5.1.19 Otway Fly, magnificent rainforest and a few koalas

Today no quick start, but a leisurely wake up at 9.00 am. I can't find such a delicious roll in the bakery as yesterday, so I have something else for breakfast there. Today, there is a small weekly and flea market on the parking lot across the street. The trees where the koalas were sitting yesterday are now occupied by rosellas, these pretty pink-coloured parrots, trying to eat the tree... I walk around the small market, go to the nearby visitor center, and then drive along the coast towards Skenes Creek, where I turn onto C119 inland. The road winds until the wild enchanted C159 branches off to the left and soon I am driving through complete rainforest. There is practically no traffic, the road is marked as unsuitable for larger vehicles, so I don't have to worry about campervans or trucks here either. It is an incredible nature and an incredible bird chirping and cricket chirping when I stop and get out, just to listen.

By 12.30 pm, I reach Otway Fly, a treetop walk. I find a 10% coupon lying around and save $2.5 of the $25 entrance fee. The path first goes through the forest downhill, but then straight through this steel construction in the rainforest. At one point, there is a 47m high tower that I climb using the spiral staircase. It's pretty cool to look at the trees from up here, with the birds flying around at eye level. Unfortunately, constantly quacking and screeching children and the selfie stick-armed parents keep calling their names to make the little ones smile, turn their heads or something else, so that the photo is successful. It's like being in a zoo. I then follow a swaying plank along the treetop walkway, which is said to be the longest in the world. In the end, you end up back in the forest on a nature trail and then have to walk pretty unpleasantly uphill back to the visitor center. After 2.5 hours, I'm back at the exit. Allegedly, the treetop walkway is 1.9km long.

At least I saw and photographed a lot of shades of green, looked at palms and tree ferns from above, and marveled at the infinitely many regenerating plants far below the treetop walkway. Such a tangle - unbelievable.

From here, I can continue driving as I now drive south in a large inland loop and don't have to go back the same way. The road is very well developed from here. I also turn off to Johanna, a beach. Huge bay, huge surf, unfortunately quite cold - but simply great. When I pass the Lighthouse Road, which belongs to Otway National Park, again around 5.30 pm, I turn off again, hoping to see a few more koalas. And again I see some, this time even a mother with a baby in her arms. It's such a fur ball that I only see the child properly on the second attempt and with my telephoto lens.

It's not until 7.00 pm that I'm back in Apollo Bay, just go back to Chopstick House, eat the same as yesterday - I'm too exhausted to try something else now and it tastes good here and you sit directly overlooking the promenade. I wanted to go up to Mariner's Outlook for sunset, but the path from the parking lot is over 1km uphill again, and it starts raining right there, so the combination of both convinces me to forego this probably very cloudy sunset. It's pretty chilly and windy, and I retreat to the hotel. Secure pictures on the tablet, sort them out, write a diary, pack the bag, and off to the bunk.

Tomorrow, we will continue at 6.30 am.