Half Around the World to go to Cornwall....

Hello Again Everyone, Sorry it's been so long.
We have had a wonderful past week touring and walking around the coast of Victoria. The Great Ocean Road has been really beautiful at times. The coastline here is just like parts of Devon or Cornwall in the UK. Green fields top rugged limestone and sandstone cliffs which cascade down to an azure blue sea. The sky has been an opaque blue and the breeze has been refreshingly cool. We've heard larks on several occasions which really adds to the English feel. The difference between here and home however is that we've been watching pods of fur seals lolling on their backs and waving their flippers in the sunshine. We've also seen half a dozen or so whales, ('Right Whales' to be precise), off the coast swimming amongst the numerous skilfull surfers that also populate these waters.
We are currently in Queenscliff. We came via Port Fairy, Port Campbell and Lorne from Hall's Gap in the Grampian Range of Mountains. Whilst we were in the Grampians we saw rock wallabees,(mating!) and in the nearby Eccles Mountain National Park we spotted five wild Koala's! As we were looking into the eucalyptus trees at our fifth mammal of the day, a man approached. He was German and was wearing a 'Bon Jovi 2001 Tour' t-shirt. Hiis female companion was straggling behind, towed by his obvious enthusiam. He was clutching a tiny camcorder and was gagging to sneek a look at a Koala. He couldn't believe it, (I mean, neither could we), he exclaimed earnestly, "Ve have travelled ten souzand kilometers and zis is our first Koala!" He was so chuffed, it was great to share the moment.
We have drifted in our choice of accomadation between 'backpacker' hostels, guesthouses en- suite' caravans and now YHA's. An english traveller whom we met months ago in India told me that the Backpacker 'scene' is hard to escape in Oz and we were unsure then what he meant. Australia has captured the market for these fun hostels where young people can meet others like them and socialise temporarily before going on to the next guided tour. As we're over thirty and a couple, we've felt very self conscious a times, so the relative freedom of having a car and going self catering has been a welcome break from all the backpacker 'fun and games'.Talking of fun and games; whilst in Adelaide we were discussing our experience of thin backpacker hostel walls, (you may remember our randy and noisy friend on Bali), with a guy from the Isle of Man. He was in his early fifties and was on an enforced 'break' from a relationship with a woman in his home town of Douglas. A radio presenter by profession, he was adept in asking questions, but also into extracting advice on what he should do in his present relationship predicament. As it was our second night in Oz, Jo and me happily drank a few beers with him as he began to tell us of his backpacker dormitary tales. He remarked that he too had been disturbed by other guests, "enjoying carnal pleasures". Only the other guests were in the next bunk and in the same room! He happily told us of his revenge strategy. He went out the following night and found himself a female Puerto Rican bunk partner(in Oz, backpacker dorms are often mixed) and proceeded to subject his room mates to the same noisy treatment. A good case of tit for tat!
We enter the big City of Melbourne tomorrow, we are staying there for three nightls, initially, before moving inland again to the Mountain Ranges of the South East. We're armed with new fleeces to take on the Alps and are looking forward to seeing some snow
We're enjoying our stay here. It took some time to adjust from Asia, but the country has alot to offer. Freedom, space, safety and relaxation are the words that spring to mind.
Bye for now,
xgregandjox

Web site for Victoria Youth Hostels so you can see photos.(Grampians, Port Fairy, Port Campbell, Lorne, Queenscliff)Click the link below:http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/search/region.cfm?regionid=74