Pam on the pier at Lorne.

We said goodbye to Pam on the morning of the 14 February and as we had a Trivia night to attend.

Trivia night at a hall in the small village of Jeetho, we walked into the most beautiful building where lots of tables were set up for the teams that were involved. We had a great night and should have won but the quiz master took off some points for us arguing.... a great time was had.

All wearing hats!

After having fun at the Trivia night, we went on another little road trip to see our friends whom we met "on the road" Ian and Maureen. We had a great time with them at the Mareeba Rodeo, last July.

Ian is a dour Scotsman and Maureen hails from the lovely town of Whitby in Yorkshire.

They made us so welcome at their beautiful house at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne. We were taken on a little tour down to Geelong and Portarlington, a lovely holiday seaside town.

Helen and Maureen

Port Arlington

We went for a lovely meal at the Bowls club and spent the night in our own cosy en suite accommodation. Ian has designed the house to resemble a hotel with hair dryer and toiletries in the bathrooms! Richard asked where the trouser press and bible were kept!

The following day, we went for a look around Melbourne City. We have visited a lot of big cities in Australia and this was just as busy! We seem to have got used to the quiet parts of Aussie, so when we go to a city, it's a bit of a culture shock! Helen loved Victoria market especially the meat and fish market. Its one of her favourite things going to look at the local butchers shop. Ian bought lots of Lamb cutlets they were very good and a great price! we bought a few things along the way.

QV Markets

Chinese New Year

Great meat stalls

Old style tram

Melbourne, busy busy!

Loch, Victoria.

We travelled an easy 250km from Lakes Entrance across the South Gippsland rolling countryside to our friends John and Mandy Boaler where we will put the caravan on their lifestyle property in Loch. Mandy was in the paddock when we arrived moving the 9 sheep their 2 dogs Jac and Karley where helping her!!!
The track down to the house is steep and windy but Richard carefully inched his way with the trusty Ford Ranger down the hill and into position next to the shed. Power and water were soon connected and the whole van was set up for a long term stay. We would be here for some 4 weeks.

Handsome Jac

Notice the flags

Beautiful Karley

We found the area very interesting and Mandy and John took us to some beautiful areas. The local town in Korumburra where the nearest supermarket is and Mandy's job.

Our first trip out with Mandy and John was to "Coal Creek" Historic Museum, just outside the town of Leongatha. It is a country Museum showing how coal mining had a massive part in the history of this area. Whilst walking around we all experienced the weirdest thing! the sound of rain that seemed to be rushing towards us... we headed for the nearest shelter which was a very nice little Church! the heavens opened but we were dry!!

John and Mandy on the train

John and Mandy introduced us to their family, Frank John's brother took Richard fishing out of Welshpool on a very hot Saturday. Richard was surprised at how many fish especially Hammerhead and Port Jackson sharks he caught!!

These are just a few of the photographs Richard took

We had a beautiful day out to Wilsons Promontory which is the southern most point of Australia. The trip and the views whilst travelling down here where just amazing.

A rare sight on the way to Wilsons Prom

Normans Beach, Wilsons Prom

School Camp

A decent selfie

The sea was an amazing colour really like and azure blue, everywhere looked as though we were in the South Sea Islands!!

At the very end of the road (before the beach) is a very large National Park Campsite that was quite full and also very expensive!! We had a good walk around the campsite and found it to be very nice with lots of amenity blocks with excellent shower and laundry facilities. As Richard always says when the price of a nights camping is expensive "so they should be"
at the time of our visit the price per night including electricity was $68. Maybe because it was still in high season! but we don't think so!!

One area of the Campsite was specifically for School camps and as usual we heard all the kids before we came across their setup... the kids were getting ready for surfing lessons etc.
What a place for a camp!!

We set off and walked the full length of Normans Beach and at the same time Richard was being bitten by the "March flies" and as usual we hadn't got our repellent with us!! There were lots of walking tracks with quite a number of people high up on the cliffs at the end of the beach...It just seemed a bit hot for a long tramp!!

On our return trip we found a really hidden beach called "Squeaky Beach" once again walking through the bush to this amazing sight, we thought we were on a South Sea Island, not at the tip of Australia it was so beautiful.

Squeaky beach

Philip Island

John decided to take a day off and we all had a trip down to Philip Island... again we were so lucky with the weather, it was beautiful and hot! The sea was an amazing colour once again. Unfortunately the little penguins were all tucked up in their little wooden huts that were tucked into the side of the cliff.

View from the Boardwalk

Penguin shelters (the little square boxes)

After a hearty lunch at the local RSL (now there is a story!) John, Richard and Helen managed to get the concession rate for a 3 course lunch for $12 but Mandy had to pay full price....poor Mandy! A discussion ensued on whether the 3 concession lunches would be smaller....of course they were, much to John and Richards disgust!! a right laugh was had.
We visited the Wildlife park on the island and loved it!