Great Ocean Highway: Invasion of the Cockatoos
Pam the Bird
Today Andy, John and I head out to explore the Great Ocean Road which snakes it’s way along the gorgeous southern coastline between Torquay and Warrnambool for 243 kms. To get to Torquay from Melbourne is an 1.5 hour drive. Originally John had scheduled an itinerary to do the drive in one day with a 5:00AM start. But on the advice of Andy and Belinda, we booked a hotel and are doing it over two days.
On the way out of Melbourne, Andy points out a number of graffiti birds painted on the backs of signs over the highway. These are the work of a mysterious graffiti artist whom the police are yet to catch. The paintings are all of a stylized bird titled “Pam the Bird”. I find them fun.
Torquay and Bells Beach
Our first stop at the beginning of the Great Ocean Road is the town of Torquay where we check out the sandy beach before heading to the cliffs around Bells Beach and watch surfers from both the top and bottom of the cliffs. We are in Australia’s surfing capital. It is the location for the world famous Rip Curl Pro Bell’s Beach Competition (world’s longest running professional surfing competition). We watch the morning surfers. Click here for a short video.
Anglesea and Split Point Lighthouse
Next we stop in Anglesea for lunch at Poppies, a cute garden cafe, before heading to Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet.
We do not climb the lighthouse (built 1891) but we do go to a number of dramatic, coastal viewpoints.
Memorial Arch
A close drive away is the Memorial Arch. This arch over the highway and nearby statue honour the construction of this coastal road by ex-soldiers after the end of WWI.
Lorne
We next arrive at a cute town called Lorne. A cockatoo flying directly down the main street alerts me that this is a special place. Then we notice lots of sulphur crested cockatoos in the trees. We walk to a park on the main street where we see a few cockatoos foraging in the grass. Soon we are surrounded and they are all around us and jumping onto our picnic table. I am in heaven. Click here for a video.
John pretends that he has food in his hand and a couple cockatoos land on him. Upon realizing he doesn’t have food, one bites him and they both fly off. Justly deserved, I believe.
I notice a whole flock of cockatoos hanging out on the roof of the Mexican take 
out stand….they look like they are enjoying the thug life. Ha ha.
A kookaburra sits on a road sign surveying his surroundings. He looks like he thinks he’s above the cockatoos scavenging and begging until he flies to a patio table and attempts to pilfer a guy’s pizza slice.
Erskine Falls
After coffee and snacks we return to the car and head to Erskine Falls. I see numerous Crimson Rosella parrots along the way
The falls is like something out of Jurassic Park; water tumbling down a cliff studded with gigantic, ancient ferns in a rainforest.
Teddy’s Lookout
Our next stop is for a view of the ocean and countryside from Teddy’s Lookout.
Apollo Bay
We need to check into our hotel in Apollo Bay so we head further west long the coast (stopping at numerous vistas). It starts to rain in the sunshine and we get a glorious rainbow.
In Apollo Bay, John has booked us a two bedroom suite in a motor inn. I am beyond thrilled when I enter to find that the kitchen/dining/living room area has large, glass sliding doors looking out to the coast. There is a grassy area directly in front of us filled with foraging cockatoos.
We planned to go out for supper but there is no way the restaurant would have a better view so we grab some takeout food, beer and prosecco and eat at the motor inn. Life is good.
