The Chooks and The Twelve Apostles

Thursday Nov 20 – The Chooks and The Twelve Apostles

Today we head down the highway to have a better look at the Twelve Apostles.  There is a bit of rain in the air so we quickly park at the Gibson’s Steps once again and have a look.  The tide is in so we don’t go back down the steps.

At the Twelve Apostles Marine Park the scenery is spectacular. These giant rock stacks tower over the swirling waters of the Southern Ocean and are just unbelievably majestic from any vantage point.  The rock stacks are the remnants of a retreating limestone coastline under constant attack by the sea.  The cliff faces are eroding about 2 cm’s per year according to the information provided.  

We are in awe at the size, colour, shape, sturdiness of the rock stacks.  They seem to float in space above the level of the water, the sea lapping at their feet.  What a view!

The Loch Ard Gorge is also magnificent..  This cliff side location is the site of an 1878 clipper ship wreck.  The ship was called the Loch Ard and after it sank only two of the 56 people on the ship were able to make it safely to shore.  They named the gorge the Loch Ard after the ship. 

Further on we see The Island Archway, The Razorback, Elephant Rock, Mutton Bird Island, Thunder Head, Broken Head and Sherbrook Estuary (a wild, rolling wave beach area).  At this location the waves come crashing in and you are glad you are not in a boat bobbing on the sea.

We pass the nice little fishing village of Peterborough on our way to Warrnambool. 

We stop for the night in Dunkeld and stay at the South Grampians Cottages. These are beautiful log cabins on the edge of town.  There are lots of chooks running around! The owner gave us a dozen chook eggs to eat.

Tomorrow we are heading to Stawell.