Melbourne .. Great Ocean Road.. Goodbyee Oz

Sat 29th Nov - Melbourne

A long lie.. much needed after a couple of exhausting days. The new star wars trailer flashes up on my tablet.. my teenage former self is an excited fan and this is heightened after watching the teaser trailer. 

Stef heads off into town to meet a friend. As I sit in the hostel reception using the free wifi (yess.. for once free), Hannah and Lisa spot me as they are on there way out for some brunch (I first met these two fun girls back in Magnetic Island when we had won the quiz.. and then along the way down the east coast had bumped into them at different times). 

We walk through the neatly arranged (New York reminiscent) streets/blocks, to a side alley with numerous cafes. Here we have some tasty brunch.. very filling and catch up about our recent travel experiences. 

After eating we head across the river to the river bank where the girls plan to spend the afternoon relaxing and taking in some strong sun rays! I head back into the city, exploring some of the shops with the aim of buying some new running trainers. The streets are filled with talented buskers, I take some time to listen and enjoy the music. I find a 30% discount on all shoes in Adidas and as I'm heading to the counter to pay I bump into Emma from Fraser Island.. small world! Soon we are heading to a nearby stylish rooftop bar called Cookie. A few hours later.. along with a few pints, Hannah and Lisa also join us followed by Stef and a couple of her friends. With the intention of heading back out we grab sushi and are back at our hostel but no night out materialises.

Sun 30th Nov - Melbourne 

Again another lazy morning... with a big load of washing needed to get done I wait around at the hostel. I catch up with Dan from my east coast travels, he is now based in Sydney and plans to stay there for a few months. I book up a one day Geeat Oceon Road trip for tomorrow.. my time in Oz is soon to be over and my New Zealand Adventure about to begin. After a hair cut and a quick update of the blog I head out with Stef to the final day of the pop up night noodle markets. It is now 5pm but still unbearably hot in the sun! We grab a drink and find some shade! 

We walk around the markets to see the large array of food on offer.. I choose the honey covered pork noodle dish including pork spring rolls.. my decision to pile on chilli sauce soon has me in tears as I enjoy the dish!

We sit by the tanqueray area and enjoy the live music, at different times there is an Asian stlye gymnastic dance show performed by three women on top of high bendy poles (see pics). 

Stef heads off with her friend Claire and soon after Emma and her Irish friend Sarah arrive along with Chris (also from Fraser Island trip who they had just bumped into!). After a beer and some tasty frozen yoghurt we all head back to our hostels. 

Mon 1st Dec - Great Ocean Road

I'm up and ready for my 7.10am pick up from Nomads and the start of my one day Great Ocean Road trip. Jake...my guide/driver for the day spends the next hour weaving around the city picking everyone up (20 in total) from various hostels before we leave the city via the West Gate Bridge.

We stop on route for morning tea/coffee & biscuits at a beachside view. The next part of the drive are windy coastal roads passing by the lighthouse from the Aussie kids tv program 'Round the Twist'! We make a stop at the Memorial Arch and then again further on for some wildlife spotting... a number of very tourist friendly parrots ready to be fed, a kookaburra and a sleeping kola! We continue on the ocean road, stunning views at each turn and make a brief stop for to take in the view to Apollo Bay where we stop for a tasty lunch. 

Our route after lunch takes us away from the ocean due to a national park stopping a continuation of the coastal road at this point.  We stop for a rainforest guided walk then pile back into the minibus where we all fall alseep along the next 2hr drive, awaking as the road once again meets the coast. 

Soon we are stopping to take in the views of the famous 12 Apostles (although only ever 9.. and now only 8 due to the force of nature). Just a short drive down the road and we view Loch and Gorge.. a beautiful beach where two survivors of a ship wreck washed up. Our final stop is London Bridge and another fascinating naturally eroded rock formation. A great days trip... my final full day in Oz. On my late return to Melbourne I head out with Stef to reunite with Lucy and Beth from the Atherton Tablelands trip!

Tues 2nd Dec - Melbourne

MY FINAL DAY IN OZ! I head to the city library where I join a free walking tour beginning at 10.30am. This proves to be an excellent (& informative) way to see the city. The highlight is the street art! I then briefly meet up with Stef, Lucy and Beth to say my goodbyes before heading back to the hostel to get myself ready for my up coming two flights to New Zealand (Melbourne - Christchurch - Auckland).

What a fantastic 9 weeks I've had travelling in Australi. Stunning views,  new awesome experiences, so many great travel friends.. I feel so lucky and would love to return again in the future. But now a new chapter in my years adventure around the world awaits me on New Zealand....