Winter 2019, OZ - 29 Apollo Bay (Shipwreck Coast)

2019, OZ - 29   Apollo Bay (Shipwreck Coast)

Rocky Shoreline Due to Pieces Falling Off the Clifffs

Many, many a ship sank along the Southern Coast of Australia; especially around the area of Apollo Bay. The Shipwreck Coast is an appropriate description. The limestone walls of the Australian Continent are what greet you when you arrive by sea. The cliffs are high and seemingly endless, lots of split-off rocks, boulders and older wall sections are below the water line and if you come too close to shore, in a section that looks so inviting after so many months at sea… bam, your ship slams into these hidden obstacles and your trip, no your life, ends right here. 

The Jetty Near Where the Napier Sank

About the Napier

 

I told you about the Loch Ard in the last blog, but there were many other ships that met their demise. Some ships like the Napier, who tried to help the Loch Ard, also sank. The water off the coast, even today, is still a very dangerous place for ships.

Some of the 12 Apostles

The 12 Apostles:  is a collection of limestone stacks formed by the erosion of the cliffs along one section of the Great Ocean Road in Australia. Today these sections of eroded cliffs are photo ops for tourists like us, but hazards for the sailors who are unprepared for these traps.

2 More Apostles In the Other Direction

The Gibson Steps Down to the Beach

We stopped at some areas like the Gibson Steps, but did not get down to sea level. There were just too many sections to gawk at, too many special configurations of the same disheveled limestone wall that forms the coastline here.

Another Tingle Tree at Maits Rest

The Rain Forest of Maits Rest

We continued driving and stopped a bit further on to stretch our legs at the Maits Rest.

What a wonderful walk this was. I took dozens of pictures, I felt like I was in a wonderland. This is the Australian Rain Forest, I love it. There are ferns everywhere; Impossible to walk through without the walk-way that was installed. I could just imagine the first settlers who came to this area, how the heck did they even walk through here. I thought Dinosaurs would show up at any moment, that’s how old this area looked. It looked millions of years old. 

 

A 'Shedding' Eucalyptus Tree

It was like finding a jewel, while walking. This was a short walk but it left a powerful impression. I have walked through ‘jungle’ before, but this was dense, full of nooks and crannies of old, half rotten foliage, yet very fertile soil. I wondered how a rain forest like that could exist in the normally dry Australia… but then there are many mini climates in OZ, I believe anything is possible when it comes to growing flora here.  I felt like an explorer. Myrtle bush, Blackwood and other rare species grew within this enclave. 

This Pretty Thing Hung Around Awhile

A Strange Fungus

The room we had in the town of Apollo was not great. But we had no choice, there were not many rooms available. Carol killed 4 flies as soon as she went into the room. We only had one chair to sit on; one of us had to sit on the bed. At 11.00 PM the garbage truck came to empty the dumpsters at the side of the hotel, what a racket. I even went outside and complained…but of course, it did not help.

I know, I know, we are just guests in this place, but really… do not use the Apollo Bay Motel if at all possible.  Not Good!