Picture shows London Bridge - which really did fall down!

More pics can be seen in Google Pics; https://goo.gl/photos/vAn6jpPhqqmYXNqS6

...or in the Gallery; Just click on 'Gallery' above then the album 'Melbourne and the Great Ocean Highway'


Having decided not to sail to the Antipodes we opted instead to fly there. We landed in Melbourne after a 28 hour flight (included a long wait in Abu Dhabi), and recovered in a central hotel. Two nights didn't give us time to see much of the city, especially as it 28C was a 'heat shock' after the cool of an English winter. We met up with David and Kay, friends of friends, who took us on a walking tour around the central river area before sharing an enjoyable supper swapping travel stories.

We picked up a hire car and set off along the Great Ocean Road. I guess the pictures say it all; stunning coastal vistas, cool Eucalyptus forests, lots of wildlife, as well as sun, sand and surf.
London Bridge, in the pic above was once a double arched rock platform linked to the mainland, but it fell down in 1990, leaving two terrified tourists marooned on the outer arch. Happily they were rescued by helicopter!


The Iconic Grand Pacific Hotel - we stayed one night

Highlights included a one-night stay at the Grand Pacific Hotel which harks back to 1875, now restored with modern décor and serving delicious seafood.


The Twelve Apostles - although there are actually only seven

..and of course we spotted many of the famous Aussie wildlife species; koalas, cockatoos, parrots, kangaroos en route.


Koala in a Eucalyptus tree