Monday, December 7, 2009

Down Undah - The Melbourne Chapter (Two)

By our third day in Melbourne, we pretty much felt like locals (and secretly, really wanted to be. If we run away in the next few months, I'll give you a hint... we probably went back to Melbourne.) so Noah took the wheel. Literally. On the right side of the car on the opposite side of the street. He mastered the art of opposite day driving by the time we got to the end of the driveway and we made our way to the southern stretch of the continent for a drive along the Great Ocean Road.
This drive along the Great Ocean Road was, for lack of more creative description, great. The drive afforded views and access to beaches, forested areas, farmland, cliffs - it really was breathtaking.

We had several wild koala sightings on the drive - but none that made us as proud as the one we spotted with only the aid of our own eyeballs (other times, the groups of Euro tourists pulled over on the side of the road were a dead giveaway).
The most famous destination along the GOR is the (are the...?) Twelve Apostles. A bit of a misnomer these days as 3-4 let the ocean get the best of them. But awe-inspiring, nonetheless.
While we were there, we took a picture for a family visiting from Germany. They asked where we were from and when we responded, they said, "oh! New York! That's where we started our trip two months ago."
So now I'm also running away to Germany. Check both places.
Our last few stops along the GOR were for these views at the Loch Ard Gorge.

7 comments:

Spratt said...

That is so cool! I got to drive on the other side of the car, and the other side of the road on my mission in Ireland. I really miss it. I can't wait to go to a place again where I can drive on the "wrong" side. It looks like Melbourne is a pretty spectacular place. I'll have to put it on my list.

allyn said...

are there more chapters to this amazing story? i was going to wait until the end to comment, but i will just do it again in the next chapter. your trip looks awesome and relaxing. and how wonderful would it be to have 2 months or more for world travel?

my favorite is the tan feet picture. hilarious.

Ashley said...

Was it really cold enough for a scarf? Or were you suffering for fashion?

Allison and Noah Riley said...

Yeah, temps were actually a lot milder in Melbourne - it even rained enough to knock out power on Thanksgiving. But our first day in Sydney was off the charts - I think it set a record.

melissa said...

That is truly breathtaking! You two seem to have the most adventures of anyone I know.

Whitney said...

oh my gosh consider me sold on australia! put another shrimp on the barbie for me! you look so beautiful in all your pics al. and i don't know why i just called you al, i never do! haha.

i am very jealous of your thanksgiving adventures. very...

Natalie Que said...

Can't WAIT to go there! Already figuring a way to ditch the kids...