How amazing is Victoria?

The beautiful Australian bush, Cape Otway

Sulfur crested cockatoos near the beach, Lorne

Our first koala sighting between Lorne and Cape Otway.  This one was hanging on a branch over the road.  It turned out to be our first of many koala encounters.

Berry picking near Lorne

Mud.  Great Ocean Ecolodge

Australian Fur Seals.  Cape Bridgewater

Bottlenose Dolphins.  Cape Bridgewater.

Great Ocean Ecolodge.

Great Ocean Road (near 12 apostles)

Cape Otway lighthouse

Farm stay, Scott's Creek

Visiting a dairy near Scott's Creek

What an amazing state.  I love Melbourne and would happily live there.  But I particularly love the country and coastal regions of Victoria.  The sheer density of Australian animals along the Great Ocean Road really is quite amazing.  Koalas, wallabies, seals, emus and the list goes on.  It is a very special part of the world.  And well worth more than a few day visit. 

In brief
Where we stayed

Albert Park, Melbourne - with friends
Lorne - Jack's Shack, Treetop Hideaway - http://www.greatoceanroadholidays.com.au/accommodation/1587
Great Ocean Ecolodge, Cape Otway - http://www.greatoceanecolodge.com/
Farm stay Scott's Creek - http://www.bellevuefarmstay.com/
Koroit, near Tower Hill Reserve

When we travelled

April, 2011

How we travelled
In our own car from Sydney.  One adult drove, the other adult flew down with the kids, picking up the other 3 at the airport.  Then we swapped on the way back.  It was a great way to do it.  We booked super-cheap flights a long way in advance, and it was definitely worth avoiding 11hrs in the car with the kids.

Highlights
* Australian and NZ fur seals + dolphins at Cape Bridgewater (and very exciting huge swells)
* bushwalks around Cape Otway - beautiful and good for kids
* koalas, emus, wallabies, Black Otway Snail, glow worms at Cape Otway and Tower Hill Reserve
* kids happy to do longer bushwalks because of animal spotting
* watching surfers south of the 12 Apostles jumping from cliffs into the huge swell
* fairy penguins at St Kilda wharf

Things that the kids really liked
* fairy penguins at dusk at St Kilda wharf
* seals at Cape Bridgewater
* Tower Hill reserve - lots of animals
* Berry picking
* Night bushwalk at Melba Gully to see glow worms

Not highlights
* spent a fair bit of time in the car, even though distances weren't great (roads are slow and windy)
* because we were moving quite a bit, not necessarily a really relaxing holiday - but definitely fun

What we would do differently next time
* We would probably stay in Port Fairy rather than Koroit
* Stay for a minimum of 3 days in each place