The cheeky seagulls at Hastings
19 March 2016
Before we left Phillip Island we wanted to do some more exploring, first we visited the Cape Woolamai Lookout and Anzac Beach where the threatened shearwaters and hooded plovers have their nests. The tide was high and the surf was very rough, and it was quite windy.
Before we reached the bridge that joins Phillip Island to the mainland, we explored around New Haven looking toward the point, the marina and the bridge, and the huge expanse of Western Port Bay (below).
Once over the bridge we walked around San Remo, first having breakfast at BEANd Cafe overlooking the Bay. A short walk took us to The Narrows, the expanse of water that passes under the bridge and where the fishing trawlers are moored (right).
From San Remo it was necessary for us to drive north along the eastern side of Western Port Bay, and then south along the western side of the Bay where we came across the very pretty bayside town of Hastings.
We drove to the boatshed, jetty and marina (always seems to be the centre of town) and again there were lots of fishing trawlers there. As we were returning to the car a crowd of seagulls moved in to eat crumbs thrown by some onlookers, the seagulls certainly know where to hang out for a feed!
Flinders was the next bayside town, and we found a lookout at West Head that gave us a great view over the rocky Gunnamatta Beach (above). There was a memorial to Bass and Flinders, and also a war memorial at the Head.
From Flinders we headed west along the southern end of Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento, to catch the ferry to Queenscliff, on the western side of Port Phillip Bay (below).
We were running short of time as we approached Sorrento, and thought we would miss the 3pm ferry, however we found our way through the very busy centre of town, and just made it to the ferry – we were the second last car to board! The ferry trip was great, it takes about 45 minutes to cross the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, and we met the ferry coming across in the opposite direction. They are huge craft, and it was nowhere near full at the time of our trip.
From Queenscliff we drove to Barwon Heads, a lovely coastal town with a rickety bridge, and is probably most famous for the TV soapie “Sea Change” with its blue boatshed and pier (above). We walked along the beach and found a little seagull who seemed quite tame as it sat quietly for a photo shoot!
Then we headed for Barwon Bluff Lookout for a photograph back along the bay (above), before travelling on to our destination for the night, Torquay. We had a great cabin in the Torquay Caravan Park, and it was right opposite the Torquay Pub, so we didn’t have far to go for a meal. The pub was really jumping, lots of people eating, a huge dining area and a delicious meal of chicken salad for me, and steak and vegies for Pete – plus a glass of red wine each, we are enjoying this holiday!
Tomorrow we will travel along the Great Ocean Road and to our next destination of Apollo Bay.
Check out the Tastes page here
