Why hello there. If you haven’t heard this track do yourself a favour and get it on the music box, right now damn it. Aside from the lyrics this song just sounds like the ocean to me. It seems a fitting title as we come to the end of the Surf Coast. Also it’s a bit lovey which as we all know by now is totally my vibe.
Let’s do this:
Johanna -> Princetown
Nothing to see on this stretch of road other than a solitary cafe/store/post office. They did have some rather delicious pancakes though: almost enough to make up for the petrol station that didn’t sell diesel. What the fugg!
Princetown Recreation Reserve
Now I don’t wish to sound snobby but this was a very unremarkable campsite.
I tried to get to the beach and failed. On my morning run I followed the 4wd road (the only road) turns out I have 2wd legs. There was a nice path to the river mouth but that’s about it.
All of the available tap water was bore water, which means it slowly talked your fugging face off, or it’s groundwater extracted using drilled holes and pumps. You decide. Either way you couldn’t drink it. I was one of the lucky ones who was informed beforehand and so had a full tank of drinking water on board JC.
There was also an exceptional (in my opinion) amount of kangaroos. I managed to catch a glimpse of two having a ruckus. I will post the video on Insta/FB but for some reason my video won’t load here so I made a GIF instead, so make sure you press it!
I also met the lovely Nelly, Shaun and sometimes nice but not all the time Akira 🐾. We hope to cross paths again in about half a country’s time.
Prince town -> Warrnambool
Or as I like to say Warararnamalamabooooool. Actually pronounced War-num-bull.
More epically vomit inducing bendy roads as the Great Ocean Road becomes part of the Shipwreck Coast. Get comfy as there is lots to see.
The Shipwreck Coast
Officially starting back in Cape Otway (remember the lighthouse from last week) and ending in Port Fairy. A 130ish km stretch of coastline that has apparently claimed approx. 638 ships.
12 Apostles
Ok look, I visited here last April, I didn’t get it then and I don’t get it now. Limestone formations formed by erosion – ooooooh. What was originally 12, 8 when I visited last year is now apparently 7.
It only leaves me to wonder which ones remain. I bet that dirty Judas is still standing.
Loch Ard Gorge
Named after the 1878 wreck of the Loch Ard and made infamous by the story of its two survivors Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael.
I love a good romcom but this is no Netflix special.
Tom was originally thought to be the sole survivor until he spotted Eva gasping for breath out at sea (seriously how good were his eyes?). He apparently plunged (how does one even plunge?), back out to sea and dragged her ash back to shore. They then spent the night together in a cave (fancy!). Ok, I’m making it sound naughty, they slept in a nearby cave to take shelter from the storm that had demolished the ship.
They then married and lived happily ever after…
Well thats how I want the story to end. But alas no they went their separate ways. Tom died single at 48 (I hear he may have been avoidant and just disappeared) and Eva went onto have a family and died at 70.
Port Campbell
I first came here to do a little grocery shopping before my stay at Johanna Beach. Whilst here I noticed a lovely beach with some decent waves. Cut to leaving Johanna beach I drag my sorry ash out of bed early in order to arrive here, be able to park and do some bodyboarding.
Imagine my absolute joy to see the water flatter than a fugging pancake. Jackson, who halted himself at the “no dogs” sign, was not amused.
However I do think it’s awesome that this beach has wheelchair access and special wheelchairs to navigate the sand.
I commiserated the wave fiasco by having breakfast at a local cafe and cried some more when they took 45 dollars off me for the privellage.
London Bridge
More limestone nonsense, famous for breaking in 1990. I didn’t realise you could be famous for breaking? If so I should be famous for breaking in 2012. What say you 🐝?
The Grotto
More coastal chaos where the ocean meets a natural sinkhole, creating a window effect. I liked it but not the steps to get down into it. I did run up them though, if only to burn off the calories of the aforementioned breakfast.
The Bay of Martyrs
I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting to see here but apparently it is known for its stunning views.
I think I’m still searching for my pirate story and hoped to see hanging martyrs who died for their beliefs.
A much darker nature to the name of this bay as according to stories that have been passed down over generations, Europeans killed a large amount of Karrae-Wurrong Aboriginal men here, driving them off the cliffs.
It should be noted that nothing official is recorded but it is local folklore all the same.
On that cheery note let’s move on.
The Great Ship
I’m starting to think that you can just see a rock, give it some nonsensical back story and boom famous landmark status achieved!.
What am I missing here? Described online as: A dramatic rock formation resembling a majestic ship sailing into the southern ocean.
If the majestic ship is the sinking Titanic then yes Australia you nailed it!
Big4 Tasman Warrnambool
Finally having travelled a whopping 125km, and having seen more rocks than Fred Flintstone, the Great Ocean Road has finished and morphed into the Limestone Coast (no fugging shizz!), and finally I am at my next campsite.
I, having seen more landmarks in 3 hours than in 2 months, had completely forgotten that I booked an ensuite pitch. Ensuite pitch! I hear you cry, prepare to be amazed.
That’s right my pitch has a little shed on it, complete with private toilet and shower facilities. No more wandering the campsite at 0400 hrs looking for amenities. This is a game changer and I have quickly realised that I have treated myself far too early in this journey. How will one fair at the next place when one simply has to walk more than 2 metres to pee. Outrageous!
This place also has a 16m (what utter madness) heated indoor swimming pool. Life is good, which is a good job as the weather has been pants since arrival!
Dog Beach?
🎵 Can anybodyyyy, find meeee, somewhere tooooo Pee🎵 sang Jackson as we trailed the entire town to find a beach he could go on.
In no particular order: Killarney, McGennans, Surfside, Flume, and Blue Hole are all places where you cannot take a dog between 0900 and 1800 hours.
Finally we landed at Logan’s Beach which was windy as all hell but lovely all the same.
Side note in the right months you can see whales here. Cool as fugg.
Canon Hill Lookout
Happened upon by chance during my morning run, it’s exactly what it says on the tin.
And also this…
And also this…
Because lighthouses are now officially my thing.
The Bruise (Damiano David feat. Suki Waterhouse 2025)
Okay, I’ve been procrastinating for some time, and I can finally tell you all: the news of Damiano David’s engagement to Cameron Dove broke teenage Becky’s little heart. I have torn down my imaginary posters and thrown away my scrap books. In the words of Gloria Gaynor, I will survive.
I have been pretty exhausted this week; truth be told, I think Graves disease reared its ugly head, but thankfully it seems to be settling down again. Spending four days at Warrnambool initially seemed like it might be too long, but it has been a good opportunity to reset, reorganise the van, and catch up on some much-needed sleep. Jackson almost caught up on some much-needed awake-time.
Lingo Bingo
Well, this week is an epic fail, with absolutely no dabs dabbed, so here’s a reminder of where we are at:
Guys, I’m tuckered out until next time xoxo