The film ‘Force of Nature‘ has recently opened in Australia. Parts of it were shot in the beautiful temperate rain forests of the Otway Ranges.
Hopetoun Falls features in the movie. Its currently approaching summer, so the waterfalls in the ranges are flowing slowly. Some, like Henderson Falls, gently cascade over the cliff face.
Henderson Falls, are near a rocky feature in the ranges named The Canyon. I think I recognised it in the movie.
Its a beautiful walk through the forest to reach the Canyon in a quiet part of eastern end of the ranges.
The western end of the ranges faces the incoming weather and is a thicker forest. With more Beech trees, ancient Beech trees.
The Otways are a mountain range that abuts the sea. The Southern Ocean, to be precise.
So after a long hike on a hot day, it’s easy to cool off with a swim in the cool ocean waters.
I camped a couple of nights at Apollo Bay, which sits on the ocean about halfway along the ranges.
It’s a beautiful town, at night as dark slowly descends over the harbour.
Victoria’s high country is about my favourite riding ground in Australia. I’ve ridden most of the roads in the region and in the nearby Snowy Mountains, but there were a couple of dirt roads that run between three iconic high country towns; Corryong, Omeo and Dargo, that I was yet to ride.
It was a good chance to try out my new Moto Guzzi V85tt adventure bike.
I camped the first night at the Eskdale Caravan Park and had a lovely site right beside the Little Snowy Creek.
John, the publican at the Eskdale Hotel, is a keen adventure bike rider and a reliable source of information on the state of all the local trails.
Armed with local knowledge, I decided to take the scenic Great River Road that runs beside the Murray River. Toward Corryong.
Along this road, there are beautiful roadside stops with views over the river valley with tables for a picnic lunch.
There are sculpture along the road and in the back ground of the above photo you can see a Bogong Moth sculpture.
My favourite sculpture along this road is the Murray Cod sculpture at Tintaldra.
The sculture is mounted on the remaining structure of the old bridge. The photo is from the new bridge.
Enough sightseeing it was now time for some serious riding on the Corryong -Omeo Road.
Its a good quality gravel road that allows a good pace to be maintained and I was into Omeo late afternoon and set up in the camp ground beside Livingstone Creek
After a hot dusty ride the creek swimming hole was the perfect spot to wash off the dust and cool down before dinner. (Ps I had a special request for a swimming selfie!)
I met some friends for dinner at the Hilltop Hotel, which has an interesting piece of taxidermy.
From Omeo to Dargo its only 50km of dirt through the mountains. Dargo is an iconic village in the high country, and I was excited to get there. The dirt road goes over Mt Birregun, a 1350m high mount in the Victorian Alps.
That I should take a break from posting about my European Travels and show the beauty of what’s happening around me in Australia’s Spring.
Melbourne is a big city but it has some havens for wildlife, especially bird life.
The Koroit Creek estuary is only a few kilometres from me and a wonderful place to see pelicans, spoonbills, egrets, herons, and swans
Laverton Creek estuary is a Ramsar site for migratory birds. There are so many birds there at the moment. I remember a couple of weeks back, a flock of red necked avocets flew overhead as I was cycling along. The sight took my breath away.
A short walk away from me in Newport Lakes, a beautiful urban forest with beautiful bush birds.
And a reptile or two as well.
Spring time is just so beautiful as nature comes to life. The heat of summer is yet to come, and warm dry days interchange with cooler damp ones.
Even in winter the Great Ocean Road is a great ride
The joy of a midweek ride in winter the road is pretty much empty. It allows the rider set up a rhythm on the road. Smooth riding over the damp road and around the tight corners.
With dark clouds foreboding Apollo Bay and its little fishing harbour is a welcome destination.
But it was soon into the Apollo Bay Eco Hostel and its welcoming warmth.
In Victoria that faces the Southern Ocean the weather doesn’t settle for long.
The next day was clear and calm. Perfect riding weather along a near perfect riding road.
There is a lookout at the back of Lorne there a fantastic view over the ocean.
On this day the sun was in the perfect spot to light rainbows in the spray of the breaking surf.
For me the best riding on the GOR finishes ar Airies Inlet. From the the villages but up against each other with only glimpses of the great Ocean over the houses and dunes.
The Airies Inlet Light House the last stop before heading home to Melbourne.
Hard to believe it was winter.
In Melbourne, I’m lucky enough to live by a little harbour and can take a walk on a summers day and admire the wooden boats.
