Saturday, March 31, 2012

Simply stunning! The Great Ocean Road - famous Bell's Beach, Anglesea and Airey's Inlet

Started our nosey along the spectacular Great Ocean Road! Have been looking forward to this for a long time - heard so many great reports about how stunning this stretch of coast is. And it certainly isn't disappointing.

The Great Ocean Road was constructed by returned World War 1 soldiers as a memorial to their fallen colleagues. What an amazing tribute!

Today we explored Bells Beach, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet.  Interesting we are travelling along the beaches east to west!  - so use to north and south!

Jan Juc Beach - next beach west from Torquay's Back Beach
Fabulous weather!!
The start of the impressive cliffs just past Jan Juc.
There are steps on the cliff headland for the surfers to get down on the rock platform and into the surf  - see below.
Spot the surf board riders on the rock platform?


Bell's Beach
Hope the surf picks up in the next few days for the big comp!
Everything is set up and ready to go for the 3rd April!
The point at Bells
The surf board riders were out there,  but not much was happening!
Waiting....waiting....and more waiting.....

The Rip Curl Pro ready to fire!!
Only officials past this point!
Couldn't get a good look at the Wall of Fame :(
Tent City nicely perched above the beach ready for the weekend. 
Winkipop -  just east of Bells Beach - they surf onto or up to the rock platform - crazy!!!
Interesting name!!


Looking east along the coast from Point Addis
Addscot Beach beyond the cove stretches up to Bell's Beach headland
Amazing beaches, coves, rock formations and rock platforms
This area is called Pixie Caves

Point Addis is in the Otway National Park and the sea, reefs and
rock platforms around it form the Point Addis Marine National Park
The seahorse is found here


Look at this face!
Good he is being protected in the Marine Park!
What an interesting fellow!
An escaped convict from the Sorrento settlement on the Mornington Peninsula - lived with the aboriginals for 32 years!
Obviously quite a  character - we keep coming across stories about him!


Only about 10 minutes down the road from Torquay is the lovely village of Anglesea. Its beach is monstrous! and the river and its wetlands estuary is interesting, as well as a great recreational area. We enjoyed the morning walking and exploring this appealing little town - we saw it from lots of angles :)


Looking up and down this big, beautiful beach!
Roadknight Beach is the next beach past the Surf Club 

Great spot for the Surf Club hanging on the side of the cliff - what a view!
The interesting rocks of Point Roadknight at the next beach west - Roadknight Beach
Beach walking!
The wind was blowing the sand along the beach surface forming lines that were racing to the sea -
great effect!
The shapely and colourful cliffs and rock formations on Anglesea's back beach
Stunning!



Anglesea River Estuary 
The Estuary boardwalk through the wetland and salt marsh -
a very interesting area
Can you imagine that this little bird migrates here all the way from Siberia!



Moonah trees and "Fairyland"

Canoeing and paddle boating are popular on the river
Interesting shops and cafes in the village.
Nef- it's award winning! :)

  Laneway 73 - very trendy and popular cafe
Amanda look what I found at Laneway 73! :)
Cute and very friendly!
What are you doing? All I want to do is play!
Loved this sign! - clever!
Guess what it is?
Liked the idea of the Art Walk along the river bank

Looking back over lovely Anglesea as we climbed the hill heading of town
Roadknight Beach and Point
Very popular for snorkelling


More of natures art at the Point!
Aireys Inlet's  famous "White Queen" or "White Lady" - Split Point Lighthouse
Her vital statistics!

She's famous for..............
You've probably seen her or read about her!

Eagle Rock at Split Point
Looking west along the coast towards Lorne from Split Point
Fairhaven Beach stretches along the coastline 
The majestic "White Queen" - all 34m of her!

The Inlet
Locals say Aireys Inlet is the Great Ocean Road's best- kept secret!

It is one of the coasts oldest settlements. The town and  the river were named after Lt John Airey
took up a pastoral run between Point Roadknight to the inlet in 1839 and the Anglohawk run in 1842.


More appealing shops cafes  and galleries!




This afternoon we did part of the Surf Coast Walk which wends its way along the spectacular
coastline between Torquay and Lorne - great track!
We headed east from Aireys Inlet along the cliff tops back towards Anglesea.

Great exercise and great views.........................
Fairy Rock, Eagle Rock and Table Rock


There she is again!!!

Eagle Nest Reef and Sunnymead Beach 
The scenes and  colours were fantastic!
Sunnymead Beach
Great mosaic of  Aireys Inlet featuring their famous landmark!
Think the locals were right - great place!!!!


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