10.02.2013 from Cape Otway Parker Hill Campground to Port Campbell

Early in the morning, we decide to go for a hike to Point Franklin, 3 km return. We start hiking on the famous Great Ocean Road Walk, a trail that spans over 91 km from Apollo Bay to just beyond the 12 Apostles. Today, we are doing a mini section of it and we promptly spot 2 black wallabies, but they quickly hop into the dense bush before we can even take out our phones. Point Franklin is a small stretch of beach where the Hooded Plover wreaks havoc and neglects its young, and there are indeed 100 horse flies that are so eager to annoy us that we have to leave the beach faster than we would like. On the way back, we actually encounter her, snake number 3, she shows no intention of giving us the way, so one of us has to assertively step forward. The snake quickly disappears into the dense bush.

The path then leads us on the Great Ocean Road to a Tree Top Walk. Without warning that we would have to hike 4 km, we embark on a gigantic steel pathway, with a tower and super explanations about the cool rainforest, the westernmost rainforest in Australia. The views of the forest and the forest floor are stunning, as is the understanding of all those who live in this forest. We are impressed.

We continue a short distance on the old Great Ocean Road, which is a roughly 3 m wide unpaved path along a valley with lush green meadows, plenty of water, and black spotted Friesian cows. We almost feel at home.

Our next destination is the famous 12 Apostles, yes, there are many people here again, it is loud and everyone is taking pictures as if there was nothing more important in the world than documenting that they have been here. And yes, it is a beautiful landscape.

We try to send some messages at the Port Campbell Visitor Centre, but the network quality is particularly weak. So what, who cares. Let's drive to the next campground, do some laundry, sizzle something nice (lamb chops) for dinner, and consider where we want to go tomorrow. It is quiet and peaceful here, the sun has set, and I really want to put on long pants, but they are still hanging on the clothesline.