The Great Ocean Road is an experience not to be missed. We have just travelled the whole length from Torquay (yes there are quite few familiar names here) along the coast to Warnambool, about 250 kms in total if you do this in a straight line. Needless to say there are so many spectacular things along the way that we have probably done twice that number of kms.......... not all on the road but more about that later. Not only have we had a wonderful trip but also really wonderful weather, bright clear days and sunshine with a cool breeze, just perfect.

On day one, we drove down the coast to a place called Lorne where we stayed in a motel on the beach front. We had sea glimpses from our room (afraid we always go for the budget option so usually faced with restricted views) but we did have a small balcony on which to sit for G&Ts in the evening.

The drive along the coast to Lorne was just fabulous, the Great Ocean Road closely follows the coast along and the views across to the sea were just lovely, we kept turning off to view points and each one was breathtaking.

After finding our accommodation, we then explored the area. We went to Erskine Falls which were quite something, the excessive rain of recent months had swollen the water levels making the falls even better (or so I am told). Later in the day we also visited the Sheoak Falls but after a long walk uphill and down dale we were too tired to truly appreciate them but they were beautiful.

Prior going to the falls we had visited the Qdos Art Gallery in the woods and had a substantial cream tea which did nothing for our walking prowess. Foolishly we'd also asked for iced coffee instead of tea and this came with ice cream floating on top so we were stuffed out with calories! The Gallery itself was interesting, displaying paintings by Robert Juniper a well known Australian artist. These were for sale and many had been sold for astronomical sums, I am sure they are a good investment but not really my cup of - er - tea. There were some very interesting sculptures in the grounds, one of which I would very happily have given house room but it was a bit too big to bring back and would have broken the bank too!

Teddys Lookout was spectacular and gave a view of the Ocean and the road along which we travelled, I hope the picture gives you a taste of what this was like.

We had read about a tree top walk called the Otway Fly which is a bit inland from the Great Ocean Road. This is apparently the longest tree top walk in Australia and is in the most easterly Australian rainforest. It was indeed remarkable, we had a walk of about 20 minutes downhill to get to the start before getting on to the walk, which then ascends as the hill falls away. Once on the tree top walk you are level with the tops of many of the trees and must be 100 feet off the ground. They do have huge trees here and to be level with the tops and watch them swaying in the breeze is quite spooky. Equally spooky was that the walk is made of open metal grating so as you walk along you can see the ground if you look down. The walk is made of intersecting paths, one of which is a dead end and ends in an unsupported 30m overhang - hair raising. In the centre of the paths is a tower, ascended by spiral staircase, which adds another 100 feet or so to the height and from where the views were amazing. At the end of the walk the path drops to the brook in the bottom of the valley. We were feeling quite tired and the walk all the way back up the hill back to the visitors centre was quite a haul. That night the muscles on the back so my calves were complaining loudly!!

I am unsure if you have heard of the twelve apostles, not the religious ones but the series of sandstone stacks and islands off the coast. Here they are well known and a highlight of the Great Ocean Road trip, very much a 'not to be missed'. We arrived at the car park for the visitors centre and John had spotted that you could do helicopter rides over the coast to view the Apostles from the air. I am sure you can see where this is going. Next thing, I am there with a life vest on - an intrepid aviator. Not only were we going to fly out to view them but also do a low level pass over the sea. It was fabulous, fantastic, amazing. I had never been in a helicopter before so John let me sit in the front next to the pilot and he sat in the back, there were just the three of us. Seeing this spectacular landmark from the air is a memory I will treasure for ever.

We have now reached the end of the great Ocean Road. We had set aside two days for this leg of our journey but could have spent twice as long without any trouble. I know I have said it before but we just loved that journey.