Tuesday 22nd February
First today we are going to the Jirrahlinga koala and wildlife sanctuary at Barwon Heads. There, we get really close to a koala bear - ok then we both stroked it.
Koala at Jirrahlinga |
Close-up of Koala |
Koala sitting in tree |
We also saw lizards, and stroked the 10 foot python. It was a hungry constrictor but was due for its monthly feed of a rabbit the next day. We also saw emu, wallabies and grey kangaroo.
Python |
Iguana |
Wallaby |
Emu |
We could have spent more time there talking to the staff and looking at the animals but we were still in Barwon Heads. This was when the mobile phone would come into its own as we did not want to bounce phone calls to arrange a guest house via the UK. We were able to fix up a place to stay for the night in Lorne so we had better get on the road a bit and see if we can get there. We aim for Torquay.
Torquay is the start of the Great Ocean Road, but we detoured off to Belles Beach. It is great surfing beach where championships are held. The toilets had some fantastic aboriginal art painted on the walls. How often do you stop and photograph some public loos?
Belles Beach |
Belles Beach toilets |
We then drove into Anglesey. The golf course there is home to wild kangaroo. They like it there because the grass is watered and is lusher than in the surrounding countryside. The golf course has two challenges. The first is that there are all these kangaroo all over the place and they don't get out of the way of the golf balls. Secondly there are all these people coming to look at the kangaroos.
Kangaroo at Angelsey golf course |
Back then to the Great Ocean Road. We pass Aireys inlet and drive onto Lorne. We check out some potential eating places and then head for the Stanmorr bed and breakfast. We are just sleeping this evening as we have some food left over from the stay in Barwon Heads and it would be silly to let it spoil. The proprietor shows us round and I instantly fall in love with the place. It is a mixture of colonial style, modern art and English country cottage. Our room has painted wooden panelling and is superb. From our balcony we can look out over the garden and we can also see the sea. As we were settling in a Kookaburra came and sat on the veranda. Later in the trees there were parrots and sulphur crested cockatoos at the bottom of the garden. A little bit of paradise.
Kookaburras at Lorne |
Parrot at Lorne |
We went out for a Chinese meal, well she was from Malaysia and he was from Vietnam. They operate the BYO system. This is where instead of drinking the house red or white you go to the Liquor store and bring in the wine of your choice. You are then charged a few dollars to open it and wash the glass but it still works out cheaper than you would pay in the restaurant. While we were there we sat and chatted to a couple from Melbourne who come to Lorne for 2 weeks every year. It was only going to be a quick meal but we ended up sitting and talking and stayed in the restaurant for 3.5 hours.
Well it is time for bed and we have to plan our route for the morning.
