Finally we are on the right street but wrong direction.... crux to find an exit and entrance. Done, good bye Melbourne.
Apollo Bay, our first overnight stop. Small Hotel, Captains by the bay, nice modern rooms and a helpful reception, she makes a dinner reservation in walking distance. We arrive and the Resturant, The Vista, has plenty of empty tables at 7pm. We are offered a table squeezed into a corner against the wall, worst spot in the room. We have experienced this in other places too. How come ? What about the better tables ? Response is, let us check if we could offer another table. I am speechless. But we are getting another table. The food was good, fresh seafood but the price is high.
Next day along the coast, our first stop is at a rain-forest walkway. Only 2 other people are here so it is pure solitude and enchanting. I am thinking of all the poisonous snakes, spiders etc and I am happy to walk on the wooden way 50cm above ground.
Next stop, it is a must, the twelve apostles, there are not really 12 anymore but who wants to be so picky? To make up for the loss of apostles in exchange there are many many tourists going around like on a trail for ants. The weather is perfect and we are able to take a photo just of the rocks and no people. Happy to continue our journey. Several cars stopping beside the road, what is there ? We also stop and try to find the attraction. It takes a moment before we discover it, despite the arms pointing in the direction, one Koala high up in the Eucalyptus tree. Our first one !
The overnight stop is in Port Fairy, a small lovely Hotel, Oscars at the waterfront, with a Manager who points out that after 8pm one can't order dinner anymore. Go early ! He will make a reservation for 6pm ! Until then we have a stroll along the beach and to a small protected island, here our
first Wallaby, excitement pure.
Driving along to Robe, even smaller town where it looks like we meet others again which we see and talk to already in previous stops. It's a small world the tourist path to Adelaide.
Last stop before Adelaide, the Barossa Valley. Beautiful Hotel, The Louise, in-midst the vineyards with a well known Restaurant. We enjoy, despite the 34 degrees, sitting on the terrace with a Raspberry muddler, non-alcoholic drink. Delicious.
Adelaide the GPS says go straight into the North Terrace but there is a detour and we confuse ourselves by listening to the GPS voice and not taking the signs as direction. Mistake. It is a sightseeing tour around a few blocks and there is the sign: Avis. But we are in a one way street and must go to the parking lot, guess where ? Finally we manage to park the car where it should be. The Hotel is just across the street. No worries, mate.
30 min flight to Kangaroo Island and a 1 hour drive to the Southern Ocean Lodge. Just to ensure we raise our expectations, we stop to see a Koala with a Joey in the tree beside the street on midlevel. The Joey (Koala baby) turns around so we could see more then just its bum. Great start !