The Great Ocean Road and finally.. MELBOURNE

Hi Guys! Installment number 3 my turn to write! We’ve done so much and are currently in Melbourne so have a millions things to do now we’ve hit the city so this is gona be a quickee!
 
So we went to the Whale Nursery at Logans Bay in Warrnambool and saw a mum and baby just off the shore, amazing waves and was quite a wierd feeling seeing a whale for real like that. And then it was time….. we started our drive along The Great Ocean Road!! We saw the sign and the anticipation to see the sea started to build up as we drove on and on thru fields of sheep and stupid trees all we wanted was the sea! 30 mins later we saw a glimpse and then the Bay of Islands! Was incredible, bright brilliant blue sea with white waves crashing and spraying around brighter orange islands of rock! Then we saw Crofts Bay, Bay of Martys and the town of Peterborough. The views were so amazing and I know I’m going on and on but you just don’t understand unless you go. The most famous thing to see along the Great Ocean Rd is the 12 apostles so we wanted to do this in style…. by helicopter!!
 
And there was the sign saying helicopter rides here, so off we drive into the field next to the road while I jump out Claire waits in the van, but the hut was locked and it looked a bit run down and shabby so we decided to stop at the next tour office, suddenly.. the van wouldnt move! WE WERE STUCK IN THE MUD!!!!! The stupid boggy crappy field caught us and our van and the more we revved up the worse it got, I had tears welling up while Claire cracked up. We jumped out and ruined our Ugg boots and decided to try and dig ourselves out with plates and spoons.. picture that! haha. A guy in a car drove past and waved, I casually waved back because all the aussies are so so friendly, but then it dawned on me we were stuck in a field in the middle of nowhere and my wave turned into a desparate arm movement leg janngling dance and I started screaming help help.. he drove past! We were swearing and digging on with our plates when the car reappeared. I went over with my blonde mop head and started rabbiting on a million miles an hour about how desparate we needed help.. he got out in his flipflops and was so negative.. ahh man thats the worse I’ve seen.. I dont know what you can do.. your accelarating has made it worse..  I begged him to get help and he said he’d get his Dad. So what did me and Claire do, we got in the van and ate chocolate laughing at our drama and traumatic situation. We put bright pink legwarmers on and tied our hair up, after all digging wheels with a spoon is hard work. As we casually laid around it suddenly dawned on us that this boy might not come back! We went into the lane and jumped frantically at any car that drove past. They all kept on driving. Close to tears the aussie returned with his mate. They stood around and decided they could tie a chain to the back step and tow us out the mud, we couldnt care less about the step and just wanted to get out of the field by then. Watch the video we’ll put on facebook soon and you can see our rescue… hahah.
 
We drove on the hard tarmaced Ocean Road and saw the Grotto and London Bridge, the Arch and 2 mile Bay, then we saw a bunch of helicopters ON TARMAC and drove over to them. The ride and views were so so brilliant. Have millions of photos, was just fantastic and the 12 apostles were fabulous. Next we hit the Surf Bay in Torquay at the end of the Great Ocean Road (which we had drove in one little day, Mum- be proud of us) and it was full of surf shops galore. Up winding steep cliff face and a drive from hell in the dark wind and rain we arrived in our campsite in Queenscliff.
 
The next morning I drove our van onto a ferry to the Mornington Peninsula where we drove up a cliff 320m above sea level to Arthurs Seat to see amazing views of Sorrento. Then we drove for 3 hours to Wilsons Prom, the most Southern tip of Australia!! Down the winding roads through the mountains Claire spotted a Koala crawling along the road!!!! I slammed on the breaks, we ran back quietly and just missed getting a photo. Then we saw little baby bear cubs 2 black ones playing, again slammed on the breaks and ran back.. It was like we were on safari!! We only learned the bear cubs were actually wombats after an hour of delight in seeing them and seeing a sign in a passing campsite. Also saw joeys too. .When we reached the most southernly point, Tidal Bay, it was such a wicked feeling. It felt like we were at the edge of the world, waves crashing beach in front of us, and surrounded by mountains, we wished you were all there at that very moment..
 
Next stop was Healesville sanctuary – watched koalas being fed and got so close to them! Saw more bloody wombats, kroos, birds of prey show, dingoes, wallabies and desparately tried to see emus, palatypuses and tasmanian devils in areas which were under redevelopment! haha. Went in an animal hospital watched a giant lizard dragon have blood tests! Then we headed back to our van where drama number 2 struck us!! OUR BATTERY WAS DEAD. We swore and stomped and through a tantrum. Claire switched on the gas and made super noodles while I walked back into the park and once again started my sob story. We’re two girls from London we’ve come all this way, we’re traumatised etc etc. 2 wardens tried to start the car with jump leads but it wouldnt work. So in the end we waited a whole hour for some dopey guy to help us from the roadside assistance team, can you believe our luck!! Was so so unfunny!!

Today we went to the Domain Chandon winery. At 10.20am we ordered a tasting of different sparkling wines and nibbles and sat overlookin the vine yards in the greatest place imaginable. Huge domed windows overlooking the Yarra Valley. We had a tour and learned about Moet and saw the barrells and cellars etc. A lovely old guy called Christopher who happened to be from Guildford, small world! We tried lots more wines but as I was driving I sadly handed mine over to Claire, was so wicked to be in the Domain Chandon winery though, really was top class. On to the De Bortolli cheese room and sampled 8 cheeses and more wine, was excellent. Then we drove to Melbourne and have now hit the city. It is fantastic!!! So much more bustling and busy compared to Adelaide, city lights which we are so grateful for after having 7 days of fields and sea air. We sadly said bye to Butch the campavan after literally arriving 1 min late to the rental centre, Claire drove in the exit instead of the entrance and made the whole office laugh so they didnt give us a late fine. We’ve already been to Swanston St, Bourke St and a gorgeous Block Aracade. I love it here! Such tourists though in our backpacks and with our cameras! Went to the 360 degree observation deck up the Rialto tower – was amazing! God, I keep saying amazing but it truly is a wicked city. We’ve just eaten on Southbank (where there happens to be the IBM building) and walked down the river to see huge fires blowing out these poles for some reason. Just seen Southgate and Fedaration Square and have got the tram to our beautiful hostel in St Kilda. I love today and I love you guys, internet card running out.