We headed off on Saturday after a brief coffee with my brother (Andrew) and his wife (Jennifer) who were visiting from Perth to take up tickets to the Emirates marquee on Derby Day...the weather wouldn't touch them in there!! It started raining just out of Melbourne, and poured heavily along the road to Geelong but eased off a little by the time we got to Anglesea to visit my younger brother (Sam), his wife (Kate) and 6 month old son (Tom). This was a really nice stopover for lunch, but we seen hit the road onwards to Apollo Bay...still raining.
We stayed in Marengo, about 2km beyond Apollo Bay and pitched the tent in light rain - nothing too dramatic - and decided to walk to the Apollo Bay pub along the beach with only our rain coats and an umbrella to protect us. It wasn't enough. After a nice dinner it was pouring again for the return hike, and windy, so we got soaked but soon dried as we tucked up into our sleeping bags listening to the wind and rain outside...hoping it would stay outside.
Sunday dawned wet and got wetter. Packing up a wet tent sucks, but we did and headed through the Otways towards the 12 Apostles where the rain finally seemed to be stopped after 24 hours non-stop. The coastline was rugged, windswept and with a huge, rough ocean pounding in - it was spectacular including some small waterfalls spilling over the edge...and literally being blown backwards by the strong winds. This was raw weather blowing in off Bass Strait.
Further along we stopped briefly in Port Campbell, and then made our way to Port Fairy where my family had spent many summer holidays when I was young - a lot of great memories associated with the place. It was great to re-visit it and show Ms A some of the best parts of it, including a walk around Griffith Island where the wind was still blowing but the rain had mostly passed. The day finished up with a drive into Hamilton to stay with my sister (Anna), partner (Dale) and two (of four) kids (Billy & Tyler). Great to visit them.
Monday weather was far more positive and we headed off for the Grampians, planning some good walks while there. Throughout the trip everything was so green, with long green grass and full dams everywhere. The Grampians were alive with flowers, streams and moisture in the air...a nice change from what has been parched and dry bush for many years.
We first stopped to climb Mt Abrupt at the south end of the ranges, which gave magnificent views in all directions - a great walk - and a little further on we drove up to the Mt William car park and walked the final 2km to the summit - the highest point in the Grampians. I love being on the highest point of anything, and this was no different and the clouds broke up enough for some wonderful views. The Halls Gap caravan park would be our home that night, amongst the many campervans, caravans, tents and more, not to mention some nice cooking smells!!
Our final day - or morning before we drove back - saw us drive to the Wonderland car park and walk to the Pinnacle, a rock formation that juts out high above Halls Gap - more great views and fabulous walk through a small canyon on the way up. The McKenzie Falls, a little further away, had a lot of water coming over them and were a spectacular finish to our trip. It's a long drive back to Melbourne which we broke by stopping in Ballarat...again another place where I spent a lot time growing up.
It was a great trip. Here's some photos...
The 12 Apostles with a strong wind and rain blowing in. The waterfall looked great.
Port Fairy surf beach, sans sand, looking towards the old sailing beach - the view is the same as I remember...
Port Fairy wharf, with no quite as many fishing boats as I remember but still very pretty.
Port Fairy lighthouse on Griffith Island, looking through the front fence which used to surround the lighthouse keeper's house...which is no longer there.
Port Fairy lighthouse again...it's seen a LOT of weather in it's time. Operates automatically these days.
View from Mt Abrupt with some clouds just about to obscure the view.
The magnificent view northwards from Mt Abrupt along the Grampians range.
View from Mt William through some passing cloud.
Rock formation on the walk up to the Pinnacle.
The Grand Canyon of the Grampians - quite spectacular, which you walk along the bottom of.
From the Pinnacle, seeing a full rainbow from a passing shower of rain...quite unique.
View from the Pinnacle looking southwards over Lake Bellfield.
Not sure what this is called, but quite spectacular.
Burnt tree stump from fires in Jan 2006. Many trees have regrown but a lot of black tree trunks can be seen.
Ms A and me at McKenzie falls.
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