Triplet Falls and the Limestone Coast

(Arrgh - falling behind again! Time for some more quick updates.)
We left Apollo Bay to drive to Port Fairy via the Triplet Falls in the Great Otway National Park and the famous limestone rock formations on the Great Ocean road – there were a number we could have stopped at but we went for the Twelve Apostles and the Gibson Steps (which are right next to each other). 
It was a particularly cool and rainy day which didn't detract from the gorgeous walk through the giant mountain ashes to the (quite) small falls. The huge trees and the giant ferns were the real attraction on the hike - and it was interesting to learn about the history of logging in the area.  
Back on the Great Ocean Road, the Gibson Steps gets you down onto the beach to see some of the rock formations up close and gave a bit of respite from the hundreds of tourists flocking to see the 12 Apostles. The Great Ocean Road is such a popular tourist attraction (particularly with the Chinese tourists it would seem, who arrive by the coachload). The 12 Apostles reminded us of the Hopewell rocks down in the Bay of Fundy, although there wasn't the same urgency to get up off the sand when the tide was coming in. 

Giant mountain ash

One of the Triplet Falls

Gibson Steps

Sunset at Cape Otway

After a quiet - and HOT - afternoon in the caravan park at Apollo Bay (fantastic park right beside the beach  with great surf) we decided to try to see the sunset at the Cape Otway lighthouse. Unfortunately, we didn’t plan very well and so didn’t realize until we were on the road that the lighthouse grounds closed at 5pm. We decided to wing it and after a very poor choice of trails that was marked ‘Cape Otway Lighthouse Lookout’ (OK – that was my choice, as it was so clearly marked and I’m a sucker for an official sign and you must admit, it SOUNDED very promising but was a total disappointment) we finally listened to Toby’s directions and found an unmarked path that took us directly to the coast path JUST in time for sunset. It was a sprint – but it was worth it.

Apollo Bay Beach

Cape Otway Lightstation

Notice the halo - no coincidence. My angel. 

Ocean Grove Beach

Confession time - I came across these surf photos on the computer and couldn't for the life of me remember where they were taken. Which gorgeous beach was this? We've only been on the road for two weeks and already I am having a hard time distinguishing one gorgeous beach from another... not a good sign. (It also made us realize that it must be very hard for Australians when they go travelling and are told to go visit a 'great beach', when this is what they are used to. It really is just one amazing, gorgeous, fantastic beach after another here...)
I did, of course, figure it out, and realized they were taken at Ocean Grove Beach (in fact, another embarrassing confession - I couldn't remember its name - Ocean Beach? Orchard Grove? Old Orchard?).
It was an amazing beach though - and we'd heard about how it was terrific for beginner surfers because it's basically one big long wave breaking the whole way down the beach. They weren't wrong. We had a fantastic time playing in the surf and had our picnic lunch there. We should have stayed longer - but we had just set off in the van and had set our sights on Anglesea for the night.

Zoe lunching

Another gorgeous beach

Great surf

Indie, making it look easy

Anna prefers the boogie boarding