We headed back to Melbourne from Adelaide on May 27th and took 3 days to drive along the coast. Part of the journey was along the Great Ocean Road. 🚙
We stopped first at Mount Lofty just outside Adelaide. As we rounded the corner up in the hills, the fog descended. We took a short hike to experience it. 🥾
We stopped in Robe to see the Chinese arrival monument. I also shared this in the Art Gallery of South Australia focus post:
Robe was a small and isolated community of about 200 people when it became the starting point for one of the most remarkable treks in Australian history. More than 16,000 Chinese left their homes in mainland China and landed in Guichen Bay during the late 1850s and early 1860s, after a long and difficult sea journey. They then walked overland through the bush for some 400 kilometres to reach the Victorian goldfields.
We saw the Robe obelisk which was built in 1855 (couldn't get too close due to instability). 📸
We stopped in Mount Gambier for the night and saw the Cast in Blue sculpture (Hana Studio, 2025) which indeed looked blue. 😢
There was a large sinkhole garden in Mount Gambier and near the entrance were two large sculptures called Cenotes and other Encounters:
This sculpture was created by Ivo Tadic of Mount Gambier and completed in April 1997. The form of the sculpture was inspired by the geological processes which create the region’s sinkholes and caves. These have been formed by rainwater dissolving limestone over millions of years.
The top section of the sculpture represents sinkholes that are open to the sky. The middle section represents hidden fissures created by solution of limestone and the lower section represents limestone prior to any solution activity.
The sinkhole was originally formed through the gradual erosion of limestone by rainwater, a common geological feature across the Limestone Coast. In the late 1800s, local landowner James Umpherston saw potential in the collapsed cave and set about turning it into a terraced garden. Stone walls were built, staircases added, and exotic plants introduced, creating the enchanting space visitors see today.
Steve was at the bottom in his orange jacket - the sinkhole was huge! 😳
We stopped at these two beautiful ocean view spots.
1. Childer's Cove 2. Murnane Bay
Childer's Cove
Murnane Bay
Lots of forest along the Great Ocean Road. 🌳
We stopped in Apollo Bay for the night with some clouds rolling in. ☁️
Got a nice rainbow after a short shower. 🌈
We woke up to find pukeko roaming the area. 🐦
The accommodation also had alpaca in the paddock above the sea. 🦙
I think they preferred kibble to grass. 😣
We got back on the road headed east. 🚙
Stopped in the cute town of Lorne for a snack. 😋
We kept going to see Erskine Falls. 📸
You could see the Great Ocean Road from Teddy's Lookout. 👀
I took dozens of photos to try to capture the cockatoo parrots while we were in Australia. However, they stayed high in the gum trees and sadly, the iPhone couldn't zoom that well. We finally saw one on the ground and snapped this photo. I cannot describe the sound of dozens of them flying between the trees at dusk - what a racket! 💥
We stopped at the Split Point Lighthouse, which allowed you to climb to the top and had a knowledgeable guide and the best views. ⚓️
We made it to Melbourne, flew to Auckland, and headed back to LA next. ✈️
