Geelong, Great Ocean Road, and Melbourne

Last week my roommates and I took a trip to Victoria, where we spent three days and two nights. After spending a day's journey driving along the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles, I've decided it is one of my favorite parts of Australia! The views were stunning and the vivid colors of the sky meeting the green cliffs gave the illusion that the landscape was photoshopped. We arrived amazed at the twelve impressive stacks of limestone on the beach near the Great Ocean Road. On the way there we stopped several times to admire the view and for photo opportunities at Loch Ard Gorge and the W.B. Godfrey ship wreck, where you can still see pieces of the wreckage. The whole experience was topped off by a koala sighting, thanks to Claire's eagle like eyes! We also spotted several kangaroos grazing on a golf course, which we proceeded to sneak up on for some close ups. We spent the night at Claire's friend Kylie's house in Geelong, who was nice enough to house us after driving us around and being the most hospitable and lovely tour guide all day.

W.B. Godfrey Shipwreck behind us

Loch Ard Gorge

Scenic pullout along the Great Ocean Road

Twelve Apostles

The second and third day we spent exploring Melbourne, a quaint and quirky city full of artistic graffiti, back alley cafes, and iconic architecture by foot and via the free city tram. We walked through many brick alleys including AC/DC Lane, covered in graffiti and shoes hanging from telephone wires. We dined at several cafes all of which had extensive gluten free menus, delicious food and coffee. We rode the elevator to the top of the 975 foot Eureka sky tower, where we saw all of Melbourne at sunset and took a picture in King Kong's hand. We educated ourselves on the history of all things cinematography with some fun and interactive free exhibits at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square. We paid our respects to those who served in WWI and other Australian Veterans at the Shrine of Remembrance. We also strolled through the luscious landscapes at the botanical gardens and took shelter in a gazebo when it started raining. Overall, I found Melbourne to be quite memorable and unique, but found that one day was enough for me to get my fill. If I ever go back to Victoria, I would like to spend much more time exploring the gorgeous sights of the Great Ocean Road and all that the surrounding trails have to offer.

Sunset from the Eureka Tower