Great Ocean Road, part II

This past weekend, the other exchange students and I took a trip down the Great Ocean Road. Personally, I have already visited the Great Ocean Road a couple of weeks ago when I went to Adelaide for the footy final, but it was wonderful to see the other students seeing the route for the first time. During the trip, we saw many cool things but we were able to see three wonderful spots in particular: Erskine Falls, the Twelve Apostles, and Loch Ard Gorge.

Erskine Falls

Situated right on the Great Ocean Road is a wonderful little town called Lorne. It’s small and picturesque and has great salmon toast. But, if you drive just a little ways off of the Great Ocean Road, you will find yourself on the road to Erskine Falls. Here’s some important advice that we learned the hard way: don’t park your car at the beginning of the service road and walk the rest of the way there, just drive down the service road and park in the parking lot. That incline is no joke and is a killer on the knees.

But, once you arrive there, you’re greeted with the beautiful sight of Erskine Falls. I highly recommend leaving the trail and hopping across the rocks to the other side of the water. (But the Study Abroad Office will probably want to warn you not to do this). That’s where you’ll get the best view.

The Twelve Apostles

In its simplest description, the Twelve Apostles is a series of boulders that stick out of the ocean. Really. That’s it. But it is very beautiful. We watched the sun set from the Twelve Apostles and it was quite peaceful once all of the other tourists had cleared out.

Loch Ard Gorge

This was my favorite thing to see on our trip. Loch Ard Gorge is a part of the Port Campbell National Park and is only a couple minutes down the road from the Twelve Apostles. The history is interesting as well. Loch Ard Gorge was named after a ship sailing from England to Melbourne called the Loch Ard which sunk in a storm; the only two survivors of the shipwreck washed up in the gorge.

From above, you get a nice view of the gorge but the real sight is at the sand level.

The trip was great but, if you get motion sickness in the car, don’t forget the Dramamine.

 

xx