Between teddy bears, turbines, and a thousand kilometers of feeling

Victoria, Great Ocean Road

Right after breakfast, we set off. Very early.

You can feel on days like this, just by getting in: This will not be a walk in the park. Now, on the way back, it's 6 PM, and in about half an hour, we'll be back at the hotel. Behind us lie nearly 600 kilometers in a single day. In my world: Hannover round trip. And that's exactly how it feels – long, demanding, physically noticeable.

This shapes the day. And it explains why I experience it ambivalently.

Koalas – these quiet, incredible beings

At the initiative of our guide James, we began the search for koalas. And here you see what makes a good guide: He didn’t just want to tick it off. He wanted to find.

We stopped two or three times. Looked up. And then they were just sitting there:

Koalas. Free. Unaffected. In their world.

They really do look like teddy bears. Calm. Almost blissful. And they sleep – a lot. Up to 20 hours a day. James explained why:

Their food, eucalyptus leaves, is extremely low in nutrients, hard to digest, and partly toxic. The body needs enormous energy to process it. Sleep is not a sign of laziness – it’s a survival strategy.

These are the quiet moments when you realize: This is exactly why you are out here.

Kangaroos and the earnest effort

Also in the search for kangaroos, you could tell how much James wanted us to succeed. Every corner, every possible spot was targeted. Motivating, attentive, continuously trying to involve the group.

No mere ticking off tasks. But real engagement.

National park, closed paths – and a great idea

We also made a stop in a national park. Unfortunately, we couldn’t really walk there since parts of the park were closed for safety reasons after heavy rainfall. A pity – but understandable.

What immediately caught my attention there was:

Everywhere there are permanently installed barbecue grills, powered by gas, available for use at any time. You enter the national park, bring your food – and everything else is already there.

I think that's a fantastic idea.

Families come together. Friends meet. No one has to invest much, no one needs to bring anything but food and time. The setting is there – the rest happens by itself.

Honestly:

This is something we should definitely adopt back home. It brings people together, easily, uncomplicated, naturally.

My daughter would probably say:

“Those are just trees.”

True. But they are incredibly beautiful trees.

The Twelve Apostles – and then suddenly lift off

On the way to the Twelve Apostles, James said this one sentence during the drive:

“If anyone is interested – how about a helicopter flight?”

I spontaneously said yes. First by myself. Then Rosa – R-O-Z-A – from Canada also said yes.

And then we were sitting in the helicopter.

My first helicopter flight ever.

The takeoff felt like a rollercoaster. A brief moment of nervousness. And then: vastness. Calm. Perspective.

The Twelve Apostles from above – it’s no longer just a sight. It’s an experience.

Sensational. There’s no other way to describe it.

So special that I'm trying to upload a video. If it works, you can somewhat relive this flight.

That was the highlight of the day. Perhaps even of the entire trip so far.

Too much distance, too little depth – my honest truth

And still, it remains the case:

This day was very exhausting.

Too much driving.

Too many short stops.

Pull up, get out, take a photo, get back in – that doesn’t suit me.

I need encounters. Time. Conversations. Not just checking items off a list. That’s why I wouldn’t want to do this type of trip again.

Human gestures make the difference

What carried the day for me were the human moments:

• the shared experience in the helicopter
• the personal atmosphere there
• and a small but very nice gesture from James

He had brought back three souvenirs – for my three princesses at home. Very fitting. Very thoughtful. I won’t reveal more, as they are reading here. But that truly made me happy.

Outlook: Tomorrow begins the Outback

Tomorrow we will fly into Central Australia.

The second part of the journey begins.

Over 40 degrees, flying nets, Outback. Real adventure.

The report will follow tomorrow – from the airport.

Conclusion of the day:

A day between exhaustion and ecstasy.

Between asphalt, adrenaline, and small ideas that stick.

Not easy, not smooth – but with a moment that overshadowed everything:

the helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles. (I will provide the film later - still need to convert it to the right file)

Postscript for the evening in Melbourne

After our arrival, Erik and I went out to eat together. Later we stood on the bridge in Melbourne and called my family. My sister-in-law and my wife were also on the line, so we could briefly show how Melbourne looks at night. We had to forgo the anticipated fireworks and light show – that would have happened between 9 and 11 PM. Nevertheless, great pictures were taken, which I might share with you later.

The evening itself was sensational. The exchange with Erik was intense and personal. We quickly realized how similarly we think about family and how comparable our experiences of responsibility and closeness are. Two people who immediately understand each other and can openly exchange. Emotional, honest, and simply a really lovely evening.

Now it continues: It’s 4 AM, we are already up, as the flight to the Outback departs early.