Todays first task on the agenda was to get a rental car at AVIS. On the way we had breakfast at a not so posh looking diner. But there was a good atmosphere and it had a bigger variety of dishes to choose from and the portions was bigger. Learnings: Go for the local diners to have breakfast.
I did the classic mistake to get in at the passenger side. The wiper and the indicator had also switched places, so before making a turn I turned on the wipers.
The directions was a print out from Google Maps and not to much use, and the GPS did only help to some extend as it would like us to go the shortest route, not the designated route.
After a short detour in the out skirts of Melbourne we drove to Torquay via Geelong where we stopped for lunch.
Some of Australias most famous surf beaches are near Torquay.
It is difficult to describe the impressions and the experience of driving at The Great Ocean Road. Even unbelievable beautiful scenery does not make a just description.
The ocean at one side, steep cliffs at the other. Hairpin bend roads. Unbelievable views. Lots of possibilities to stop and enjoy the scenery.
The speed limit is creasy 80 km/h, with a much lower limit at the bends though. Slower traffic, tourists, are to give way whenever possible by pulling out in the left lane and designated areas usually in connection with bends or view points.
At home you would be annoyed whenever traffic is slowing down or even stops. Her it is a signal that your fellow tourist has found something of high importance is going on. At one point the traffic stopped and cars started to pull over. Instead of overtaking as you would back home, you do the same - pull over.
It turned out that a family of koala bears were sitting in the trees eating leaves.
As we approached our accommodation for the night starting to anticipating primitive conditions as the road turned into a dirt road I got a bit negative and we had to do a 8 km up hill climb at a mountain near Apollo Bay.
But it was in vain as it turned out to be an up to standard accommodation. It was a very small place with only a few rooms, but with a library, fireplace and a nice view.
We went back down to Apollo Bay for dinner and got Kangaroo beef.
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