September 6, South to Port Fairy My next stop was at the town of Mount Gambier which sits on the side of a volcano. Inside the crater is the Blue Lake where, for reasons scientists are unable to explain, the water changes color according to the season. After a short visit I continued down toward the coast. At Port Fairy I met my tour guide, Noel, in the Tower Hill nature reserve. "You'll see many animals if you're quiet," he said. He was right. I saw koalas, emus and kangaroos.
September 7, The Shipwreck Coast The name of this part of the coast comes from the large number of ships that ended their voyages on the rocky coastline. The howling winds and crashing waves smash into the rocks in winter, creating hundreds of caves and causing the coast to retreat.
September 8, The Twelve Apostles The Twelve Apostles is a group of tall, thin rocks sticking out of the sea. Once there were 13 of them, now there are ten. I could only see eight from the coast, but I was told you could count all teen from the air. After gazing at this wonderful view, I headed for Melbourne and the end of the road.
September 9, On to Melbourne After nearly a week on the road, I passed through the national park and meadows where I saw sheep and cows. The end of Geelong marks the end of the Great Ocean Road and the beginning of Melbourne. As I approached my destination, I saw a sign that read Shipwreck Coast. I thought to myself: "I would drive back to Adelaide if I had the time, but along the slow road and not the way I came.