Great Ocean Road trip 5

Great Ocean Road trip 5  8/04/12

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This is my 5th time to Great ocean road and We wanted to make some thing better out of it . A night trip demanded a tiring journey and we opted to have an Audi this time.

GOD is so beautiful that I never gets bored driving through the curved roads with one side mountain ranges and other side ocean. This trip very well be the final trip to GOD if I don't get another chance to visit Australia. We have started from melbourne around 7 AM to get the rented car. Europcar was the choice this time because she only provides Audi cars.

Winter already started in Melbourne and it was too dark even at 7am.

This time we opted for a return trip via the great ocean road in the night.We first took the forest route to the Great Otway National park famous for the tree top walk. It took almost an hour to cover the 2km rainforest Treetop Walk. The most enjoyable moment was climbing the long and 30mt high steel structured treetop canopy walkway which took us right into the treetops. The Otway Fly Treetop Walk is considered as the longest and tallest walkway of its type in the world.

The best part of this park is that all the structures of the canopy walkway are designed to have minimal impact on the forest environment. The 600 metre long steel section is divided into lightweight trusses ranging from 24 metres to 40 metres which are supported by 12 towers. The spiral tower stands at an exhilarating height of 47 mt, and the cantilever sways gently in the tree canopy offer spectacular views. Climbing on to the top of spiral tower will really test your fear of heights.

The Great Ocean Road is 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers of World War 1, between 1919 and 1932. Great Ocean Road is considered as the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I. No wonder that It is the most important tourist attraction in Victoria. Astounding roads alongside the coast with several prominent landmarks; including the mesmerising Twelve Apostles limestone stack formations make great ocean road the most beautiful place in mother Earth I have seen.

Though I drove several times in Great Ocean Road, It was spectacular to drive in the night. It was risky, dangerous, but amazing. The view of the reflection of bright moon in the ocean was so much enchanting that we parked our car several times at several sea view points in the mountain roads.

After the greatest great ocean road trip, we reached home at around 11 PM. Wish I could go again !!!

Bye Bye Great Ocean Road !!!

Tasmania Trip

When you really know that this would be the final trip with your group of friends, then that trip is going to be nostalgic and the best, forever in your life. We had a similar trip to Tasmania, an Australian Island state, the 26th largest Island state in the world. Tasmania is not heavily populated, thanks to the Australian Govt. The feel of an unexploited land surely gave us a fresh feeling, a new life. The state is named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who made the first reported European sighting of the island on 24 November 1642.

We took a flight to Hobart, the state capital. We drove South of Hobart to visit some random places. The natural beauty was something mesmerising.

Our stay was arranged at Launceston, around 200 kms away from Hobart. On the way, we decided to visit Port Arthur Jail. Port Arthur was a convict jail which is now one of Australia's most significant heritage site. The scenic drive from Hobart, via the Tasman Highway to Sorell and the Arthur Highway to Port Arthur, took around 2 hours.

From 1852, Port Arthur jail had the hardest criminals from Britian and Ireland. The hardest criminals was in 1850's term, evan a pick pocketer was considered criminal with 14 years sentence. Port Arthur jail is now in ruins, but well maintained in Australian Standards.

Another scenic drive to Freycinet National park gave us a different view of Tasmania.

Freycinet National Park with its pink granite mountains and pure white beaches is famous for Wineglass Bay. The view of Wineglass Bay from the famous Wineglass Bay Lookout was an awesome treat.

Enough of scenic drives, time for something different - Cave Tours at Mole Creek Karst National Park. The park is best known for two richly decorated caves open to the general public.We took the guided tour of Marakoopa and King Solomons Caves. Though it was not the first time I had the cave tour experience, but this was quite different experience with Underground Rivers, Glow-worms and echoing dark areas. The magnificent cavern known as the 'Great Cathedral' was a highlight not to be missed.

It always great to have something for the first time in any trips. This time, for me, it was the cruise journey during day hours. 360 degree view of Sea, dance & music, people chatting, decks, movies - Spirit of Tasmania had everything for the perfect Cruise journey. It took around 8 hours to reach Melbourne.

Thanks Renjith, Shreechi, Arun and Swapna for making this journey one of the most wonderful trip in our life. We all left, wishing for another trip with the same group some time later in our life. 



Mornington Peninsula, Australia

My parents came to Australia for a one month holidays. I thought Mornington peninsula is the best place to start with their holidays. I took them along the coast lines of southern Australia.

Our first destination was Frankston waterfront. On the frankston waterfront, we took coastal broadwalk leading to famous frankston sea bridge.