Australia | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Victor Harbor South Australia

November 19, 2015 by David Herd

Built in 1866

Victor Harbor South Australia

Victor Harbor South Australia is a city on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 km south of Adelaide. The city is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries. It is also a highly popular tourist destination, with the city’s population greatly expanded during the summer holidays.

One of the main activities

Let the games begin in Victor Harbor. I’m guessing this may well be the main sporting activity in this South Australian town. 🙂

Victor Harbor South Australia

Some lovely old stone buildings in Victor Harbor.

Victor Harbor South Australia The Anchorage

A rather typical South Australian hotel.

Victor Harbor South Australia

Quite a pleasant 80 kilometer drive south of Adelaide.

Norfolk Pines

All around this part of the coast from here to Adelaide you will find Norfolk pines.

Aldinga Beach

On my way to Victor Harbor I drove along the coast to Cape Jervis via Aldinger Beach.

Roadside cafe & hotel

Stopped here for coffee about an hour south of Adelaide. I certainly would recommend a road trip around this coastal area.

Cape Jervis

These are the only shops in this desolate South Australian town, why anybody would live here is beyond me.

What a monstosity

Clearly the builder never employed an architect, good luck trying to sell it.

The Kangaroo Island ferry at Cape Jervis

Thinking back I wish I had taken the time to travel to Kangaroo Island. Oh well, perhaps I’ll return one day however I doubt it. One thing I know it’s not a place I would like to be in winter.

Kangaroo Island fires January 2020

Almost half of Kangaroo Island has been scorched as damage assessments continue into the devastating bushfires still burning on the South Australian island.

Smoke on Kangaroo Island

Overnight, many residents and tourists evacuated to Kingscote where they spent a sleepless night on the town’s oval and close to the jetty. Evacuees and residents have been stranded with many road closures still in place.

Back to civilization

I enjoyed my short road trip, in 24 hours I will visit Hahndorf on my way to Phillip Island via the Great Ocean Road. Thanks for visiting my Victor Harbor South Australia photo blog.

Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.

Istanbul Budapest London

Mostar Dubrobnik Split

Saigon Zagreb Vung tau

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That’s all folks

Check out these great photo blogs.

Rio beach babes

Florianopolis Brazil

Bangkok river ferry

Fabulous HCMC

Amazing World Food

Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Hiroshima Japan

Sydney Harbour

Lake Como Lake Garda Italy

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Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia

November 19, 2015 by David Herd

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills

Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia is a short trip from Adelaide, The town was originally settled by Lutheran migrants. German influence is very apparent in Hahndorf and is seen physically in the traditional fachwerk architecture of the original surviving buildings. There are also many restaurants in the town serving German cuisine.

Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia

Hahndorf is a small town in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. Currently an important tourism spot, it has previously been a centre for farming and services.

German Arms Hotel

Close to this pub is a hotel that rates very highly, use this link for a great room rate.

Old sandstone homes

This is a typical South Australian sandstone home. In 1973 my home in Adelaide was quite similar.

Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia cafes & restaurants

Hahndorf is on of Adelaide’s main tourist centres with lots of places to eat and drink. Famous of course for it’s wine making expertise as are other South Australian areas.

Beautiful old buildings

Thanks for visiting my Hahndorf Adelaide post, make sure it is on your bucket list when visiting Adelaide.

It is now 2016 and I have lived in Thailand for 5 years, however if I had to move back to Australia I think I would choose Adelaide as my home. It would be a toss up between here or Port Macquarie in NSW, however Adelaide in my opinion is one of the most livable cities in Australia.

I have said it many times over the years but I still believe my two best years living in Australia was in Adelaide 1972 to 1974.

Bondi Beach Eastern Suburbs Sydney

September 2, 2015 by David Herd

World famous beach

Bondi Beach Eastern Suburbs Sydney

Bondi Beach Eastern Suburbs Sydney is an iconic landmark known throughout the world & synonymous with the Australian lifestyle. Having said all that to me it’s rather overrated. This great photo was taken by my old friend Barry Madden from Newcastle north of Sydney.

Looking south

I think there are many nicer beaches and beach-side suburbs along the Sydney & NSW coast. I certainly prefer Manly on the northside of the harbour.

North end of the beach

Bondi Beach was a working class suburb all through the twentieth century, migrants from New Zealand were the majority of the population. After World War II, Bondi Beach and the Eastern Suburbs became home for Jewish migrants from Poland, Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Germany. A stream of Jewish immigration continued into the 21st century and the area has a number of synagogues and a kosher butcher. The area today is very multicultural with a lot of new wealthy Asian families and Samoans. The multicultural migration funded and drove the growth of the suburb throughout the 90’s into the turn of the century, moving it steadily from its working class roots towards upper/middle class enclave similar to its neighbours of Rose Bay and Bellevue Hill which was listed as the most expensive postcode in the country in 2003, 2004, 2005.

Coffee at Bondi Beach Sydney

While my English friend the intrepid Bill Austin went for a swim, Joan & I enjoyed coffee & cake and watched the passing parade.

Bill at Bondi Beach Sydney 24-2-2010

Bill works for Trowbridge council in Wiltshire.

Bondi Beach Eastern Suburbs Sydney

Bondi beach is world famous however I do prefer Manly on the northside of the harbour.

Raining in Bondi

The orange building Hotel Bondi is a landmark on Campbell Parade. It was built from 1915-1920s and was designed by E.Lindsay Thompson. It combines Italianate, Federation and Free Classical elements and has been described as an “important landmark building in the Bondi Beach townscape.” and has a state heritage listing.

Use this link for a great deal on Bondi hotel rates.

Super storm

My apologies I don’t know who to credit for this amazing photo of a huge storm closing in over Bondi Beach Sydney.

Photos by Dale Atkins

The next 5 photos are Dales.

Looking south

That’s Bondi Icebergs club overlooking the beach.

Bondi Icebergs

Located at the southern end of Bondi Beach, Bondi Icebergs Club is an international landmark.

Great pool

Bondi Icebergs has been the home of Winter swimming since 1929 and our famous pool is open to visitors all year round.

What a great year for travel in 2015

Zagreb Croatia Rio de Janeiro Brisbane River

Koh Samui Korea London

Bangkok Osaka Pattaya

Chiang Mai Pattaya Chao Phraya river

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

Pattaya live webcam

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Food Friends Family Sydney

August 30, 2015 by David Herd

Bill Austin & Joan Baptiste

Food Friends Family Sydney

Food Friends Family Sydney, in 2010 the reason for my visit was to show Joan & Bill, my friends from Wiltshire in the UK, my wonderful home town with the best harbour in the world.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2010.

Overnight at Port Macquarie

We stay at Port Macquarie at my brother’s home on the way to Sydney, there was a vintage car rally with some terrific examples.

On top of the world.

You may be wondering why I didn’t make the climb, well that can be easily narrowed down to one word, FEAR!

Food Friends Family Sydney

Dinner with friends at French’s Forest in Sydney.

Peter Hobbs & Peter Hesky.

A couple of friends I have known since the 70s, Peter Hobbs occasionally visits Pattaya but Peter Hesky never makes contact anymore.

Warwick Robinson, David Herd & Michael Saleh.

It’s always good to catch up with old friends when I’m in Sydney.

Peter Hobbs drinking the good stuff.

Sparkling French Champagne to wash down the pasta. 🙂

Warwick loves his food

However it caught up with him in 2013, he underwent a triple heart bypass, so much for over indulgence. 🙂 Now here is quite a coincidence, his heart surgeon was Dr Alan Farnsworth, he was captain of our rugby team at Homebush High school in Sydney & I was vice captain. From memory he was dux of the school & I struggled to pass my intermediate, however we were both pretty good footballers.

While I’m on the nostalgia kick I fondly remember our football coach Peter Philpott, an Australian leg spinner & a terrific guy.

Manly Wharf Hotel with old friend Paul Slaughter

Paul & I spent a lot of time together over the years.

Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel

Nice small hotel in a good location, for a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Manly Wharf Hotel

Always lots of eye candy Sunday afternoon at Manly.

Drinks & Dinner at the Oaks

Dinner with Bill & Joan and my lovely niece Elyssa.

Herd family Xmas at cousin Deb’s house.

What a feast, cousin Deb really knows how to entertain.

My other nice Elyssa Xmas 2010

Fast forward to 2018 and Elyssa is the proud mother of a gorgeous little girl.

Main St Auburn NSW

The street really has not changed much in 50 years.

I grew up here at 58 Kihilla Rd Auburn

I took a sentimental journey to Auburn, the Sydney suburb I grew up in. The main st had not changed much except for the Vietnamese & Muslim establishments. My real shock came when I drove past our family home at 58 Kihilla Rd, it was now totally run down, a very heartbreaking sight for me.

Thanks for visiting my Food Friends Family Home Town Sydney photo blog.

Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Australian adventures

Great Ocean Road

Melbourne

Port Macquarie

Sydney landmarks

Australian seafood

Mr Wong

Remembering Melbas

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Brisbane

My life in 2003

Pattaya live webcam

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Manly Sydney beach-side suburb

June 24, 2015 by David Herd

Arriving at Manly

Manly Sydney beach-side suburb

Manly Sydney beach-side suburb is one of my favourite places in Australia. Most visitors arrive by ferry from Circular Quay, a 30 minute journey which showcases the best harbour in the world.

Manly Sea life Sanctuary

Just to west of Manly wharf is the Sea life Sanctuary.

Manly Sydney beach-side suburb

Manly wharf has many cafes and bars, a great place for lunch.

Opposite Manly wharf

It is a 5 minute walk from the wharf to the beach.

Manly Corso

These shops in Manly have not changes in decades.

Relaxing on the Corso

I think Manly is far nicer than Bondi, the world famous beach on the south side of the harbour.

Beautiful Manly Sydney beach-side suburb

Manly beach and Shelly beach in the distance. Shelly Beach is the only west facing beach on the eastern coast of Australia.

Manly Wharf Hotel

A great place for drinks, food and lots of eye candy.

Cold beer beside the harbour

Sunday afternoon is a busy time at the Manly wharf hotel.

Old friend Paul Slaughter

We have enjoyed many Sunday afternoons drinking cold beer and watching the young girls pass by. Both of us fully realise at our age we are totally invisible to them. Ah! I’m so happy to be living in Pattaya. 🙂

Fish & chips at Manly beach

I was showing my friend Sue from Shanghai the delights of manly, so naturally we had to sample the famous fish & chips. 🙂

Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel

Nice small hotel in a good location, for a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

West of Manly towards Balgowlah.

A tranquil swimming pool with a million dollar view.

West of Manly

How peaceful is this scene? 🙂

Dee Why beach

Just a few miles north of Manly is Dee Why beach, more peaceful than Manly and some very good cafes & restaurants.

Fabulous breakfast at Dee Why

One of the few things I miss living in Thailand are the fabulous Australian breakfasts.

Bumped into an old friend

Here is Jill, an old girlfriend from the Gold Coast. We really had some fun back in the 90s.

Thanks for visiting my Manly Sydney beach-side suburb photo blog.

Jump forward to 2014 and check out my life in Thailand.

Here are some more posts to check out

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Please check out these fabulous posts

Gold Coast Pattaya Cinque Terre

Rio de Janeiro Singapore Eastern Europe

Bangkok Bars Tokyo Cape Town Safari

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

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Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry

June 24, 2015 by David Herd

Our journey starts here

Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry

Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry is one of the most famous trips in this great city. I remember a slogan from when I was a child, “7 miles from Sydney & 1000 miles from care”. This was the slogan used by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company in 1940 to describe Manly “Australia’s Premier Seaside Resort”.

Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry

The best way to travel to Manly is take a ferry from Circular Quay which will give you a view of the world’s best harbour.

Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry

The Quay apartment tower is one of the most expensive in Australia, what an incredible location and view.

The view from the Quay apartments

A million $$$$ view if I ever saw one.

Sydney Harbour Bridge.

As you leave the Quay the famous bridge is on your left & the Opera House on your right.

Sydney Opera House

One of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks.

Busy harbour

There is always a hive of activity around Circular Quay.

From the top of the Harbour Bridge

Bill Austin my friend from Wiltshire in England did the Bridge walk.

Many spectacular sights along to way.

Sydney skyline is quite breathtaking.

Cruise ship

The Sun Princess arrives in Sydney.

Many different boats of the harbour

Now here is a yacht with real character.

Darling Point

One of the most expensive harbour side suburbs in Sydney.

Point Piper

Probably the most expensive suburb in Sydney, and in fact Australia.

Watsons Bay

Is where you will find the famous Doyle’s restaurant.

Arriving at Manly

The “Queenscliff” arrives from Circular Quay.

Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel

Nice small hotel in a good location, for a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Docked at Manly wharf.

You can sit here and watch the ships roll in.

Lunch at Manly

Sue & I eating traditional fish & chips at Manly beach, and they said in the 40s, “7 miles from Sydney & 1000 miles from care”. 🙂 Thanks for visiting my Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry photo blog.

Here are some more posts to check out

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Please check out these fabulous posts

Gold Coast Pattaya Cinque Terre

Rio de Janeiro Singapore Eastern Europe

Bangkok Bars Tokyo Cape Town Safari

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

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Thailand Brazil England Gold Coast

November 26, 2014 by David Herd

This is not part of my travel blog just my personal photographic history.

Thailand Brazil England

Thailand Brazil England 2009 are not included in this post, they are trips I made through this year, as well as visiting Sydney in November. Brazil was another great experience which included a fascinating tour through Rocinha Favella. My England trip included Lands End, as well as St Ives & the nice seaside village of Lime Regis.

So although Thailand Brazil England are not included in this post you can access them by clicking on the above links.

Seaway with Labrador in the background.

If I had the money this is the type of boat I would like to own.

Gold Coast Turf Club

It’s Melbourne cup day and my good friend Phil Thomson & I join the happy crowd which is a long way from Thailand Brazil England. 🙂

At the races with good friend Phil Thomson

The guy lurking in the background is Norm Jenks who is originally from Melbourne.

Carolyn Clarke, an old girlfriend from 1994.

Carolyn is a super girl with a great personality.

Semi trailer that turns into a bar.

The VB semi trailer is at the track.

My nieces Laura and Elyssa.

Here we are on Chevron eating fish and chips at Frank’s seafood shop.

Jim Bell pretending to be an important executive.

Jimmy was a border at my home for 15 years from 1994 to 2009. He tends to take himself rather seriously at times. 🙂

Dani Tobin, a real wild child.

I clearly remember one night Dani trying to climb through a gap at the top of my front gate and getting jammed. Her screams could be heard for miles.

Super high tide at home

A tide like this only happened two or three times a year, always at however.

Phil Thomson and I had the same model Lexus.

Mine was the white one, even though it was only a 1998 model it is best value car $ for $ I have ever owned.

One of my lovely Japanese borders

Tall and beautiful.

Old friend from the 80s.

The shortest lady in the black top is Teresa Hamilton-Smith who was one of my girlfriends in Sydney in 1982, that’s her daughter on the right & on the far left is her sister Lexi Hamilton-Smith. Terry is married to an English guy & now lives in the U.K.

Flashback to Teresa in 1982

At my home in Drummoyne with Helen Burke.

For some great 1982 memories just follow THIS LINK.

Huge storm at my home.

We really get some spectacular storms on the Gold Coast, this one was a beauty.

Here is my Brother Ian & family

Adam, Shane and Ian Herd with grandfather Laurie Poulton.

Tony Murphy & I have coffee

Tony & I have been friends since the early 80s, of course I now live in Thailand but when I visit the Gold Coast Tony & his wife Nikki always find a bed for me in their lovely home.

Melbas on the Park

Drinks at Melbas with old friend Lloyd Ross.

For a good hotel is a great location on the Gold Coast use THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

My brother Warren with his good friend Lenny

Sadly in 2016 we lost our good friend Lenny Schorsy after his brief battle with cancer, RIP.

I’m sorry if I misled you with the title Thailand Brazil England, it really is about my life in 2009.

Here are some more posts to check out

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

A-One hotel on Beach Road

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.

Brazil Hotels

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Australian adventures

Great Ocean Road

Melbourne

Port Macquarie

Sydney landmarks

Australian seafood

Mr Wong

Remembering Melbas

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Brisbane

My life in 2003

Pattaya live webcam

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Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

November 9, 2014 by David Herd

Chevron Renaissance Surfers Paradise

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular, semi tropical climate, 25 kilometers of beautiful beaches, an amazing skyline and lots of good restaurants & bars.

Tall building is Soul & the Hilton

Soul is a 243 m (797 ft) tall residential tower local on the corner of Cavill Avenue and The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It has overtaken Circle on Cavill as the second tallest building on the Gold Coast, behind Q1. The building was approved by the Gold Coast City Council in October 2004 and finished construction in 2012 along with the next stage of the Gold Coast renovation project. Use THIS LINK to book a great rate at the Hilton.

Soul on Australian Gold Coast

Use this link for great deals on Gold Coast hotels

Surfers Paradise beach

The tall blue building is Q1 a skyscraper in Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast, Queensland. It lost its title as the world’s tallest residential tower to the 348 metre building The Marina Torch in Dubai on 29 April 2011.Wikipedia

Surfboat Australian Gold Coast

A surfboat is an oar-driven boat designed to enter the ocean from the beach in heavy surf or severe waves. It is often used in lifesaving or rescue missions where the most expedient access to victims is directly from the beach.

Circle on Cavill

Circle on Cavill offers great ocean views and is a good location to spend your holidays, use this link for an excellent room rate.

Light rail on the Gold Coast

Fast, efficient & hard to buy a ticket. 🙂

Cavill Avenue Surfers Paradise

Lots of action here at night.

The Oracle at Broadbeach

The twin towers of Oracle are a new addition to the Broadbeach skyline.

Melbourne Cup day at Moo Moo in Broadbeach.

Moo Moo restaurant is a great place to “people watch”, not bad for a steak as well.

Melbourne Cup day at Melbas on the Park.

Melbas has been my favourite Gold Coast bar since 1981. It was owned by the late Paul Allen one of the coasts most colourful characters.

Circle on Cavil on the Nerang River.

Thank you for visiting my Australian Gold Coast post, it was great to catch up with old friends & family.

My home

I can’t visit the Gold Coast without thinking of my beautiful home I built in 1990 and lived there for 21 years before moving to Thailand.

Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways.

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

Australian adventures

Great Ocean Road

Melbourne

Port Macquarie

Sydney landmarks

Australian seafood

Mr Wong

Remembering Melbas

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Brisbane

My life in 2003

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Mornington Peninsular Victoria

November 6, 2014 by David Herd

Karina Vineyard

Mornington Peninsular Victoria, I stayed with old friends Helen & Jack on their beautiful 20 acre property in Dromana & sampled many great home grown wines. The property next door is Stillwater where you can arrange a luxury wedding or birthday celebration.

Here is where it all starts.

Mornington peninsula is a popular holiday destination, famous for its beaches, wineries & outdoor activities.

Man at work

Here is Jack hard at work.

Here is where we drink a lot of wine.

What a beautiful setting, life is very good here.

Just to prove, here I am with Jack. 🙂

Here we are sampling the product.

I’m with the resident horse

What a fabulous sculpture, of course Helen is an absolute horse fanatic.

From my bedroom window.

Quite a different outlook for a city boy like myself.

Lets do lunch

An Aussie BBQ is hard to beat. 🙂

Old friend from the 70s

Here is Jan Graves an old girlfriend of mine from 1974, that’s right 1974, I had not seen her for 40 years.

Jan Graves & Helen Burke

Helen who along with Jack owns this lovely property was my girlfriend in 1982, It has been around 20 years since I last saw her. It was terrific to catch up with these great ladies from so many years ago.

Here are the girls as they used to be

Jan in 1974 in Melbourne.

Helen in 1982

Relaxing in Hawaii.

T’Gallant winery.

Helen & I had lunch & a glass of wine here at this delightful winery.

T”Gallant Wine tasting

There was quite a crowd tasting the product.

A butcher who also sells wine.

Red Hill Gourmet Meats & Country Smokehouse

Mount Martha in the background

Mornington Peninsular Victoria is a fabulous part of Australia.

Mount Martha beach

The Mornington Peninsular Victoria is primarily a local tourist region, with popular natural attractions such as the variety of beaches both sheltered and open-sea and many scenic sights and views. Other popular attractions include the various wineries, mazes and the diverse array of water sports made available by the diversity of beaches and calm waters of Port Phillip and Western Port. Most visitors to the peninsula are residents of Melbourne who camp, rent villas and share houses or stay in private beach houses. It is known simply as “The Peninsula” to locals and Melburnians alike, giving rise to the expression “going down the peninsula”.

The iron horse

What a great garden ornament, Helen loves her horses.

Wonderful catching up with old friends

It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since I last saw Jan.

Helen & Jack were great hosts.

Thanks for visiting my photo blog.

Dean Martin Original Release LITTLE OLD WINE DRINKER ME

Watch this video on YouTube

Here are some more posts to check out

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

Click here to see my Phillip Island post

After Dromana I flew to the Gold Coast.

In March 2014 I had a terrific world trip.

Pattaya live webcam

That’s all folks

Check out these great food photo blogs.

World is my oyster

Tokyo fabulous food

Upmarket Chinese Food Sydney

Food review Pattaya Thailand

Good English restaurants

Amazing World Food

Fresh seafood Bangkok

Steakhouse New York

Korea restaurants Itaewon

Pattaya live webcam

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

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Great Ocean Road Australia

November 3, 2014 by David Herd

Twelve Apostles

Great Ocean Road Australia

Great Ocean Road Australia on the south coast of Victoria offers some of the most breathtaking spectacular scenery in the world. Look at the following photos to see what I mean.

Breathtaking scenery

I drove from Adelaide to Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road Australia in October 2014, I had driven this road once before in 1988.

Twelve Apostles in 1988

One of Australia’s best road trips.

In 2009, gone baby gone.

Now there are only 8 Apostles left. 🙂

Great Ocean Road Australia in 1998

Of course there were more Apostles back then. 🙂

The Twelve Apostles Great Ocean Road Australia

The Great Ocean Road officially starts at Torquay and travels 243 kilometres westward to finish at Allansford near Warrnambool, the largest city along the road. The road is two lane (one in each direction), and is covered by a speed limit changing between 80 kilometres per hour and 100 kilometres per hour Great Ocean Road as viewed from Teddy’s Lookout, south of Lorne The road is considered a tourist attraction in the area, in which much of the road hugs coastline affectionately known as the Surf Coast between Torquay and Cape Otway and the Shipwreck Coast further west of Cape Otway, providing visibility of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean. The road traverses rainforests, as well as beaches and cliffs composed of limestone and sandstone, which is susceptible to erosion.

The road travels via Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay, and Port Campbell, the latter being notable for its natural limestone and sandstone rock formations including Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto, London Arch and The Twelve Apostles. At the stretch of the Great Ocean Road nearer to Geelong, the road meanders along the coast, with tall, almost-vertical cliffs on the other side of it. Road signs put up along the road warn motorists of possible rockfalls, which have occurred before.

Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road

The whole coast here is quite breathtaking.

Looking east from Great Ocean Road Australia

If you ever visit Australia put the Great Ocean Road on your bucket list.

Nice view on the Great Ocean Road

Certainly one of the best views I saw today. 🙂

A stunning view

It really does take your breath away. 🙂

Great Ocean Road Australia featuring The Arch

Another famous landmark.

London Bridge

When I last drove this road in 1988 London Bridge on the Great Ocean Road was one piece, some years later the middle collapsed as you can clearly see.

London Bridge 1988

I consider myself very lucky to have seen the bridge intact.

London Bridge on the Great Ocean Road

Now you see it, now you don’t.

Here is one of my favourite travel stories, I’m guessing the conversation went something like this, “gee Dave do you think it’s safe to go out there?” “Of course it is, what could possibly go wrong Kelli? This has been standing here for millions of years. It was the 15th of January 1990 & just as they got to the end of the bridge it collapsed behind them, they were later rescued by police helicopter.