The Otways

Left at 10 am. Travelled back via Colac to Lavers Hill and then down to Glenaire on the coast. From there the road goes inland through Hordern Vale. Again, weather showery. Just past Hordern Vale we turned off to go to Cape Otway – mainly to see the lighthouse (the oldest one in Aussie!). Didn’t bother actually doing the official tour of the light house area but took 10 – 15 minutes walk to a lookout which showed the lighthouse and the original telegraph station which they are in the very extended process of restoring to the original architect’s plans. Will be some years before completion.

Back to the G[reat] O[cean] Road and on through Otway National Park to Marengo on the coast and to Apollo Bay for lunch, at the Apollo Pub. Nice whiting, chips and a little salad (not meant to be included in lunch menu!).

After lunch, proceeded along the coast through Skenes Creek to Cape Patton Lookout for photos – again, weather showery but photo stops are “dry” – amazing! Then along the torturous G[reat] O[cean] Road to Lorne. Must say though, not the really terrifying run it must have been in the early days. Now spectacular but quite safe. Care just needs to be taken around some of the bends, for oncoming traffic who may have cut the corners a bit. No mishaps for us!

Arrived at Lorne and it was raining – oh no (Hughie had let us down) – but wait for it, we did a drive through of the town, and back again, and would you believe, by the time we got back to the elevated parking area and picnic spot the rain had stopped. So, we were able to get a wintry sunshine photo of Lorne!

Set off for Forrest along the falls and rainforest drive. Called in to view Erskine Falls – still no rain!

Then set off for Forrest, about half-way along the unsealed (except for a little scattered blue metal at times, rather wet, pot-holey) road we finally met our match – a dirty big tree which had fallen across the road. Someone (?) had sawn some off the top of the tree and there were rather boggy-looking tracks (probably 4WD) in the soft muddy edges – there was not enough room for us to pass. Why they hadn’t cut more off, I don’t know. There was just no way we could pass so back we went to a road junction we had passed and risked the even more minor (according to the maps) road across to another road to Forrest.

It turned out to be a really good track, even though a little narrower, and we made it safely back to Forrest. Our road then was a good road to Colac and back to Camperdown.

Another good day, a little wetter, but all went well and it certainly was different!

Dinner again at Commercial Hotel. It really is something else for a country pub. Refurbished I believe, but absolutely great food in a very attractive Bistro setting – with raised centre floor (can be used as a dance floor for functions) and surrounded by other dining section around the raised section and with a small front lower section near the entrance and an attractive “bar” to service the area. Bistro foods are really superb, or so we found.

Meal: Pork mignon (with choice of vegetables and pepper sauce) and I chose Lamb Hot Pot – Lamb and Veg – very tasty but mostly vegetables. Then I finished with Choc[olate] Mousse – yumm!

Cost: $25.50; Drinks $8.50