Melbourne again and the Great Ocean Road

So we have better internet connection now, so I am going to re-do the post on Melbourne!!Melbourne is a very beautiful city. We started off with the boat tour, which mainly brought us to see the main sporting stadiums - Melbourne is the sports capital of Oz. It also has a lot of random art and sculptures. 


We spent that afternoon in the aquarium, which is the best I've been in. They had a lovely collection of fish and some other animals too, and a really good penguin display. We spent some time in Federation Square in the centre of the city. 


The following day we went to the Botanic Gardens. (I wonder whose idea that was!), and went up the Eureka Tower to their skydeck - the highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere. We also visited St. Kilda beach, where we were lucky enough to see a penguin close up. 


Between yesterday and today we traveled the Great Ocean Road. We made plenty of stops along the way to see many interesting things. We hired a car and John did all the driving. We had looked into getting a camper van, but it was too awkward with trying to get it, and then returning it tomorrow would have been difficult. So we got a car instead and John did all the driving. With the weather we are having this evening, I am very glad we are not in a camper van. We have just experienced some very heavy thunder and lightening, and it poured rain. 
Some of the highlights included the amazing views of the southern ocean, especially including some of the rock formations. Also, getting to see some native wildlife, in their own habitats. We saw a few koalas, some parrots and even some penguins (albeit from quite a distance!). We also did a treetop walk through the forest. 

The sky earlier this evening. When it's this colour, you know it's probably not a good sign!!

Torquay - the surf capital of Australia. There certainly was a huge number of people surfing, though they did all seem to be beginners. 

One of our stops was to go see a waterfall. I have to admit, this sign really did not fill me with confidence. 

Erskine Falls

How big are the ferns here?

Mum and baby Koala. Come down and clean your room now! Don't make me come up there...

Our breakfast table this morning.  The seagulls were still asleep on the beach.

 This is called London bridge. With how it fell apart you'd be forgiven for thinking it was Stamford Bridge.

My favourite of the rock formations - The Grotto

Nooooo! This was the prehistoric trail, around the area of the treetop walk. 

John playing fetch with a T rex. 

We were up high!

And then we went even higher.