Australia : the Great Ocean Road

It was back in August 2009 when I bought the return ticket from KUL - MEL for just RM500 dated May 2010. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I had to change the ticket to August 12th 2010 with a fee impose by AirAsia X (still the total damage is below RM1K)

August 12th 2010, flight D7 2724 ETD 2230. Visitors to Australia from Malaysia are required to apply for the ETA (electronic travel authority). Can be apply on any website that offer the ETA service. Im not sure if Malaysian travel agency do offer such service. More information about the ETA can be found here.

The flight was almost 90% full that night. Settled in my seat 10D with my partner in crime, Badriyah besides me, 10F. Doesn't took us long to fall asleep to the sound of the rumbling engine of A330.

ETA 0830, local time (2hours earlier than Malaysia). Stamped our passport and collect our checked-in luggage. Walked out clueless (new place, and we are still much in 'mamai' condition) when Ameena appeared and called our names out loud! She came to picked us up at the airport with her husband, Arshad. The last time I've seen her was back in our old glory days in highschool. Then, we went straight to her house in Noble Park, about an hour drive from the airport. Had a good rest for the day, getting ready for our trip to Great Ocean Road the next day.

Great Ocean Road

We set our foot out by 7am. It was cold & chill, about 11 degrees. We make out stop by Coles and bought some stuff for the trip. Settled myself in the 4wd, and we are set for the trip along the Great Ocean Road. From Noble Park, we get onto the Princess Freeway towards Geelong. Stop for gas, while us went into the tourist information center. Got plenty of maps & info's. We drove pass Geelong, heading towards Anglesea.

First stop is the Guvvo's Beach, where the clouds are weird (I've never seen them before). Its a surfer's beach based on few surfers I spotted in the sea. Im cold, and yet they can take a swim in the icy cold water (south pole is very near from this point) Took a few pictures before hitting the road again. We drove along the sea from Anglesea onwards till Marengo.

Next stop is the Split Point Lighthouse located at the tip of Aireys Inlet. The temperature are dropping due to the very windy condition. We were not able to go up the lighthouse, but still the view was amazing!As we drove by a small pond nearby, we met with a black swan! (and again, it was my first time looking at a black swan). Not one, but and entire family of black swan.

Just a few minutes ahead, we reach at the main gate of the Great Ocean Road. The rest of the journey, I sit in awe. Amazed by the beauty outside of my window (despite of the dizzyness Im suffering due to the zig zag road).

We stopped at Lorne for a quick nature call. Its such a small lovely town with modern architecture. Ameena booked our 2-bed town house here for the night. We were not able to check-in yet (2pm onwards) so we head straight to Apollo Bay, drive through Otway National Park where we stopped in search for wild koala bears. Not an easy search though. We manage to found one (based on the onlookers) sleeping & curling on the tree branch. cant get good photo of it though I've changed to my 28-200mm lens. Went back to the car, and get in. Suddenly Badriyah spotted another koala walking crossing the road. Oh yeah! We get lucky. It walk a few steps and stop for awhile and start walking again.

It even pose in front of my camera! Can't get more lucky than this. A wild koala bear crossing the road and walk towards us!

Next stop will be the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park. This is the main reason why I am at the Great Ocean Road. The Twleve Apostles is a collection of eight miocene limestone rock stacks jutting from the water in Port Campbell National Park (more info on wikipedia)

It was drizzling when we reached the parking. Walked under the drizzling water (very cold yeah!) and managed to get few beautiful shots of mother nature. Its a nature wonder, witness an art that took thousands years in the making. Cant stay long here as we have to rush back to Lorne just in time for buka puasa with BBQ chicken masala.

There is a daily tour from Melbourne city to the Great Ocean Road. Prices start from AUD90 onwards depending on the tour operator. It can either be a day trip of an overnight trip. But for my case, the tour guides was Ameena & Arshad. Thank you for bringing me there on an exclusive tour on a 4wd.