24 & 25 -1-2010 (Sunday and Monday)
Ruben woke up early (7:45), took a 50 meter walk to the beach and had a morning swim. Brought back two fresh Capucinos from the café.
With the kids to the trampoline, jumping pillow and mini golf. Relax Sunday.
Whole afternoon we had two Kangaroos around our campervan
Monday was early again for checkout of the park, to keep on track we move every two or three days.
Ruben had an early ocean dip again, no one else in the Sea.
We were all set to go before 10, record time. Because before we leave we have the van to get drive ready, meaning taking of the bed, disabling the beds, getting the power plug out, get new water etc.
We first went to do groceries in Merimbula, nice village 10 minutes drive from Pambula. We did groceries for three days. Tomorrow is Australia day, so no shops open.
We are driving north today with end destination, Batemans bay. We planned to have a view nice stops today end take the day to get there.
We took the Saphire Coast Drive towards Tahtra then to Bermagui. In Bermagui we had self made lunch on the sea shore. The bay is beautiful There, the bay is called horseshoe bay.
From Bermagui we drove to Central Tilba, recommendation of one of our eight travel books. Small old village where we bought real Dutch Drop, went to a cheese factory with disgusting cheese (really nothing beats Dutch cheese), had a coffee and went around all the little shops.
From Central Tilba it was another 85 km to Batemans bay. We took a stop at Mystery bay, nice bay with big rocks in the bay. We drove through Narooma, where we took a scenic detour through Forster Bay. Last drive thru was Mogo, an old gold diggers town.
We arrive in the Batemans Bay Beach park (also a BIG4 park) at around 6. The camp is also on the sea shore, maybe 100 meter walk to get in the Sea. Amenities are clean and modern, nice!!
The route we drive today was really so pretty, with small wooden bridges over sea inlets, lakes connected with the sea and a lot of forest. The sea looks so clean and beutifull along the coast
Tomorrow Austarlia day, they told us people start drinking in the morning and have BBQ whole day. Australia day means also the end of the summer holiday, so less people in the caravan parks and cheaper stays. It means we don’t have to pre book anymore.
26-1-2010 (Tuesday)
Today is Australia day. So also little party for us, we baked pancakes for breakfast. Real American pancakes with maple syrup.
Most of the morning we were at the beach, in de afternoon we stayed around de van after lunch, Zeb rented a bike and we went for a swim in the pool.
For dinner we bbqed again. Today lamb and salmon. The meat over here is really tasty and affordable. Ruben loves bbqing every day.
So today was a very relax day with a lot of sun. Tomorrow on the way again.
dinsdag 26 januari 2010
zaterdag 23 januari 2010
Huntsman Spider
22-1-2010 (Friday)
Lakes Entrance is at the end of the ninety mile beach and has lakes and seashore. In front of our campsite is a kind of lake, when you cross that by the footbridge you get to a stretch of dune that has a beach front to the Bass Strait (sea between Australia mainland and Tasmania). The land around here is like that along the coast, really beautiful. We will try to make a picture tomorrow form a lookout point.
We went to the beach and the kids collected a whole bucket of beautiful shells. In the afternoon we stayed in and around our ‘house’. Sharon did some shopping with Zeb and Sharai slept for a couple of hours.
Off course we had a bbq.
Ruben had some beers with some guys that came down from Sale (100 km west of here), two of them have Dutch parents. In these area lots of Dutch people life. Sharon did some email and Skype.
Coming back in the van at midnight Ruben saw this giant spider, Huntsman Spider http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider. Sharon screamed the whole park awake. We caught it an threw it away. Quit an adventure.
The tone was set for the night, Sharon went to bed with a torch and was looking for spiders almost al night from the bed. On top of this it started storming and our sunscreen attached to the car was still out and was going up and down like crazy. So at 3:30 we rolled it in, because it’s not working well it was very difficult and even dangerous.
Finally we slept for a few hours. WHAT AN ADVENTURE FOR US.
23-1-2010 (Saturday)
This morning we found out that our sunscreen was damaged due to the storm last night. Our friends from Sale repaired it.
Today we moved up along the coast in the direction of Sydney. We left Victoria and entered New South Wales. We drove for 3 ½ hours to arrive in Pambula Beach. The holiday park is on the ocean front, our van is first row, it takes us 50 meter to jump in to the ocean.
The park is great, huge pool area, big playground with trampolines. And coolest of all Kangaroos hopping around.
Good change we stay here for a couple of days.
Only negative thing till now is the state of the campervan, airco is not working and the mosquito’s nets covering the windows are broke. KEA sucks.
Sharon has a new flashlight for the nightly spider search!!
Lakes Entrance is at the end of the ninety mile beach and has lakes and seashore. In front of our campsite is a kind of lake, when you cross that by the footbridge you get to a stretch of dune that has a beach front to the Bass Strait (sea between Australia mainland and Tasmania). The land around here is like that along the coast, really beautiful. We will try to make a picture tomorrow form a lookout point.
We went to the beach and the kids collected a whole bucket of beautiful shells. In the afternoon we stayed in and around our ‘house’. Sharon did some shopping with Zeb and Sharai slept for a couple of hours.
Off course we had a bbq.
Ruben had some beers with some guys that came down from Sale (100 km west of here), two of them have Dutch parents. In these area lots of Dutch people life. Sharon did some email and Skype.
Coming back in the van at midnight Ruben saw this giant spider, Huntsman Spider http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider. Sharon screamed the whole park awake. We caught it an threw it away. Quit an adventure.
The tone was set for the night, Sharon went to bed with a torch and was looking for spiders almost al night from the bed. On top of this it started storming and our sunscreen attached to the car was still out and was going up and down like crazy. So at 3:30 we rolled it in, because it’s not working well it was very difficult and even dangerous.
Finally we slept for a few hours. WHAT AN ADVENTURE FOR US.
23-1-2010 (Saturday)
This morning we found out that our sunscreen was damaged due to the storm last night. Our friends from Sale repaired it.
Today we moved up along the coast in the direction of Sydney. We left Victoria and entered New South Wales. We drove for 3 ½ hours to arrive in Pambula Beach. The holiday park is on the ocean front, our van is first row, it takes us 50 meter to jump in to the ocean.
The park is great, huge pool area, big playground with trampolines. And coolest of all Kangaroos hopping around.
Good change we stay here for a couple of days.
Only negative thing till now is the state of the campervan, airco is not working and the mosquito’s nets covering the windows are broke. KEA sucks.
Sharon has a new flashlight for the nightly spider search!!
donderdag 21 januari 2010
Koala's and Pengiuns on Philip Island
20-1-2010 (Wedensday)
Wow that was the first night in our campervan, we all slept pretty good. The caravan park where we are staying is called San Remi Caravan park and costs $ 25,- per night.
Today is our Philip Island day, but first off to the local playground. We will publish a book on best playground in Australia when we are back.
In San Remo, next to the bridge to Philip Island, we watched a whole bunch of Pelicans. Our first wildlife of the day.
Around noon we headed for the Island stopping at the Information Office. We bought a pass for the three highlights of the Island: Old farm, Koala park and Penguin parade.
The farm was the first stop. We really find it fantastic that we bring our house (campervan) everywhere. The farm was nice, we could hold baby ducks and rabbits and see a lot of farm animals like cows, sheep and horses.
Sharai is afraid of most animals and when she held a baby Rabbit (Nijntje) and the little one started to climb, she screamed and loud as she’s able to. From that moment on, she didn’t want to hold nothing no more.
We also saw a chicken with here chicks, she enjoyed the idea that mummy chicken was taking care of here babies (the next morning she talked about it).
Next we drove up to the Koala park, we had the most amazing encounter with a Koala. We where standing less than a meter from a Koala. We have good pictures of that. We also saw a baby Koala. Zeb thinks babies are cute. Koala’s were brought to the island some 100 years ago. The Island belonged to a former mayor of Melbourne, Mister Samuel Ames.
Around 4 we drove to a beach called Red Rocks next to the main village of Philip Island, Cowes. Driving up there Ruben saw a Kangaroo crossing the road.
The beach was a quite isolated beach, really beautiful. The way we hope to encounter more beaches.
After digging a ‘swimming pool’ in the sand and a small swim we got back to the campervan. We bbqed at the beach. In Australia they have electrical BBQ everywhere and you can use these for free. This to prevent bush fires.
Ruben prepared the best hotdogs, the whole family loved.
At 7 we went to the Penguin parade, hoping the kids would sleep for a couple of hours till the Penguins would come ashore. They didn’t, so we went in early.
This was really one of the most amazing things we have ever witnessed:
On a kind of stand set up in the dunes we saw almost 200 Penguins come back from a day fishing to feed their wives and Chicks. Then we saw them wondering around in the dunes looking for their burrows. The Penguins here are called little Penguins and they are, about 30-40 centimeters high.
Sharai fell asleep during the Penguin parade, Zeb stayed awake till they end, around 11. One penguin wasn’t able to find his home (burrow) and Zeb was really sad about it. The morning after he asked Sharon if everything went well after all. Sharon told him that he came home safe and sound.
We drove our home back to the caravan park and had a good night sleep.
GREAT CHOICE WE WENT TO PHILIP ISLAND!
21-1-2010 (Thursday)
Early wake up, we tend to rise earlier in the campervan then we did in the hotels. Ruben did some morning shopping and we had a nice breakfast in front of the campervan.
We decided to drive to Lake Entrance today, a 3,5 hour drive (250KM). We had a few choices from the big campsite book. The first we called from the car had vacancy.
We arrived at around 5 in Wateredge park ( a big4 park: big4 is a kind of chain.)
The park is nice, we had our bbq. At the central bbq place you meet other people cooking. Some daily talk about the bbq, the cricket, where we are from and some advice for next place to visit for us.
Wow that was the first night in our campervan, we all slept pretty good. The caravan park where we are staying is called San Remi Caravan park and costs $ 25,- per night.
Today is our Philip Island day, but first off to the local playground. We will publish a book on best playground in Australia when we are back.
In San Remo, next to the bridge to Philip Island, we watched a whole bunch of Pelicans. Our first wildlife of the day.
Around noon we headed for the Island stopping at the Information Office. We bought a pass for the three highlights of the Island: Old farm, Koala park and Penguin parade.
The farm was the first stop. We really find it fantastic that we bring our house (campervan) everywhere. The farm was nice, we could hold baby ducks and rabbits and see a lot of farm animals like cows, sheep and horses.
Sharai is afraid of most animals and when she held a baby Rabbit (Nijntje) and the little one started to climb, she screamed and loud as she’s able to. From that moment on, she didn’t want to hold nothing no more.
We also saw a chicken with here chicks, she enjoyed the idea that mummy chicken was taking care of here babies (the next morning she talked about it).
Next we drove up to the Koala park, we had the most amazing encounter with a Koala. We where standing less than a meter from a Koala. We have good pictures of that. We also saw a baby Koala. Zeb thinks babies are cute. Koala’s were brought to the island some 100 years ago. The Island belonged to a former mayor of Melbourne, Mister Samuel Ames.
Around 4 we drove to a beach called Red Rocks next to the main village of Philip Island, Cowes. Driving up there Ruben saw a Kangaroo crossing the road.
The beach was a quite isolated beach, really beautiful. The way we hope to encounter more beaches.
After digging a ‘swimming pool’ in the sand and a small swim we got back to the campervan. We bbqed at the beach. In Australia they have electrical BBQ everywhere and you can use these for free. This to prevent bush fires.
Ruben prepared the best hotdogs, the whole family loved.
At 7 we went to the Penguin parade, hoping the kids would sleep for a couple of hours till the Penguins would come ashore. They didn’t, so we went in early.
This was really one of the most amazing things we have ever witnessed:
On a kind of stand set up in the dunes we saw almost 200 Penguins come back from a day fishing to feed their wives and Chicks. Then we saw them wondering around in the dunes looking for their burrows. The Penguins here are called little Penguins and they are, about 30-40 centimeters high.
Sharai fell asleep during the Penguin parade, Zeb stayed awake till they end, around 11. One penguin wasn’t able to find his home (burrow) and Zeb was really sad about it. The morning after he asked Sharon if everything went well after all. Sharon told him that he came home safe and sound.
We drove our home back to the caravan park and had a good night sleep.
GREAT CHOICE WE WENT TO PHILIP ISLAND!
21-1-2010 (Thursday)
Early wake up, we tend to rise earlier in the campervan then we did in the hotels. Ruben did some morning shopping and we had a nice breakfast in front of the campervan.
We decided to drive to Lake Entrance today, a 3,5 hour drive (250KM). We had a few choices from the big campsite book. The first we called from the car had vacancy.
We arrived at around 5 in Wateredge park ( a big4 park: big4 is a kind of chain.)
The park is nice, we had our bbq. At the central bbq place you meet other people cooking. Some daily talk about the bbq, the cricket, where we are from and some advice for next place to visit for us.
woensdag 20 januari 2010
Troostwijk goes camping
19-1-2010 (Tuesday)
We gave the rental car back in CBD Melbourne and took a taxi to KEA Camper Depot.
There she was right at the depot: our house for the next month. Troostwijk Family goes camping and we’re excited, slightly nervous.
First some paperwork and the a quick tour in and around the campervan, expect the cleaning of the toilet container, everything looks ok and good to handle for us first time campers.
Sharon brings little experience from her sailing holidays with the family and Ruben did some camping back in the days in Israel, but this is a whole new experience.
The nice lady at KEA set us up with a campsite at Philip Island south east of Melbourne, well known for its penguins.
At around 2 we drove away and all we could think is:”wow what a huge car”. Now we know how a truck driver feels. WE ARE KING OF THE ROAD. Ruben suddenly has a lot of respect for all the bus drivers in the world but he himself did a pretty good job, driving this enormous house on wheels, as if he never had done anything else in his life.
It’s a 2 ½ hour drive to Philip Island. We arrived at 4:30, in a real 2nd tier camping site. Our van is the biggest and nicest of the whole place. But it’s good to start at the bottom. At least the toilets and showers are clean….At least cleaner then our own toilet on our campervan.
Sharon stuffed our clothes away in all the small compartments and she’s really happy ‘bout the fact that she pact very well back home. Ruben and Zeb went shopping. Steak and sausages for our first outside BBQ.
Before dinner, Sharon went to the playground with the kids and Ruben set up the fold in table, chairs and the sunscreen. Putting back the sunscreen later at night was a nightmare, did not pay enough attention at KEA. Actually, the woman helping us out in Melbourne, probably thought we were experienced campers, cause she ran over all the important stuff. Now we needed help from two local campers, who were hardly understandable with their accents and looked like they’re smoking 24/7. Again new friends. Really camping is better then facebook.
We had our first outdoor dinner, and the steaks were great. Own made marinade, thanks to local bought Ketjap Manis from Conimex.
Tonight’s dilemma; shall we wash the dishes in the van, meaning we lose water we have to collect later, or to do it in the central washing place. Sharon did the later, but this is an example of the difficult choices we are facing these days.
The kids are sleeping together on top of the driving area and had a bath in one of the showers of the campsite together. We will sleep in the back, in the living room. Neither one has a clue how to set up the bed, but we’’ll find out.
Today was a GREAT adventure, but it seems to be the start of a wonderful month camping.
We gave the rental car back in CBD Melbourne and took a taxi to KEA Camper Depot.
There she was right at the depot: our house for the next month. Troostwijk Family goes camping and we’re excited, slightly nervous.
First some paperwork and the a quick tour in and around the campervan, expect the cleaning of the toilet container, everything looks ok and good to handle for us first time campers.
Sharon brings little experience from her sailing holidays with the family and Ruben did some camping back in the days in Israel, but this is a whole new experience.
The nice lady at KEA set us up with a campsite at Philip Island south east of Melbourne, well known for its penguins.
At around 2 we drove away and all we could think is:”wow what a huge car”. Now we know how a truck driver feels. WE ARE KING OF THE ROAD. Ruben suddenly has a lot of respect for all the bus drivers in the world but he himself did a pretty good job, driving this enormous house on wheels, as if he never had done anything else in his life.
It’s a 2 ½ hour drive to Philip Island. We arrived at 4:30, in a real 2nd tier camping site. Our van is the biggest and nicest of the whole place. But it’s good to start at the bottom. At least the toilets and showers are clean….At least cleaner then our own toilet on our campervan.
Sharon stuffed our clothes away in all the small compartments and she’s really happy ‘bout the fact that she pact very well back home. Ruben and Zeb went shopping. Steak and sausages for our first outside BBQ.
Before dinner, Sharon went to the playground with the kids and Ruben set up the fold in table, chairs and the sunscreen. Putting back the sunscreen later at night was a nightmare, did not pay enough attention at KEA. Actually, the woman helping us out in Melbourne, probably thought we were experienced campers, cause she ran over all the important stuff. Now we needed help from two local campers, who were hardly understandable with their accents and looked like they’re smoking 24/7. Again new friends. Really camping is better then facebook.
We had our first outdoor dinner, and the steaks were great. Own made marinade, thanks to local bought Ketjap Manis from Conimex.
Tonight’s dilemma; shall we wash the dishes in the van, meaning we lose water we have to collect later, or to do it in the central washing place. Sharon did the later, but this is an example of the difficult choices we are facing these days.
The kids are sleeping together on top of the driving area and had a bath in one of the showers of the campsite together. We will sleep in the back, in the living room. Neither one has a clue how to set up the bed, but we’’ll find out.
Today was a GREAT adventure, but it seems to be the start of a wonderful month camping.
zondag 17 januari 2010
Stokehouse and Puffingbilly
16 & 17 -1-2010 (Saturday and Sunday)
We checked out of the Lorne hotel and headed for the beach in Lorne, so the kids could play with the girl they’ve met yesterday. But when she finally came the kids were already very tired so we left the beach around noon and drove towards Melbourne.
Arriving in Melbourne at our serviced apartments it seems in the middle of Jewish Melbourne. The streets are more like Jerusalem then Melbourne. Our serviced apartments are partly kosher and it runs a kosher restaurant on Sunday night.
We have good rooms, Sharon thinks it looks like a Jewish elderly home.
After checking we took a shower and went to St Kilda on the beach. We had dinner in a real nice please on the beach Stokehouse (www.stokehouse.com.au). The kids were tired after a day travelling and ready for bed.
Saturday night we discussed the daytrip options for the next two days. Options are Mornington peninsula, Philip island or Dandenong Ranges.
Sunday morning breakfast in the room we decide to go to Belgrave in the Dandenong Ranges. The Dandenong ranges are a mountain (more hill) range 45 minutes drive east from Melbourne.
From Belgrave goes a very old steam train, Puffingbilly (www.puffingbilly.com.au). We bought tickets for the train. The kids thought Billy is a friend of Thomas the train. The trip was beautiful and off course the kids enjoyed the ride. We stopped at a station called Lakeside, indeed next to a small lake. We ate our self made lunch and then took the train back to Belgrave.
All by all we left at 10 and were back in east st Kilda at 4.
Back in the hood we went to Carlise street, the shopping street of the neighborhood. A lot of kosher shops here as well.
We had dinner in a Israel meets Morocco restaurant that played funky live music: a great band. Good pitot and houmous. Kids got an ice cream and we went back, what we call home these days.
Indeed the restaurant in the hotel was filled with beards and kippot. It’s funny without deliberate looking for it that as well in Sydney and Melbourne we ended up in a very Jewish neighborhood.
We checked out of the Lorne hotel and headed for the beach in Lorne, so the kids could play with the girl they’ve met yesterday. But when she finally came the kids were already very tired so we left the beach around noon and drove towards Melbourne.
Arriving in Melbourne at our serviced apartments it seems in the middle of Jewish Melbourne. The streets are more like Jerusalem then Melbourne. Our serviced apartments are partly kosher and it runs a kosher restaurant on Sunday night.
We have good rooms, Sharon thinks it looks like a Jewish elderly home.
After checking we took a shower and went to St Kilda on the beach. We had dinner in a real nice please on the beach Stokehouse (www.stokehouse.com.au). The kids were tired after a day travelling and ready for bed.
Saturday night we discussed the daytrip options for the next two days. Options are Mornington peninsula, Philip island or Dandenong Ranges.
Sunday morning breakfast in the room we decide to go to Belgrave in the Dandenong Ranges. The Dandenong ranges are a mountain (more hill) range 45 minutes drive east from Melbourne.
From Belgrave goes a very old steam train, Puffingbilly (www.puffingbilly.com.au). We bought tickets for the train. The kids thought Billy is a friend of Thomas the train. The trip was beautiful and off course the kids enjoyed the ride. We stopped at a station called Lakeside, indeed next to a small lake. We ate our self made lunch and then took the train back to Belgrave.
All by all we left at 10 and were back in east st Kilda at 4.
Back in the hood we went to Carlise street, the shopping street of the neighborhood. A lot of kosher shops here as well.
We had dinner in a Israel meets Morocco restaurant that played funky live music: a great band. Good pitot and houmous. Kids got an ice cream and we went back, what we call home these days.
Indeed the restaurant in the hotel was filled with beards and kippot. It’s funny without deliberate looking for it that as well in Sydney and Melbourne we ended up in a very Jewish neighborhood.
vrijdag 15 januari 2010
Lorne and live Koala's
14-1-2010 (Thursday)
Long night, we watched the movie Australia till late. Due to hard blowing vans outside our room, sleeping was difficult for us, not for the kids they slept well again.
So when we woke up we checked for a new room (with ocean view) and got one. So Sharon had to pack again and Ruben and Zeb went for groceries. After moving in to the new room and a small breakfast we headed for Koala beers along the Great Ocean road in ‘Kennet river’.
After 5 km we saw the sigh for a waterfall (Sequa fall) and went of the road, the walk to the waterfall was around 600m. People just came back from the walk and they told us it was rather disappointing so it would better to go to ‘Erskine fall’. And because the kids wanted to see the waterfall badly we went back in direction of Lorne and drove up to the waterfall. It was a 10 minute walk from the parking lot. Due to Sharai, who wants to walk always it took us longer.
The funny thing is that thru all our stay here Sharai wants to walk always and Zeb always wants to sit in the stroller against the way we want it. So most things happen one gear lower due to Sharai walking. Also in eating it’s the other way around, Sharai eats very well and healthy, Zeb prefers to only eat Peanut butter sandwiches, Ice cream, Chips and an occasional cucumber or tomato.
From the water fall we continued our journey to the Koala’s, but this time Sharai was a sleep when we past Kennet river so we drove on to Apollo Bay, also a small two along the Great Ocean Road.
We had lunch in the park along the beach and the kids played at the playground.
Finally we ended up in Kennet river and saw our first Koala’s in the wild. We saw at least 5 from up and close. Because they sleep for over 20hrs a day we were very happy to see one of them awake and busy eating. People told us, the only thing they do is; sleeping, grooming and ‘go to the little room’.
Back in Lorne Zeb, Sharai and Ruben went to the beach to play and Sharon made sure our new room was cozy again.
We had dinner in the hotel and that was really great, maybe the best food till now. If you compare with the hotel you wouldn’t believe it.
After dinner we went for a Trampoline session that Sharon and the kids really loved.
Sharon drove most of the day, also for her a new experience driving on the left. She better coops with it (that she drives) then Ruben does!!!!
15-1-2010 (Friday)
Perfect day; the perfect kids day. We started at the Trampoline and the playground with the kids and walked along the shops of Lorne.
We had lunch in the room (choco pasta) and then took a walk along the coast towards the west. The kids in their strollers (our 2 prams) and we\e walked to a pier where people were fishing and swimming. People swim in the sea, although they know sharks and stingrays swim along and with them. We found that unbelievable.
Back in Lorne we did some small shopping. The kids played in the room (knutsellen) and Ruben watched some cricket (3rd test against Pakistan). Zeb made a book for Juf Benna and the kids talk a lot about their friends and family back home.
Tomorrow we are driving back to Melbourne and will stay there 3 nights. We are staying in St Kilda near the beach in serviced apartments ( http://www.questeaststkilda.com.au/). We will explore the east side of Melbourne and hopefully will see the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and the sports museum. And maybe visit the penguins at Philip Island.
This is the first accommodation we did not prepare in advance, finding this we had help from the local KH campaign. Due to the tennis (Australian open) it’s hard finding accommodation now.
After dinner and walked to the trampoline again and made our first holiday friends. A Israeli couple travelling with their 2,5 year old daughter, Romy. His name is Idan and hers …. They are travelling for 5 months. Zeb and Sharai really enjoyed playing with her till almost 10. We will meet them tomorrow at the beach and the kids are really looking forward meeting her again.
Long night, we watched the movie Australia till late. Due to hard blowing vans outside our room, sleeping was difficult for us, not for the kids they slept well again.
So when we woke up we checked for a new room (with ocean view) and got one. So Sharon had to pack again and Ruben and Zeb went for groceries. After moving in to the new room and a small breakfast we headed for Koala beers along the Great Ocean road in ‘Kennet river’.
After 5 km we saw the sigh for a waterfall (Sequa fall) and went of the road, the walk to the waterfall was around 600m. People just came back from the walk and they told us it was rather disappointing so it would better to go to ‘Erskine fall’. And because the kids wanted to see the waterfall badly we went back in direction of Lorne and drove up to the waterfall. It was a 10 minute walk from the parking lot. Due to Sharai, who wants to walk always it took us longer.
The funny thing is that thru all our stay here Sharai wants to walk always and Zeb always wants to sit in the stroller against the way we want it. So most things happen one gear lower due to Sharai walking. Also in eating it’s the other way around, Sharai eats very well and healthy, Zeb prefers to only eat Peanut butter sandwiches, Ice cream, Chips and an occasional cucumber or tomato.
From the water fall we continued our journey to the Koala’s, but this time Sharai was a sleep when we past Kennet river so we drove on to Apollo Bay, also a small two along the Great Ocean Road.
We had lunch in the park along the beach and the kids played at the playground.
Finally we ended up in Kennet river and saw our first Koala’s in the wild. We saw at least 5 from up and close. Because they sleep for over 20hrs a day we were very happy to see one of them awake and busy eating. People told us, the only thing they do is; sleeping, grooming and ‘go to the little room’.
Back in Lorne Zeb, Sharai and Ruben went to the beach to play and Sharon made sure our new room was cozy again.
We had dinner in the hotel and that was really great, maybe the best food till now. If you compare with the hotel you wouldn’t believe it.
After dinner we went for a Trampoline session that Sharon and the kids really loved.
Sharon drove most of the day, also for her a new experience driving on the left. She better coops with it (that she drives) then Ruben does!!!!
15-1-2010 (Friday)
Perfect day; the perfect kids day. We started at the Trampoline and the playground with the kids and walked along the shops of Lorne.
We had lunch in the room (choco pasta) and then took a walk along the coast towards the west. The kids in their strollers (our 2 prams) and we\e walked to a pier where people were fishing and swimming. People swim in the sea, although they know sharks and stingrays swim along and with them. We found that unbelievable.
Back in Lorne we did some small shopping. The kids played in the room (knutsellen) and Ruben watched some cricket (3rd test against Pakistan). Zeb made a book for Juf Benna and the kids talk a lot about their friends and family back home.
Tomorrow we are driving back to Melbourne and will stay there 3 nights. We are staying in St Kilda near the beach in serviced apartments ( http://www.questeaststkilda.com.au/). We will explore the east side of Melbourne and hopefully will see the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and the sports museum. And maybe visit the penguins at Philip Island.
This is the first accommodation we did not prepare in advance, finding this we had help from the local KH campaign. Due to the tennis (Australian open) it’s hard finding accommodation now.
After dinner and walked to the trampoline again and made our first holiday friends. A Israeli couple travelling with their 2,5 year old daughter, Romy. His name is Idan and hers …. They are travelling for 5 months. Zeb and Sharai really enjoyed playing with her till almost 10. We will meet them tomorrow at the beach and the kids are really looking forward meeting her again.
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