Melbourne-Adelaide

April 5, 2008 - Adelaide, Australia

I have arrived in Adelaide after almost three days of sight-seeing. I've done too much to recount it all here, but I will try to write some things down.

The first day started early - 5:45am. I was picked up from my hostel an hour later, still bleary-eyed, but excited. Day one was all about the Great Ocean Road - that stretch of asphalt running alongside the south coast. The weather was stormy, rainy and grey. Perfect for the sea to beat upon the ever-shrinking rocks (2cm a year due to erosion), but not so perfect for taking a leisurely stroll. We did see a lot though. Of course the cliffs that run off into the ocean were ever-present. It was quite impressive, but I have to admit that, after a while, you do get tired of nearly the same lookout every single stop. One of the main attractions on day 1 were the Twelve Apostles. Not that there are 12 (either 8 or 15, depending on how you count)... that's what they're called to attract tourists. Old name: The Sow And Her Piglets. Yes, not that attractive. After the Apostles we went inland for a while to do some koala-spotting. And yes, they were there, the cute buggers that scratch when you mistake them for a cuddly toy. A rainforest (it credited its name) and more ocean views later we arrived at our first stop.

Day 2 started not quite as early as the previous day. The morning was for more hazy views of the Great Ocean Road, including a wonderful gorge. An almost closed circle of steep rock with a beach and a shallow cave. The only thing that broke the rock were the waves crashing in between the small slit. A very secluded place. Sort of a secret hide-away, if it weren't for the tourists who come there all the time. The afternoon was spent hiking in the Grampians. It was a doable hike (though not everyone would agree with me) to the top of a mountain called The Pinnacle. tired out we arrived at a great location in Halls Gap - kangaroos all over.

Speaking of roos: we saw a lot of them on the morning of day 3 - one almost saw our van up close, real close, but our tour guide managed to brake just in time. After about two hours of driving in the twilight we arrived at Hollow Mountain, which gets its name from the numerous caves. This hike was more of a climb and a lot more difficult than the previous hike. But I managed to scramble my way to the top for an amazing view. And then it was back down the same way - even more difficult! Most of the afternoon was spent driving the last few hundred kilometres to Adelaide, though there was an unplanned stop at a salt lake and on the border of South Australia there were a few white kangaroos. Yes, they were white Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Weird things, but just as lazy during the day as their grey (and, I presume, red) counterparts. A couple of hours later we arrived in Adelaide.

I would love to let pictures tell the tale, but this computer doesn't seem to have a USB-port or the like, so it'll have to wait. :)


3 Comments

Ro:
April 6, 2008
Ahhh the jealousy keeps building :) Gimp!

Keep this up and you'll have enough stories to fill a few decades back in our frog-country. :)
April 7, 2008
This is the benefit of hiking in the rain - I found Grampians walk #2 a lot easier than the first one, just because it was earlier in the morning and not a ridiculous temperature

However, the second walk is the one where I fell over. Several times.

Glad to hear you're having fun!
sarah:
April 13, 2008
Klinkt mooi :) staan de foto's er intussen al wel op? Ik zal zo eens zoeken!

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