Geelong, Ferry to Tasmania, Xmas Day etc

Hello moovers and groovers, 

Louise here on the blog today, giving you all the news that's worthy of being called news, in regards to our ongoing adventure around this great big brown land of ours known as Oz-tralia...

After our trip along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, we ended up in Ocean Grove near Geelong, which was very handy as we had a date to meet up with one of Matt's old chums from Magnetic Island, Tony and his wife Joanne who live in Geelong;  we left the golf club car park in Ocean Grove, on 21st Dec to meet up with them later that afternoon.  We wanted to have a look around Geelong, and a  lovely place it is too, but a bit cold and windy for my tastes...We met up with tony and jo around 2pm and had a lovely afternoon tea with them, and if you are reading this - thanks guys!  It was great to catch up with old chums again.

Then we made our way to Port Melbourne  to catch the Tasman Ferry to Tasmania on Wed 22.12.10 and we had to park in a local beach reserve, as the streets around the ferry terminal are all paid parking.  Well, it was an interesting place to park, dear readers...  It had a car park area adjoining a tiny beach, and let us say that gentlemen who "play for the other team" were enjoying the sea air! (Not that there is anything wrong with that - as long as it doesn't involve children, small animals or your immediate family, I don't care what you do)   - and as I always say, I'm not gay but the woman I sleep with is...

 The area had vehicles coming and going all night but for those of you who know me,  I can sleep through  anything... Matt not so unfortunately and he got a broken sleep due to the noise of cars driving up and down...

Next morning we had to be at the Port to get on the ferry for 7am boarding and we set sail eventually at 9.20am;  we had a long journey; the ferry docks at 6pm but we managed to find some bench seats and we had a lovely sleep after lunch for a few hours.  

We have had an absolutely fab Xmas in the home of our pals Sarah and Dom who live in a great part of Tasmania named Ables Bay;  they have a jetty 2 mins across the road from them and the scenery and clean air did Matt and I a power of good. 

Before our Xmas main meal, we all jumped in Adrian's the neighbour's tinny boat and went fishing! (see photos below).  There was a cold wind blowing and we rugged up with jumpers on and set out.  We caught a few fish and after a few hours headed back to shore to cook up  our catch.  Sarah got a great side of organic beef from a local producer which was superb...

It all went very well with the wines we brought from the Margaret River area of W.A and the Barossa Valley of S.A...  

Later in the night the neighbour Adrian asked us over for a few bevvies and he had the bonfire blazing away, so how could we refuse? We had a great time and for all those worried about the state of my liver I was very good and only had 3 drinks (red wine) with water in between;  those who know me will know I am a cheap drunk...

Boxing day saw us trying to walk off the Xmas day lunch by walking up to Egg & Bacon Bay, (I swear I am not making this name up!) with Sarah and Dom;  fantastic scenery and the wind was still cold but the sun was out.  

On Mon 27th Matt and I headed into Hobart to the movies;  happily it was a public holiday and we had no trouble parking the van in town and walking to the Village Cinema Complex.  We saw 'Tron 2' in 3D which I have to tell you was fantastic;  Not cheap though, $19.00 each plus $1 for the 3D glasses, but very enjoyable; good acting too and Jeff Bridges (who was in the original 'Tron' in 1981 I think it was) reprises his role as Flynn again.  Its get 4 start outta 5.

The next day Matt went up with Dom to the house being built on their land, and helped out;  Sarah and I made lunch for them, and did a few little tasks around the site, but on coming back to Abels Bay, and it being a sunny day, I had a weird desire to go FISHING.   So, I grabbed our rod, and some bait and sat on the end of the jetty hoping for a bite;  Sarah joined me for a bit, and I wish I could say I caught a massive flathead, but no!  Nothing, Nada, zero;  after  2 hrs I gave up and came home...  But it was very relaxing and I do now 'get it' why people love fishing...

Its Thurs 30th now and Matt is just packing our things back into the van, as we are off tomorrow morning to fly to Melbourne to attend a massive dance party at the Docklands Stadium;  Armin Van Buuren (Dutch Trance DJ) is doing a 6 hour set which should be massive. 

We are hoping to park in the van tonight near the airport at Hobart,  park tomorrow in the long term car park and jump on the plane;  we are back in Hobart on 3.01.11, and will come back to Sarah and Dom's place before we go on our travels around Tassie, and I will give you a run down on our NYE festivities then... Should be good, I just think the party dress I bought along to wear may be a bit tight after all the booze and good food, but we shall see...

Have a safe and happy new year everyone;   Louise and Matt  XXX

At Geelong Waterfront; Matt with the lifesavers; 21.12.10

Louise with bus conductor Geelong waterfront;  21.12.10

Matt at Port Melbourne, awaiting us to get on board the Tassie Ferry behind him; 8am 22.12.10

My good pal Sarah at the wharf near her house, xmas day 25.12.10 2pm; she was feeding the local resident duck named Henry, Matt in background, setting up the fishing rods, we

were about to set out in the tinny boat to do a spot of fishing, with Sarah's husband Dom as well...

Here is Dom, who got bragging rights that day; he just keep reeling them in!  

It was a bit cold hence us all in jumpers;  (16c)  25.12.10

The catch of the day; lovely parrot fish, and some flathead too; I caught some squid,

but it was too small so we tossed it back;  25.12.10

And here we are later on Xmas day enjoying our catch of the day, plus a fantastic organic side of 

beef from the local producer; we washed it down with a Pinot Noir we bought 

in the Barossa Valley in SA months ago;  it was worth the wait!  Xmas day 25.12.10

Here is yours truly with Sarah and Dom Xmas day, just about to start on my second glass

of that lovely Pinot Noir.   25.12.10

Boxing Day 26.12.10 at the neighbour Adrian's place, Matt pretending to be a gee-tar player...

Here is Adrian, with Matt, in front of the bonfire, the doggie Chisel on the left.  26.12.10

This is Adrian's dog 'Chisel' who is the best and friendliest doggie in the whole world; here on

the grass, awaiting Adrian coming back from checking his lobster pots;  25.12.10; There is also a cat

named Mr Tiggy (a tabby) who belongs to Adrian, and he is the nicest cat you could ever meet...

happy new year to all;  love louise & matt

Great Ocean Road, Lorne, Great Ottway National Park

Hello all,  Matt here,

Merry Christmas to you all!

Louise and I will be spending our Xmas in Tasmania with our dear friends Sarah and Dom who moved there 2 years ago from Sydney, and from the way the weather has been lately in Victoria (Freeeezzzing) we suspect it will be no better south of the border!  Time to get the ugg boots out again?

It has been a while since our last blog, as soon as we jumped on the Great Ocean road nearly 2 weeks ago we have had a case of - 'our heads up our bottoms'.

The drive from the 12 Apostles to Torquay has been absolutely spectacular, the surrounding countryside off the coastal road is taken up by the massive 'Great Otway National Park', it covers the whole length of the drive and goes inland some 50 km which consists of beautiful farmland and rain forest.

The national park is crissed-crossed with walking tracks and we must have walked to around half a dozen of them (some of them are in the pics below).  As we drove along the drive we soon discovered most of the little towns along the way did not like people camping in their area so we made dashes into the many lovely campsites that the national park had to offer amongst the trees.

The drive along the Great Ocean Road can get very Windy and narrow where the average speed limit is around 40-60 km, which makes a perfect speed to take in the views of the coastline.  There are also many spots where you can pull over to take happy snaps of the great views.

If you have never done the Great Ocean drive, we seriously recommend  -- it is one of those things you must do before you die! You can spend weeks doing it and still not get enough of it - a bit like eating chocolate Louise says...

We are currently in a place called Ocean Grove (very touristy) which is about 100 km south west of Melbourne while we are awaiting to make the mad dash over to Port Melbourne to catch the ferry to Tassie.  A Tassie xmas should be fun and we are both looking forward to it.

Our next blog will most likely not be posted until after the new year so - we wish everyone who has been following us all the very best and safe Xmas/new year.

Matt and Louise xoxoxoxo

Had to get a photo of the sign that lets you know you are starting the Great Ocean Road drive. 12 DEC, 2010

One of the many lookouts before you get to the "12 Apostles "- The Archway; 12.12.10

If you cannot read the sign (we had to take a pic of it) it basically read, 'DANGER DO NOT ENTER UNSTABLE CLIFFS, IF YOU PROCEED YOU MAY DIE".

We thought it was quite funny to think anyone would even think about climbing over the fence to take a closer look (there was no point given you were already so close to the Apostles). 12.12.10

Louise and some of the apostles, well what is left of them after a few of them have collapsed into the water over the past few years.  12.12.10

Part of the views driving along the great ocean road.

One of the many look-outs you can stop off at along the road.

The photo does not clearly show it, but the road hugs the coastline for miles and miles giving you views like this all the way!!!  13.12.10

One of the many waterfalls we walked into, these falls are called Triplet Falls. 16.12.10

Another one of the many falls.   Beauchamp Falls , Vic.  16.12.10

This pic was taken in the town called Lorne, it is one of the major coastal townships along the way.

A huge storm was brewing out to sea and it felt quite eerie before it hit the mainland.  17.12.10

The storm getting closer to the coastline.  3pm 17.12.10

We managed to find a place along the road where there were no 'NO CAMPING' signs, Louise and I have the saying 'if it ain't signed it is fair game'.  I was literally standing on the Great Ocean Road when I took this pic.

We were very surprised how quite the road was after 6pm, there were hardly any vehicles on the road from 6pm-6am.

Louise at the famous Bells Beach headland.  18.12.10

We were driving along the road  towards Torquay when this house sprang up from around the corner. It is linked by a walkway to the part at the back; whacky or what?  16.12.10

Had to get a pic with the plaque.  16.12.10

ADIOS AMIGOS

HAVE A FAB NEW YEARS EVE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER BLOG IN 2011 WITH OUR TASSIE & NYE ADVENTURES.....  LOUISE AND MATT

Kooyoora State Park, Victoria 8.12.10

Hello  mooovers & groovers;   Lou here, I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer here in Aussie, or if you are from the UK you will be shivering your bum off and up to your arse in snow; Ha!  You see now why I gave the UK the El-bow and came to the sunny country;  Oz.  (oztralia) as they say it here.

Enough of my gloating,  we are in a very wet and windy Victoria still, we have just left the Grampian Mountains and Matt and I  are currently in Bendigo.    Very nice town Bendigo, a mini version of Melbourne, with trams and lots of lovely old buildings;  but sad to say the on street parking has to be paid for!  Is nothing free anymore? But at $1.10 an hour, its not too bad;  I am currently in the main Bendigo Library, we are sneakily downloading some of their DVDs they have for loan;  Well, Matt is while I have a quick scout around the charity shops.   I have just left the local Vinnies Op shop and nearly fell over when a dress I was interested in was priced at $30!  What?!

Anyways enough of my rambling;  Matt is taking over and I am off out to see the other shops and leave him to tell you about our adventures in the mud last night...

matt here;

Our camp spot at the Wyperfeld State Park, the site was massive and we were the only ones there, the night we stayed there it rained sooo hard, it felt like we were under a waterfall and we quickly ran outside and had a shower under the deluge.  It was quite a liberating yet strange moment to stand outside at night, naked in the middle of nowhere in one of the biggest storms to hit Victoria... 7.12.10

Matt with the useless tiny shovel we had on board.  wed 8.12.10 Koorooyong state forest - Vic.

We have managed to travel over 3/4 of the country and cover 35,000km, get two flat tyres and of course now we get bogged...

When IT (SHIT) HAPPENS you either laugh or cry and we took the option to laugh.

This occured at a campsite just outside of Bendigo in the National Park, I even walked over the ground to feel for its firmness, before parking, but, with the vehicle weighing over 2.5 tons, that would account for nothing would it?

After trying to dig my way out, I realised we were going nowhere fast as the water just kept on seeping under the tyres and made it even worse, making the ground turn into mud and eventually the rear axle was sitting on the mud. Lou even dragged 2 big flat rocks over to try and put under the tyres, but no good; so I asked Louise to call the NRMA and they sent someone out within 30 minutes and towed us out.  There was an old couple in a caravan nearby and they came out in their raincoats to watch the drama.  We were so lucky it did NOT piss down too much as the area has been flooding here and there and the sky was a bit black.

We drove the HELL OUTTA THERE as fast as we could and went down the road to stay on firmer ground thank goodness!  (it said no camping at the car park down the road, (in the nat park) but we decided to risk it.)

If it had to happen, that was it for us on this trip.  All we need to do now is run out of fuel... NOT - touch wood!

I even tried to build a drain for the water to drain away to no avail and even put rocks under the tyre but the vehicle was too heavy.

Oh well! Louise, could you please call the NRMA?

Ok all by for now,  new blog hopefully in a few days;  Oh and by the way, if you found our site by looking for another site, please stay with us!  We will cheer your day up;  no worries...

Matt & louise 

The Grampians - Victoria (1-4 Dec 2010)

Hey folks,

Matt here, just a quickie to let you all know we just visited the Grampians in western Victoria for a few days.

We managed to haul ourselves up mountains, down mountains and over mountains, in fact if you like anything about mountains then the Grampians are your thing!

Everywhere you looked it was a photo opportunity and from the ones on the blog, it does not do them justice really, but, hopefully it gives you some idea of how nice the place is.

The roads wind around the regions mountains and is covered with walking tracks for anyone wish to take a hike they are graded from easy, medium to hard.  The average daily temp was around 25-30C with not too much humidity and followed by a daily afternoon thunderstorm, and, to our friend BB in Blackpool in the UK (who is shivering his buttocks off at the moment), you would love it!

We are currently heading up into the north western part of Victoria before heading down to Bendigo and Ballarat then into Warrnabool and along the Great Ocean road and into Melbourne to catch a ferry to Tasmania.

Hope everyone is doing well and you are enjoying our blog, I looked the mileage on the vehicle today and so far we have travelled 35,000km... with probably another 10,000km to go!

Ciao for now.

Matt xoxoxox

One of the many look-outs you can trek to.  Mt William 2.12.10

Matt striking a pose on top of the plaque that was laid in honour of Captain Mitchell who first walked through the area.  Mt William Peak 2.12.10

Louise at another fantastic look-out;  Baratok Lookout; 3.12.10

A look-out over looking Halls Gap which lies in the middle of the Grampians. 3.12.10

Louise overlooking the Mackenzie falls.   3.12.10

P.S  Just want to say what a diabolical and tragic shame that both Aussies and the Poms missed out on the World Cup hosting!   What an outrage;  where did the $43M we paid our team go?  If they spent it on bribes for votes - and we only got one -  the powers that be should be demanding a refund.  And isnt Qatar something that you get stuck on your chest when you have a bad cold?  Words fail me.... Matt

all comments welcome;  new posting soon...

Murray River crossing, Mt Gambier 25-29 Nov 2010

dear friends;  Lou here at the helm of Blog LOMA

we are currently in Mount Gambier, south Australia, and its back to being cold! What!?  Summer is meant to start here on December 1st and today its only 18C:  yeah - OK I know that's a heatwave to you poor buggers in England and Scotland, but to us here in the south of the planet, trust me that is a winter temperature...

Mt Gambier is a very interesting town;  it has a couple of extinct volcanoes and sink holes, of which one, the Blue Lake, lives up to its name.  Its a huge sink hole that at certain times of the year i.e - now -  has a lovely blue colour to its very deep waters.  We also took a trek up to look into the crater /caldera of Mt Schank; Matt spoke to one of the locals who said it was only a 10 min walk to the top;  bloody liar!  It was a trek up some very steep steps cut into the rock;  OK if you have legs like Naomi Campbell, but mine were struggling to reach the rise of each step as they appeared to go upwards.  The view at the top was worth it though, I got to look into the extinct bowl of a small volcano...  Covered with trees and grass now it last blew its top 2 million yrs ago, but it was the closest I ever have come to such a geological feature as this, and trust me,  I never want to get that close to a live one...

Once again I have become the fashion police and once again I can report the assault of the Grey Nomads and the 3/4 pants continues...   it got worse when we saw a husband & wife  in a fetching ensemble of matching polo shirts with 3/4 pants and sneakers.  Is there no end to this travesty of the fashion senses?  It appears not, as when in the local shopping centre here in Mt Gambier, we were confronted with racks of the damn things outside the shop I love to hate: Millers!

So what have we been doing since our last blog?  Well, we have come further east into South Australia, if that makes any sense.  We did some bird watching in the Bool Lagoon which has camping also,  a very flat part of the world with a huge wetlands area, and the SA Govt has kindly installed boardwalks into the reeds and shallows so tourists like us can easily walk around and see and hear the birdies... Coool!  Just on another topic they have it really sorted here with the recycling:  10c back refund on all bottles and cans!  We should have the same system across the whole country;  Are you listening Julia Gilard?

So enough of my ramblings;  check out our pics of our latest visit and see what you think...

please leave comments, we love to hear from all our readers...

The Big Lobster - 24.11.10 near Newland Head SA

Here is Matt seated at the edge of Mt Schank SA 28.11.10; the edge of the bowl of an extinct volcano

29.11.10 - the Umpherson Sinkhole; Mt Gambier;  this used to have a lake in the bottom (1900s) but that has gone now and the massive hole has been made into a lovely garden.

Another view of the Umpherson Sink hole; 29.11.10: they have a collection of possums who come out at night to get fed. (we didn't hang around to see that).

Here I am at the Blue Lake,  another extinct volcano sink hole, this one is below the water table, and thus fills up;  its usually NOT this blue, but we are here at the end of November (29th) when the blue colour is most visible;  this was the town's main water supply up until a few years ago.  Yes, it was blowing a gale and bloody cold that wind was too...

Here is the ferry across the Murray River from one part of S.A to another; we are waiting for the barge on the other shore,  its a whole 2 min journey and again my 2nd favourite "F" word : FREE... 27.11.10 - we are on our way to the Bool Lagoon for a 1 night stay.

Adios Amigos;  - -  love from Louise and Matt - - 

we are off to the border, going into Victoria and up to the Grampian National Park.   There is some major flooding in Vic at the moment,  something we hope to avoid if we can... it may be time to change the camper van into a boat?  Let's hope not...

XXX

Adelaide Hills, Adelaide City and Deep Creek park, south australia

Hello chums

Louise here - sorry we have been a bit slack and not got a blog out - the usual reason; no bloody signal yet again;  but we have been camped out in the back boondocks of Deep Creek Conservation park for the past 5 days or so and getting a signal there would be a miracle...

So... we are in a place called Victor Harbour, South Australia state, we are planning to be in this state a bit longer, then we plan to go west into Victoria state,  spend a bit of time there, then catch the ferry to Tasmania to see my pals Sarah and Dom, and spend Christmas with them, and take 4 weeks or so seeing the delights of Tasmania... Phew;  that is the plan anyway.  Fingers crossed;  We had 2 new back tyres put on the van in Tanunda, Barossa Valley, so the van is running very well,  Matt did some work on the engine and so far our  camper van is a star.

 I wish I could say the same about the weather, it was stinking hot (33C) two days ago, (and of course we went bush walking and yes (yawn...) once again I got  touch of heat stroke, but the last 2 days its been 18C and raining;  We even had to put a blanket on the bed last night, as we had packed away the feather and down quilt!   Sorry to bore you all with our sleeping  habits, but after all this time on the road, these things take on mammoth proportions...  We get excited these days to find 20c off a box of teabags at Coles Supermarkets...  Yes, we do drink a LOT of tea;  we are limiting ourselves to a glass of vino only at the weekends...

anyways here are the photos below of our travels...

Here is louise looking out over Adelaide city from the Adelaide Hills; 17.11.10

They even named a street in the palindromic Glenelg after us!   this is a 

very trendy suburb of Adelaide- we loved it...   17.11.10

Here we are 19.11.10 just about to explore the delights of North Adelaide, the

older part of the town, which reminded us of Paddington, Sydney, with a bit

of Subiaco, Perth mixed in;  lots of lovely old houses - which spelt out

one word to us - money!

Here is Matt in the Rundle Mall, Adelaide City with a friend....19.11.10 - there were 2 more of 

these sculptures, one behind was trying to get into a rubbish bin!

Here is matt outside the S.A Art Gallery in Adelaide;  19.11.10;  some great old buildings here.

Aldinga Beach SA- we are on our way to Deep Creek here.20.11.10

Here I am at the beach at Second Valley 20.11.10; the water was so clear!

here is matt walking at Deep Creek Park;  20.11.10

Here we are at the end of the first leg of our walk at Trig Campground, Deep Creek park

we did a 6.4km hike and it was 30C ; going down was no bother to the beach here, But - the going

back up the steep steps was!  Again  I had a touch of heatstroke when we got back; it took us

2 1/2 -3 hrs to complete and we were shattered big time when we made it back to the van; 23.11.10

Barrossa Valley - wine country- south australiao

Hello everyone,  Matt here...

Hope you are all fine and dandy, we are currently sat up in the local library in North Adelaide,   after a really top sightseeing walk through the city today, soaking up all the views of the  wonderful buildings -old and new.

We also visited the Adelaide Art Gallery and caught the free buses that run you all around the city CBD, I must say the Adelaide CBD does resemble the Melbourne CBD, even down to a tram that runs out to Glenelg (a beachside suburb of Adelaide).

We have not had a chance to download the photos from the last couple of days and will endeavour to put them on our next blog, along with our drive through the Adelaide Hills and surrounds.

From our last blog, we drove about 1-2 hours south from Clare to the Barossa Valley.

As you can see from one of the the pics below, we spent our first night smack bang in the middle of the vineyards at an information booth car park! (the Barrossa really lacked any free rest areas)...

We woke up early (6.30am) with the sounds of hot air balloons flying nearby and as we stepped outside the van and into the sun rising over the fields of grapes, we could see in the distance two huge hot air balloons taking people on a scenic ride.

After watching the balloons fade off into the distance we decided to "get the hell outta there" and make a beeline for the nearest cafe (Rumours in Tanunda) to grab some brekkie before hitting the vineyards for some wine tasting.

Barrossa Valley SA 13.11.10 - Hot air balloon = alarm clock!

Barrossa Valley ; Looking out over the valley; cold wind and 17C!

this stretch pink Hummer was parked at one of the wineries  - it takes tour groups around the valley; cool...Louise wanted one of these...

Sun 14.11.10 - this peacock was at Maggie Beer's shop and kitchen; If you watched the show "the cook and the chef" this is where it was filmed (see below).

That painting of Maggie and Simon on the left wall, was in the Archibald Prize 2009 (at the Art Gallery of NSW) and we voted for that one for the peoples choice prize;  Not sure if it won; but its a really great painting of the two of them.   Those stools are for a cooking demo that takes place most days,  we didn't stay to see it as we wanted to get out and about and do some wine tasting.

And speaking of wine tasting we were shocked to find that the Two Hands vineyard and the Seppelts vineyard both wanted to charge us $5.00 each to taste the wine produced there!  We voted with our feet and found other wineries that did NOT charge and made our purchases after our free tastes;  As my old grandad used to say 'they're taking the piss...'

The one interesting thing we meant to take a photo of in the town of Tununda was outside the police station;  No, not a cop looking for drunk drivers, but instead of having an A frame sign reading 'Cellar door open' which are everywhere outside wineries here, the local cops, having a sense of humour, had one reading  'Cell door open' complete with the police insignia!   I assume this was to deter people from being over the limit?  It gave us a good laugh anyway...

time to end now as Louise wants to get going and find somewhere to bunker down for tonight;  More of our adventures soon;

Love to all;  Louise & Matt xxx

please feel free to leave comments; we value all and everyone we receive!