Seascapes, Sea Stacks, Stalactites, Sea erosion, Self Guided Tours, & Seafood a sure thing. Excited 😆
Kangaroos, Koalas ? Keeping my fingers crossed🤞
Great Company a certainty 🤣🤣🤣
So happy 😃 – Going on The Great Ocean Road . Thanks to John & Janine.
I can’t wait 😊
Brian, John & Janine at Loch Ard Gorge on Great Ocean Road. Absolutely breathtaking. I’m speechless 😶
Geography Teacher Mode : Limestone erosion. Limestone layers have eroded at different rates to create tunnels and caves and spectacular natural structures like the Loch Ard Gorge.
Tip : There are steps leading down to the small beach area at the bottom of the Gorge near this viewing area.
N.B. These steps are not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs or visitors with limited mobility.
One of the most well-known highlights of the Great Ocean Road is. The Twelve Apostles. The massive limestone structures that tower above the Southern Ocean left me in awe at their size & beauty.
These are limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction.
Yes, it’s me ( finally ) with my darling Brian.
Amazing , Gobsmacked 😶 😉 Panoramic View
The Staic’s enjoying the Sea Stacks yay 😃 💞💞😘😘😘
Next wonderful stop Maits Rest – Fern Rain Forest xxx
Our first experience of a rain forest – fabulous Australia.
Teaching about Rain Forests for years.
Giant trees, ferns, flora, fauna
No about of knowledge could prepare you for the sheer beauty. Mother Nature at Maits Rest.
Brian & Janine enjoying the adventure
Teacher in the tree – Amazing Gigantic Roots
Tip : Maits Rest is about 15 minutes drive from Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road along the way to the 12 Apostles. There is car parking immediately after you see the Maits Rest sign, to the left off the road.
Take the self-guided rainforest boardwalk at Maits Rest in the Otways and see beautiful fern gardens and giant rainforest trees up to 300 years old.
Having lots of fun in the rain forest
A wooden boardwalk has been built over the tree-fern gullies and moss-covered roots of ancient rainforest trees, protecting the delicate ecosystem while providing visitors with unique views of the forest.
Hard to capture the magnificence of these trees.
Moladh go deo le Dia – Praise be to God.
Spectacular Waterfall.
Stopped in Lorne – a beautiful seaside town. The town is known for its arts community & sculptures.
We had a lovely lunch & visited Janine’s friend Eliza.
It was an honour to see another beautiful Australian home 🏠 overlooking the ocean. Sunshine, & stories galore.
On the road again. Went to the Golf Course in Lorne.
I couldn’t believe my luck. Pinch me please 😜
Guess what I saw? Well a picture tells a thousand words 😘😘😘
My favourite TV programme when I was a child was “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo”
I was fascinated by everything …. Skippy, the wildlife, the scenery, the climate – I made my mind up. “I’m going to Australia when I grow up”
Well I got there – Thanks John & Janine for showing me
“ The Roos in the Wild 😜 “Speechless again😶
I was so impressed. The Kangaroos were darlings. I was a little scared too. I didn’t want to crowd them or intrude.
I watched in awe as they hopped around happily minding their own business quite oblivious to the tourists fascinated by their uniqueness.
Of all the experiences we’ve had – this was an amazing highlight for me. A childhood dream come true .
“Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine “ – (No man is an Island. People help one another )
Certainly very true in this case – thank you cousins
We continued our journey back to Geelong. John & Janine had a fantastic house party. Carol and Michael from Belfast Barbara and Peter ,Tanya Toal & Kathy Moriarty.
An Irish Australian Night.
Dancing🕺, Singing,🎤 stories, & having lots of laughs & fun.
Brian surrounded by a bevy of beauties 💞
Great Craic was had by all 🎤🎤🎤
By special request – Rince by dancer Brian 🕺🕺🕺
Fantastic
A wonderful night 🎉🎉🎉🎉
We were supposed to leave the next day but we were asked to stay one more night. We didn’t need any forcing.
The next day we drove into Geelong. Walked along the beachfront. A beautiful place.
Photo credit : Blogabond.com
Collage MOLDIV
Geelong beach Bollard Art – Imaginative, colorful, fun, whimsical, wonderful.
The colourful bollards are the work of artist Jan Mitchell. Jan was commissioned by the City of Greater Geelong to transform old timbers and piles from a city pier, demolished in the 1980s, into remarkable works of art.
We went for a lovely walk along the beachfront.
Great company, more catch up on family. Beautiful weather, sunshine ☀
We had lunch in a lovely restaurant on Geelong beachfront. Fish & chips – Relaxing & delicious 😋
Spent the afternoon with John, Janine & their beautiful daughter Elisa.
Chatting on the patio – Southern Hemisphere Sunshine in January ☀☀☀☀ Heaven
The Last Supper in Geelong.
Got dressed up and went to Fisherman’s Pier for dinner – a fantastic evening.
Fishermen’s Pier is Geelong’s unique seafood waterfront restaurant. Superb seafood in an exceptional atmosphere. Seafood Platters, Oysters, Barramundi & outstanding wines.
Another night to remember.
On Friday 4th January John and Janine drove us to the airport.
We said a sad farewell to our cousins, now life long friends.
My next blog will be on another subject TBC.
Need to move away from travel for a while. Lots of other topics to cover.
I will share Sydney & Cairns at a later date.
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promise to do my best in bringing you content that will interest, inform, educate and motivate.
Slán go fóill – Bye for now,
Blogger to be,
Máiréad
BdeStaic.com 