Great Ocean Road

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Australian Reflections Before Zeb and Eider Return to Colorado

So many stalagmites and stalagtites inside the Naracoorte Caves.

Inside cave

Inside Naracoorte Caves

We are near the Great Ocean Road on Australia’s southern coastline.   This arch commemorates the men that built The Great Ocean Road with only axes, shovels and picks.

Memorial Arch

Memorial Arch

No explosives were used building this road.    London Bridge is one of the famous rock formations.

London Bridge

London Bridge

The bridge collapsed in January 1990.   Fortunately no one was injured.   Our last stop was Sydney.   This photo, from a boat in Sydney Harbor, shows the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Leaving Sydney Harbor, we look back at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge

Leaving Sydney Harbor, we look back at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge

These are possibly the most famous landmarks in Sydney.   This boat carried us to see the migrating Humpback Whales.

Tail of humpback whale

Tail of humpback whale

We love whales!   We believe we should show you a few of the Australian animals.   We saw so many that we admired, but here are a few of our favorites.   Emus were in several locations of Australia.

First emu sighting after crossing into the state of Victoria

First emu sighting after crossing into the state of Victoria

The females lay the eggs and the males care for the young.   Of course, koala visits are a necessity when visiting Australia.

Koala on the move

Koala on the move

The kangaroos and the smaller wallabies are just so cute.

Mom with her baby "joey"

Mom with her baby “joey”

These pink and gray galah were one of our first birds of Australia, and mom’s favorite.

Pink and Gray Galah. Wild and beautiful

Pink and Gray Galah.  Wild and beautiful

These white Sulphur Crested Cockatoos seem so exotic to us.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are plentiful. Considered exotic birds in US and farmers pest here.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are plentiful.   Considered exotic birds in US and farmers pest here.

They have very strong beaks.   While eating out of mom’s hand, a cockatoo bit her finger.   No blood, but some pain.   Australia is an island, so spectacular sunsets are plentiful.   Some of the best were over the Indian Ocean.

Just beautiful

Just beautiful

We truly enjoyed our Australian adventures.   We hope you will visit there soon.   It is fun and the people we met were all very friendly.

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Zeb and Eider Tour Victoria, Australia’s Great Ocean Road

Zeb and Eider and the humans spent the night in Mount Gambier.   This is Blue Lake, a dormant volcano.

Blue Lake at Mount Gambier

Blue Lake at Mount Gambier

It is the water supply for Mount Gambier.   And it is a very pretty lake.   Shortly after crossing into Victoria, we admired this emu.

First emu sighting after crossing into the state of Victoria

First emu sighting after crossing into the state of Victoria

Of course, the kangaroos are always a favorite with humans.

Kangaroos

Kangaroos

Logan’s Beach seems to be a whale nursery.   We did see a Southern Right Whale in the distance, with her young.

Southern Right Whale and baby swimming far in distance

Southern Right Whale and baby swimming far in distance

She was too far away for a good photo.   We are in Nullawarre and we are going on the Great Ocean Road.

Colorado Traveling Ducks go to The Great Ocean Road

Colorado Traveling Ducks go to The Great Ocean Road

This is Bay of Martyrs.

Martyr's Bay

Bay of Martyrs

Here we are at Shipwreck Coast.

Shipwreck Coast

Shipwreck Coast

Shipwwreck Coast is about 130 km and has 638 known shipwrecks.   About 240 of these wrecks have been discovered.   A very treacherous coastline.   This is Australia’s London Bridge.

London Bridge on Great Ocean Road

London Bridge on Great Ocean Road

There used to be a natural bridge connecting these two stone formations.

London Bridge

London Bridge

In January 1990 it collapsed.   No one was injured and no one was on the bridge when it collapsed.   However, some people were stranded on the island created when the bridge collapsed.   They had to be returned to the main side by helicopter.    There is a colony of little (or fairy) penguins that live here.

Area for Little Penguins

Area for Little Penguins

They fish and feed during the day.  They come in at dusk.   To protect them there are no stairs to the beach.   The little penguins need to be protected.   They grow to be about a foot or less in height.    The humans saw them at another location in Australia about 10 years ago.   They just love the little penguins.   Stopping at Port Campbell, mom loved this seagull with her lipstick matching her shoes.

Lady has matching lipstick and shoes

Lady has matching lipstick and shoes

Next stop was the Twelve Apostles National Park.

Twelve Apostles National Park at Port Campbell

Twelve Apostles National Park at Port Campbell

Beautiful!   But 12??   Not any more, if ever.   These limestone formations have been eroded and worn away by the strong ocean currents.

12 Apostles along Great Ocean Road

12 Apostles along Great Ocean Road

Following the boardwalk to the left, these two additional sculptures, or apostles, are visible.

Take path by 12 Apostles, to the end

Take path by 12 Apostles, to the end

Further down the path, we saw this structure attached to a main rock.

Naturally formed

Naturally formed

This is a great road.   We loved the ocean on one side, while the farm and pasture land on the other side is also beautiful.   This flock of sheep captured mom’s attention.

Sheep grazing along Great Ocean Road

Sheep grazing along Great Ocean Road

We are still on our tour, so keep reading our blog to see what we experience next.   When in Victoria, Australia, don’t miss the Great Ocean Road.