Spending the weekend in Skeen's Creek, down at Apollo Bay

We were invited to spend the long bank holiday weekend (marking the Melbourne Cup-horse racing-think Ascot! ) away from it all in a holiday haven; along the stunningly beautiful Great Ocean Road.

We weren't so lucky with the weather but the invitation from Teresa and her family to stay in their beach house at Skeen's Creek was a window into another world of rainforest, bush walks, sea,surf and shells which we would otherwise have missed.

The coastline has recently has its heaviest downpour in the last 14 years-finally filling the lakes and waterfalls after a prolonged drought.The immediate consequence is tree strewn bush walks and ankle deep mud paths against an amazing backdrop of native rainforest and bewildering fauna, with unfamiliar birdsong filling the air. We also heard our first growling koala as we slid down to the sea in a mudslide to lgo beach-combing.

Only the children were courageous enough to enter the sea-dressed in wet suits and with well-earned hot chocolate as a post-dip treat. They had great fun!

 After our country adventures we willl head to Ballarat to stay with a good friend from my book group who emigrated a year ago with her husband and twin girls and now works in the child welfare system supporting families who  are homeless. Then on to Sydney for the last leg of the jourrney...