Day 14 Aireys Inlet to Lorne

Very cold night. Didn’t sleep well so slept in

No sunrise photos!!!!

Used the kitchen to boil the kettle got coffee and went past the van parked right next to us . Couldn’t believe that they even put their van there to sleep in and so close!!!

We were surrounded!!! Not that Dylan the property owner was using his van at the moment. Not one of the best overnight position we have had but the little shower/toilet/kitchen block made up for it!!!

The intrusive overnighters left early the next morning, having difficulties reversing out without hitting our van!!

My early morning view…

Just as we were driving out of Dylan’s place a cyclist went past 

On the road again, twisting and turning beside the ocean, with great views from my side of the car

Some incredible housing structures, looking over the ocean  making sure to get the views!!!!



Looked very precarious to me

Not sure of our next destination but continuing on the Great Ocean Road 

Over creeks

More cyclists 

More great views over the ocean and a beautiful blue sky overhead



More houses on the hillside

Our first stop of the day was at the original entrance to the Great Ocean Road

Where there was this sculpture commemorating the original construction gang





Information about the history of the gantry sign over the road

Another of these plaques that are located all along the way

More info



Seeing as we had parked here we walked down to the beach

With views both directions





Took the obligatory photos at the gateway sign 



Made sure that the SPOT was tracking 

More fabulous views on a gorgeous sunny day. How lucky are we

Over more creeks

Past rocky beaches

Views across to where we have just travelled

And views ahead with wildflowers beside the road 

Another brave cyclist

Another landmark along the way 

Now travelling over a headland

Kept taking photos as we were driving along - so many beautiful views even from the car

Lots of bends

Sea views around the headland

More views!!!!

The Springs where the last toll gate was

Amusing road sign. 







Finally we arrived in Lorne



On checking our time of arrival we realised that there was a mismatch between the time on our car dash and our phones. We hadn’t realised that the clocks here had been moved overnight to summer time

Took some photos on our approach into Lorne but will no doubt go back to look in more detail later

The Lorne Great Ocean Road plaque

We parked where we could and called into the Visitor Centre for information about the area. 

The lady in the centre was so helpful she gave us lots of information about the area and about our journey ahead.

What she told us about the area helped us realise that we should probably stay here a couple of nights to do the area justice so we drove around to the Victoria Park‘s office to check out camping possibilities because apparently all the van parks are managed through the one Victoria Parks office. We opted to set up in a spot down by the creek 

Nice sunny spot on our own, but unfortunately not for long☹️

Lots of ducks around 



We recorded our journey for the day as far as Lorne but just used all trails and the spot to record our afternoons activities 

After setting up we headed across the road to a cute little cafe for lunch

We could actually see our van across the road from where we were having lunch

At the riverbank cafe

Plate clean yummy lunch

Eye-catching vibrant coloured sculpture across the road couldn’t work out what it was meant to signify



Also more of these interesting sculptures on the corner of the roundabout

After lunch we headed out in the car for our afternoon’s activities

First stop Erskine Falls

We passed the livewire park that we decided not to take part in 

Very pretty drive up to Erskine Falls



Past the blanket Leaf picnic area that we decided to call-in on our way back down





We decided to go to the upper Falls look out first

Good views across to the top of the falls from the upper lookout



But then we walked down the 300 plus steps to reach the view point at the bottom of the falls

Very pretty, especially in the sunlight that we were lucky to have 
Bill decided he was going to walk around the rocks to the base of the falls

Took lots of photos of his progress and also some video footage that I can’t put here but I have posted on Facebook









Have to look hard to see him in this photo

Bill did stop to take a photo of me taking photos of him from the lookout

He climbed back over the railing when he got back



Bill having got back up then went back down to help a young lad and a young lady get past on the rocks



Back up 300+ steps having enjoyed our time down at Erskine Falls

Took a photo at the start of the walk after we had finished it

Decided to walk some of the way along Lemonade Creek to enjoy the bush around that area but unfortunately it was closed due to the damage from the rain

Came across this king parrot in the tree just at the side of the beginning of the walk



Haven’t seen any sign of any kangaroos

Amazed at the height of these tree ferns

Called in the blanket leaf picnic area to check out the walks there



Decided to go part the way along the lemonade Creek track

Interesting signs at the start of the walk



Lots of large tall interesting trees on this walk

Really pretty walking Trail that we only walked partway along



Enjoyed taking fun photos with the hollows in the trees





Just as well we weren’t planning to continue on this walk as it was becoming quite muddy

Really large ferns in this area
Bill went down to the base of this tree to get a photo of it to try to get its height

My standing next to this tree shows how tall it is

Looks like a hollow of this tree has been scoured out by something

This is the tracking of the walk that we did

We then continued on back on the road back into town and then turned off towards the Allenvale mill





Bit of a check of the river and the surrounding area near the car park



Then followed the track along the Saint George River

Pretty walk alongside the river

But then a little sidetrack led us up to the Allenvale Mill campground where we came across a bunch of youngsters that had been camping there they told us about a really nice track the other side of the road that went through fruit orchards

So we headed off along that track

Pretty flowers along the way



Bridge across the river

View across the river from the bridge





More pretty flowers



Then we reached the fruit orchard

Some of the fruit trees budding

These ones flowering that Bill found out later, talking to the owner that was nearby, that these are Apple trees

Pretty Apple tree flowers

Me under a flowering apple tree

Continued on the walking track between the two orchards

The other one being Nashi pears

Continuing along the path through the property





Some interesting looking cows on the other side of the river



Kangaroos around

More scenes from our continuing along the path



We came to a section where the path was getting muddier  and muddier so decided to turn back 

at this point I slipped and ended up getting pickles in my hand and muddy shoes

Continued on back along the track to the car where I managed to wash off the mud

Stopped to smell the flowers on the way back

And take photos of them









Back on the road again enjoying the Otway National Park

Passing more beautiful tall tree ferns

To our last destination for the day

When we arrived there were these beautiful king parrots in the car park

The girls in this car happened to have some sunflower seed with them so they shared it with us to feed the parrots











We decided to go on the nature walk loop





Fabulous walk with so many tree ferns



And tall trees

And interesting fun trees













Bridges to cross

Over creeks

Lots more king parrots in the trees when we returned to the car park at the end of the nature walk



Back on the road back to town

The AllTrails map of our walks etc

On a mission to find a pub for dinner

Only one we could find was the big Lorne hotel where we managed to get a seat by the window and enjoy a delicious fish in soy and ginger sauce meal with fresh nicely cooked broccoli. Expensive especially with a Sunday 10% tariff added but was most enjoyable


Back to the van and bed after a fabulous day