Day 15 Exploring Around Lorne

Chill morning

Seeing as there are laundry facilities on site we decided to do some washing.

Just managed to catch the sunrise, still adjusting to the different time frame

Lots of ducks and their chicks around the area

and cockatoos

and lots of these wattle birds

Spotted this bird just outside the office on our way out of the park to go on our foreshore walk

Took this photo on the way out on our walk to show other vans that are parked next to us

And another photo from the other side of the river

We began our walk down on the beach

Had to cross over this little groin.

I went on the path Bill climbed over the rocks

A beautiful day with views right across to Split Rock and the Lighthouse

A pier to pub sculpture outside the Surf lifesaving club apparently there is an event called pier to the pub

A view across from the beach to the Lorne hotel where we had dinner last night

The tide was out far enough for us to be able to walk around from the beach on the rocks

With the waves splashing over the rocks

Interesting gap between the rocks

Observed the patterns that the snails make in the sand on the rocks

And some interesting rock formations

Another section of beach to walk along

Limpets on the rocks

A not very good photo of a wren that I managed to snap while it was fluttering in the bushes 

We could hear and see lots of them along the way

Pretty coloured seaweed

And some kelp with its base still attached,  the first time I have ever seen that



Pieces of coral.

 just some of the finds on our walk along the foreshore



Eventually we reached the pier

Bill climbed up over the rocks

I didn’t trust myself so I went back and clambered up the sandy bank

and onto the pathway we were eventually going to walk back on



Bill went to check out the old boat ramp

Checked out the area beside the pier before walking along the pier



Walked down to the beach at point grey



Also came across an old timber log carrying wagon

Walked across this field of pretty flowers to look at the wagon



Several interesting flowers and bushes on this headland







Walked around to have a look at the hotel Pacific

Looked very closed

Next went down to the pier to look at the old tram tracks



and to check out the history of the pier on an old retained section of the old peir

Walked along the new concrete pier looking back to the sad looking fish restaurant with a sign on it saying ‘closed permanently’ -  bit sad



As we walked onto the pier we saw a young couple looking down into the water I asked what they were looking at and they showed me a large ray



Walked to the end of the pier where there were lots of people fishing and not catching anything

Walked back along the pier

Spotted this man at the end of the old boat ramp throwing a fish back into the water he had been out on a boat fishing

We watched the poor fish floundering for quite some time and we don’t think it survived

Heading back up off the pier we noticed the fishermen with the rest of their catch

A small shark

On our way back on the foreshore walk on the inside part of the loop





Some information plaques along the way



Interesting sign

However I didn’t participate

More beautiful wildflowers

Back to Lorne Beach

To some interesting sculptures in the park











Back to our campsite for a light lunch wash down with some of Lucia‘s alcoholic ginger beer - very yummy


This is my AllTrails map of our mornings walk all the dots are where I have taken photos

In the afternoon we headed back out on the great Ocean Road for an expedition to Teddys look out

Read map wrong went too far along the great ocean road and had to turn back to the next turn left



Finally following signs going past Queens Park



We reached the car park for the walk to Teddys Lookout

Heard this bird singing managed to get a photo also  video of its sound but can’t post the video here.

Thanks to Lynda Litz it is apparently a Fantail Cuckoo

Set off on the track to Teddys look out

Following the signs

Had a look at the map to make a decision as to which track we were going to take.

Decided to go on the long loop coming back by the Tramway track

First thing we saw before we even headed off was an echidna

The Look out itself wasn’t very far

Just before the look out there were some interesting concretions



Amazing views from Teddys look out







Directional finder at Teddys look out

We continued along the track to the Otways look out

A good clear track

Amazing views down to the Saint George River






Took a panoramic photo to show the whole vista

Continuing on the track

Wildflowers again









Views  down to the St George Inlet

Signage started to become a little vague at this point

However we knew we had to come to the Otway ranges look out



Anyone’s guess as to where to go from here

Luckily I had all trails running and Bill had Gaia running so we were able to follow the correct route







Although even that was a bit vague sometimes 

we could have avoided going down this section

As it joined up with a much easier path with stone steps



We reached a section where we could see the George River

Even this sign didn’t help

However we knew we needed to go along beside the George River

More confusing signage

But we figured we’d follow the sign that said to the Tramway track







Suddenly heard a helicopter flying overhead

It landed in the field next to the river estuary. 

Seems it was carrying some tourists on a sight seeing adventure as we saw it flying away later

Start of the signage relating to the old Tramway

With a seat overlooking Saint George River Estuary



On to the Tramway track

With more beautiful flowers beside the track



And signage along the way about the Tramway



The track followed along the coastline very high above the road

With some good view points down along the way

Continued following the track with signage along the way and more pretty wildflowers

















Suddenly the track opened out onto a cleared area with yet another sign that was unclear as to which direction we should be heading



We followed in the direction that we felt we should be going



The helicopter flew overhead obviously continuing on its way with its passengers

A little further down the track Bill discovered this swing in a tree

And needless to say he had a swing 

I took video of this but cannot post it here but posted it on Facebook

This is the beautiful big tree that the swing was tied to

Suddenly we came across another clearing where there were a lot of kangaroos and also some power posts which looked like it was part of a caravan park

On checking on the Internet we discovered that the park was closed 

it looked  like it would have been a fabulous place to have stayed

Finally a sign that made sense we knew we were on the right track

Heading back up to the car park where we began our walk

We came across the echidna again and he was very obliging for us to take photos





Finally a sign at the end of the Trail



This was the information on the board at car park



Back at the car park Bill managed to get this fabulous photo of a little wren

This was my AllTrails mapping of our hike. 

Our view back at camp after a fabulous day of exploring

And our treat after dinner - the rest of the wine from Bob and Jill and the chocolate‘s from Rolf and Lucia