Mount Gambier & Great Ocean Road home!

We left Victor Harbor in the poring rain and the weather didn't get any better as the day went on.

Stopping at a rest stop in wine country on the way.

Although arriving on a dreary old day it was easy to see why so many people recommended we come through Mount Gambier on the way home, such a nice little town with lots of historic buildings.

We pulled into the blue lake caravan park, which is as you may have guessed near the blue lake.

'The urban area is located mainly along the northern slopes and plain of a maar volcano of the same name, Mount Gambier. Comprising several craters it is part of the Newer Volcanics Province complex of volcanoes. One of these contains a huge lake of high-quality artesian drinking water which changes colour with the seasons. In winter, it is a steel grey and then changes to a spectacular cobalt blue in the summer, giving rise to its name, Blue Lake.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_gambier

We thought being an overcast day that the colour of the water would not be as strong as usual but you can definitely see why it was given the name blue lake!

The lookout next to our caravan park.

The caravan park.

Across the road from the blue lake is the leg of mutton crater, although with so many trees and plants growing in it it's hard to make out the shape.

There is a heap of walks around this area, well worth doing, on a nice sunny day of course!

We got nice and muddy getting out of here.

Getting closer to home.

After our short stay in Mount Gambier it was back on the road and one more step closer to Melbourne, we could have done it in one day (a long one) but we decided to take it slow, especially seeing as we were going along the great ocean road.

We stopped in Port Fairy on the way home, such a nice place to take a stroll, the sun even came out for us, ever so slightly.

After Port Fairy we stopped at the bay of martyrs for a maggi noodle lunch, with very nice views!

Still sunny!

So many places to stop on the way home! 

Next we headed to the 'grotto', something tells me it's a little different from Hef's though.

One of our favourite lookouts on the way home.

Then it was to London bridge.

As it used to be.

Another stop we had to make was at the twelve apostles, a collection of limestone stacks that Victoria is famous for.

Considering we were there on a weekday, a freezing cold weekday, the place was still extremely busy, there were people everywhere!

Some of the 8 remaining apostles.

The boardwalk was great.

Was very nice to see something in our own state without it raining, although as soon as we hopped in the car to drive on....... of course the heavens opened up, a welcome home gesture no doubt!

Rain rain go away!

It was a really tough drive on the great ocean road with the van, Brenton did all of that part, too scary for my liking! 

The scenery was amazing though, especially up in the hills, not that Brenton really got to take any of it in!

We stopped for our last night before getting home at Apollo bay, a great little caravan park across from the beach, at least we wouldn't have too far to drive on our final stint.

Despite the horrible weather, it was exciting to be so close to home!

Back to Melbourne for Easter before we tackle the east coast!