23rd to 26th June 2017 – Post Work formalities Road trip to the Grampians and The !2 Apostles (Now really only 7) along the Great Ocean Road before flying back home to Auckland.

After the Software Technical symposium concluded on Friday Afternoon, grabbed a rental car and drove to Halls Gap next to the Grampians National Park, staying at Comfort Inn Halls Gap.

Left early in the morning in order to take advantage as much daylight as possible to do a few walks around the Grampians including a walk around McKenzie Falls and Silverband Falls before sun down.

Once dusk had set in, drove onto Warrnambool and stayed overnight at Anchor Belle Motel and again set off early in the morning following highway “B100” which is the Great Ocean Road, stopping at multiple points along the way before the weather packed in as soon as I reached the Twelve Apostles.

Stayed around for a little while, but the Hordes of tourists was just too much to bare, along with the rainy weather making any photo snapping worthless (was pretty much just grey), decided to just continue on to a place called Beech Forest to walk Beauchamp Falls and Hopetoun Falls before continuing down an eerily quiet winding dirt road in pouring rain towards Apollo Bay and booked into Iluka Motel and Restaurant for a bite to eat and a bed.

Decided to try my luck again in the next morning and retraced my route to the 12 Apostles, weather was far better this time, there was hardly any tourists… In fact, there was no buses there at all. Got a short Helicopter ride in. It was then time to head back to Melbourne Airport and drop the rental car back off with a short stop at a place called Red rock (Rural views, predominantly used by rural locals as a fitness track.

Other Notes

• Better to visit the 12 Apostles as early as there is available daylight to avoid the hordes upon hordes of Tourists coming by bus loads towards the afternoon.
• Google Maps when I tried to use it for this journey was glitchy. Changing route often, despite being hardly any traffic and somehow getting into a funny route loop twice.
• Some Fellow Tourists can be inconsiderate. Toilet paper was everywhere and the stench of Human waste may be evident at some locations along some scenic stopping points along the Great Ocean Road.
• I did indeed wear shorts during the trip and a short sleeve fleece, and no, I did not feel cold. (Was repeatedly approached and asked by others whether or not I felt cold… Had some warmer clothes in my day pack anyway just in case)
• Wallabies while driving at night was forever darting in front of my car requiring me to hit the picks. Be careful if driving at night.
• Beware the State of Victoria’s Heavy Enforcement of Speeding. Please read warning here.