Showing posts with label Melbourne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melbourne. Show all posts

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Melbourne Travelogue 05: Split Point Light House (Aireys Inlet) + Devil's Elbow

 
I spent the week in London for the Sales Conference, which probably explains my absence in this space. Now that I'm home, it's now back to the daily grind of work and I just had to sneak some time to update the blog to keep the momentum going. While editing pictures for this blog, I got bored and spent sometime updating my drama list on 2015 instead, ha! I also put together a list for 2016 since I have finished a couple of dramas this year. Now, let us continue on Day 2 of our GO drive
 
Since we were on a self-drive trip, I decided to try out AirBnB for the first time. We booked the private room, so we get to stay with the hosts. I will read up on the reviews and scanned through the pictures of the accommodation before confirming the booking. For those who are new to AirBnB, sign up using my link (www.airbnb.com.sg/c/caihongl) to get some travel credits! This will help to offset part of your booking, so why not?  
We checked into our first accommodation at Lorne and had a good night rest. The next morning, our host left out some breakfast for us before she left for work. We ate our breakfast, packed our bags and continued our journey. 
  
We had to make a detour to visit the places which we skipped yesterday. So, we drove past memorial archway again and head towards Aireys Inlet.
Parking is basically free here, but be careful of where you parked. We followed the cars till the end of the line and parked the car. Leecher even had problem parking the car as we were sandwiched between 2 cars. Imagine our surprise when we saw a parking coupon stuck to the wind shield for parking at an unauthorised area. Hefty fine which burnt a hole in our pocket, but haiz ...
 
Anyway, we continued the journey and walked over to Split Point Lighthouse.
For those who are not rushing for time, do drop by Willow Tea House (next to the lighthouse) for their famous scones. If the weather is good, head outdoors to enjoy a bit of sunshine!
Willow Tea House
7 Federal Street, Aireys Inlet, Victoria 3231
Ta-dah! Can you feel our excitement, ha! The lighthouse make a really good backdrop, with the ivory white tower and red roof. It certainly stood out against the blue sky.
We were greeted by a display of vintage cars just as we stepped foot into the compound. These vintage cars were absolutely gorgeous! It felt like an entourage of vintage cars on parade, but it was really just one big extended family dropping by the lighthouse for a visit. Definitely an eye-turner on the road.  
 
The lighthouse is opened daily from 11AM till 2PM, each tour is around 45 min. We explored the surrounding areas first ... just because this scene captured my heart.
 
From this look out, you can see both eagle and table rocks although eagle rock is slightly out of sight while table rock (shown in picture) is more prominent for picture taking. 
View from another lookout point. There is no bad angle for photography in Melbourne. Everywhere just looks so picturesque, the perfect backdrop. 
 
We walked around the area and decided to forgo the lighthouse tour - since we'll be visiting another lighthouse in the area - and headed off towards our next destination. 
I love SUV after this trip! I get to sit at the spacious boot while changing out from my shoes. Nonetheless, car is expensive in Singapore so we can only drive this while on holiday :) 
Split Point Lighthouse
Federal Street, Aireys Inlet, Victoria 3231
Tel: 1800 174 045  
Opening Hours: 11AM till 2PM (daily) 
We continued to Devil's Elbow on the GO drive, which brings us to this view even though Devil's Elbow is known as the tightest turn on the GO road. Leecher learning about the history on-site by reading the commemorative plaque. There are 13 such plaques along the stretch of GO road.
 The large stopping area for cars to turn in
Selfie, lol!
We took a couple of pictures before we decided that we should head down to the beach. Stay tuned for the next post!
Devil's Elbow
Great Ocean Road, Eastern View, Victoria 3231

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Melbourne Travelogue 04: Point Addis + Angelsea Fish & Chips + Memorial Archway

We spent a lovely afternoon at Cunningham Pier and Bells Beach. Thereafter, our journey on the Great Ocean road continued towards Point Addis, which promises breathtaking view of Bells Beach and the surrounding reefs. It was a short 15 min drive from Bells Beach to Point Addis.
From the main road, you will drive through a long stretch of road to reach the look-out point. The best thing about driving in Australia - not much traffic! No traffic lights, no jam - just driving and enjoying the splendid scenery.
We walked through the elevated platform and wow, the stunning blue ocean came into sight. I don't think I will ever be tired of the view. Even though we were looking at the same ocean from Bells Beach, somehow, the water looks more blue here.
For the nature enthusiasts, you can explore the marine environment within the park. The sub-tidal waters support a wide range of fish and algae species, as well as seals, dolphins, brilliantly coloured sponge gardens and extensive rhodolith beds. The limestone reefs are abundant with marine life.
We decided to take continuous shots and test out telepathy. Glad our chemistry worked out for the last pic :)
Looking over across to Bells Beach. It certainly looked different from another angle and we tried to figure out where we stood previously.
The best thing about taking pictures against the ocean backdrop .... you don't get hoards of tourists inside your picture, ha! All of us patiently wait for our turns to take pictures, but this is not the case at the Twelve Apostles where we encounter a lot of those infamous tourists from you-know-which-land.
Clumsy me dropped my lens cover when I was packing the camera. It slipped through the crack of the wooden platform. I was quite sad, but I quickly surveyed the surroundings and climbed over the wooden platform to retrieve it from underneath. Leecher handed me the tripod as a stick as my short hands couldn't reach the cap. I managed to retrieve the cap and posted for a victory pic before climbing back. Thankfully there wasn't many people in the area if not I will be so embarrassed. 
Point Addis
Access from Point Addis Road, off the Great Ocean Road,
between Torquay and Anglesea
 
Hunger pangs strike us and we realised that we didn't had a meal since our brunch at Lavish Cafe. So, we made a stop at Angelsea to refuel our tummies. Since Leecher had a craving, we headed to Angelsea Fish and Chips for a seafood feast. Leecher surveying the menu outside the shop, deep in thought on what to eat..... Erm, I thought he wanted fish and chips?

Leecher placed an order for the seafood feast/platter and waited patiently for the food, as this little outlet is a takeout restaurant. Once the orders are placed, the chef will start whipping out your orders to ensure the freshness. 
Deep-frying in action! 
With our box in hand, we headed over to the park and enjoyed our feast. The serving was so huge that we had difficulty finishing the chips. We packed the chips along in the car to munch on later #dontwastefood. The feast, consisting of fish fillet, scallops, calamari and crab-meat (crab-stick actually) was really fresh! Well, I think they are fresh since we are near the ocean, lol. 
Angelsea Fish and Chips
83 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea Victoria 3230, Australia
Tel: 61 3 5263 1122
I had planned a lot more stops but we had to retire for the night as I wanted Leecher to rest early since he must be tired driving the whole day. Thus, we moved some of the stops to the next day and headed straight to Memorial Archway. This was strategic planning as we have the whole place to ourselves instead of squeezing with bus loads of tourists.
This archway was built as a tribute to the soldiers from the First World War who were engaged in the construction of the GO Road. Alongside the arch, there is also a sculpture commemorating the returned servicemen, which was commissioned and placed during the 75th anniversary of the road celebrations. Most importantly, the memorial arch provides a great photographic opportunity for visitors entering Lorne.  

 See, no tourists or cars behind us! 
Leecher, pretending to be part of the team who built this magnificent GO road.
We get the whole place to ourselves for tons of picture opportunities, but lazy me is only going to edit a couple to be uploaded. The rest shall be archived in my HDD. We retired to the AirBnB apartment for the night and I'll be back with more of our adventures soon. 
Memorial Archway
Great Ocean Road, Eastern View, Victoria 3231

Friday, July 8, 2016

Melbourne Travelogue 03: Cunningham Pier + Bells Beach

The 3rd entry on our adventures along Great Ocean Road! After a sumptuous meal at Lavish Cafe, we headed to our next destination in Geelong: Cunningham Pier. The initial plan was to continue on the GO drive towards Torquay, but I chanced upon the Pier during research so we decided to head here for a walk along the pier.
Cunningham Pier is probably the most iconic structure on Geelong's waterfront. In mid 1850s, the pier was a vital part of the port with rail being used to load and unload cargo. Today, the Pier offers spectacular view across Corio Bay and Geelong's beautiful foreshore. 
We weren't sure of the parking rates, so Leecher check with a few locals and even cross-checked the parking machine before we leave the car. We parked near the park and it was free parking for weekends, if I recalled correctly.
Marking our footprints in front of the iconic structure :) The sun in Australia is really harsh, thus we had to wear our sunglasses for extra protection.
The mandatory jump-shot - we attempted this over 10 times before finally getting it right. I wonder how long can we continue doing this before our bones finally break ('',)
Taking pic with his Samsung phone. I'm usually not an Android user, but I was so thankful for this phone during this trip. Leecher never fails to bring this point up. I shall elaborate more in the other posts.
Leecher having fun along the pier, holding onto the gigantic ring as he inched close to the edge.
It was a sunny afternoon & I was glad we arrived earlier for before long, the pier was filled with like-minded people who came out to enjoy the sun. Even though it was bright and sunny, I had my jacket on as I was feeling cold from the sea breeze.
One of the reason why we came to the Pier was to enjoy the walk to Rippleside Park via the path along the waterfront. This path features a large number of bollards. According to statistics, there are 102 bollards around the waterfront from Limeburner's Point to Rippleside Park. However, we couldn't possibly finish the walk hence we only managed to catch a few of these bollards.
 
The bollard was originally meant as a post used on a ship or quay principally for mooring, but these decorative bollards, made of timber, are brightly painted to resemble human beings. The figures, which maybe historical or contemporary, are cluttered around the waterfront in areas where people gather. Thus, the bollards have become a well-known feature of Geelong and also reflected its history as a major Australian port.
 
Leecher trying to mimic the bollard.  
 Checking out the vast number of yachts docked at the pier #richpeople. 
 Cannot own one, so take a picture for free, lol!
Finally enjoying the relaxed Aussie lifestyle. It can get pretty addictive though and I had difficulty adjusting back to Singapore's hectic schedule after the vacation. 
If we weren't rushing for time, I would have make a lunch reservation at Baveras Brasserie. With view extending across the bay to the city skyline, this is one of the finest restaurants in Geelong. The menu changes accordingly to the season and the fresh produces from the surrounding area.
Cunningham Pier
Moorabool Street, Geelong
We continued on our GO drive after leaving Cunningham Pier. Our next pit stop was 30 min drive from Geelong. There were 2 routes that we wanted to explore: either we head to Point Lonsdale Lighthouse or Bells Beach. We explored our option and decided to head to Bells Beach instead.
When driving along the GO road, the places of attractions are clearly displayed along the road so the driver just need to follow the directions. Otherwise, your next best bet is to trust your instinct (if navigation fails) and follow the cars, lol!
Check out the cars lined up at the car park heading to Bells Beach.
Bells Beach is home of the world's longest running surfing competition: the Rip Curl Pro Surf and Music Festival. Bells Beach is catered for the experienced surfers, due to the 2 right-hand breaks. The waves are almost guaranteed to be good, particularly from March to October. We came at the right season for the action!
Walking down the well-trodden dirt path down to the lookout point. This is where you can get a bird's eye view of the ocean and also, the surfers in action. 
 Spot the surfers!
We chilled out at the look-out point, emptying our mind of work and just feeling the sea breeze caressing our skin. It was quite therapeutic looking out to the horizon and listening to the sound of the waves. 
View overlooking Bells Beach. The beach was named after John Cavert Bell, the family that first took up a pastoral run in the area. So, don't expect to see a gigantic bell in the middle of the beach (^^)
We walked down the stairs that leads to the beach. Well, mainly because the surfer dudes were quite good-looking so my natural instinct was to follow them!
Standing on Bells Beach! The best way to enjoy the beach 
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Barefoot! I kicked off my shoes to walk in the sand, but Leecher refused giving the excuse that his shoes were more difficult to wear, duh.
Scardy cat Leecher. Where got people walk around the beach in shoes? *face palm*
The water was extremely cold, but it just felt great to feel the soft sand under your feet. As I stood at my spot, I felt so relaxed just watching the waves making their way towards the coast and feeling the chilly water.
Last picture at Bells Beach before we set off to the next pit stop :)
Bells Beach
Jarosite Road, Victoria 3228
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