Day 7: The Twelve Apostles

Driving is something that most get sick of, dreading the mundane-ness of doing the same thing for hours on end. I am not like most, and I'll graciously thank my dad for that. Road trips are a passion. With the right company, a road trip is a highlight that transcends years like they are days. I fondly remember childhood road trips, and seeing the many landscapes that God has blessed us with. Well, today we did something that makes every other driving experience I've had fade away.

The road trip over the horizon was my shot of morning espresso. My four hours of sleep was not going to dim this day. Working out has become a habit I crave, so we got a quick jog and pump in, ate a healthy breakfast, and left at 7:30. Overcast and raining rather heavily, this adventure was sure to be interesting. Calling shotgun and armed with photography equipment, we set out in two vans for the Twelve Apostles, which was roughly a 4 hour drive. We drove roughly an hour before arriving at the quaint town of Anglesea, where the ocean views began. We found a small diner for refreshments, then drove roughly 15 km to a lighthouse and walking paths. This began the state of jaw-dropped-ness we experienced for the next 6 hours.

Next stop: Apollo Bay. This beautiful seaside town had plenty of shops, restaurants, award-winning ice cream, and of course a beach. It was cold, shady, and windy, and I felt so compelled to take an exhilarating dip. I've never felt more alive (and cold), as I stripped the layers away, grabbed the GoPro, and sprinted towards the sea, not slowing until I was met with a semi-truck of a wave that swept me off my feet and introduced the lovable taste of Pacific saltwater. After drying off and taking the scenery in, we pushed onto The Twelve Apostles. The hairpin roads with shear cliffs was unimaginable. The pictures you'll see do it negative justice. I was in awe the entire trip. Turquoise blue shores with white sands turned into sloping fields of gold with sheep grazing, like something out of The Irish Living Magazine. Mountain passes turned into rainforests, and these views always had the ocean within view, usually nestled far off in a valley or through the trees. The only regret I have of this trip was not having a sports car with a convertible top. I would've definitely received a speeding ticket, and I would have gladly paid five of them.

We arrived at The Twelve Apostles and the scenery was breath-taking. The paths were stunning, including walkers and making us feel as if we were the 13th apostle. The shear magnitude of the shoreline and these sandstone formations were so beautiful, and it's something that I will forever cherish. Going this entire time not having seen a wild kangaroo, we happened across a Joey and its' mum, and these beautiful creatures were much, much more amazing than anticipated... We then took stairs down to the beach, where we took a group photo and goofed around. We hiked back to our vans and returned home, tired but rested, our hearts somehow a lot more content than when we started the day. Epic video to come in the next few days.