![\"To](\"https:\/\/irwinarmstrong.com\/bigtrip\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Screen-Shot-2016-10-26-at-09.16.40.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAt least today it is all new road. \u00a0Its a pleasant if long drive and is a combination of main road and back country roads past farmyards and you are in the midst of rural Victoria.<\/p>\n
We stop in Port Fairy for lunch.<\/p>\n
This wee town was recommended by a New Zealand girl we met in the Northern Territory.<\/p>\n
It becomes strange as there is a Belfast bar and several stores called Belfast this and Belfast that.<\/p>\n
James Atkinson, a solicitor, purchased land in the town by special survey. He drained the swamps, subdivided and leased the land, and built a harbour on the Moyne River. He named the town “Belfast” after his hometown in Ireland. The post office opened on 1 July 1843 (the post office actually opened in 1837 as “Port Fairy” but was renamed “Belfast” on 1 January 1854 before reverting to the original name on 20 July 1887.)<\/p>\n
Agriculture developed in the region, and Belfast became an important transport hub. By 1857 the town had a population of 2,190. In the mid-to-late 19th century, Belfast was one of Australia’s largest ports, catering to the whaling industry. In 1887 the town was renamed Port Fairy as a result of an Act of Parliament.<\/p>\n
The plaque in the town sits right next to the one in memory of the thousand of Aboriginals massacred between\u00a0 1837 and 1844 in this part of Port Fairy.<\/p>\n
So it seems they killed of the local people and then sold the land to Mr. Atkinson. Hopefully that was the order of things but it isn’t quite clear.<\/p>\n Anyway the place is an attractive town beside the river and has a beautiful beach. its very blowy and there is a surfer out. \u00a020 degrees but feels cold.<\/p>\n We leave Port Ferry and it’s chequered history behind and travel on to the start of the Great Ocean road.<\/p>\n We call at Mount Gambier.<\/p>\n Meant to be worth a visit but it’s claim to fame is the blue lake that sits in the old volcano crater that gives the town its name.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is 80 meters deep and blue and you can drive around it. Bit underwhelming I would say, but when we are here we stop for 5 minutes. I think it is oversold and worth missing.<\/p>\n Onwards then to the Great Ocean Road.<\/p>\n Once we hit the coast we see the start of the Bay of Islands and I need to stop to shoot some footage.<\/p>\n I almost step on my first snake on the way through the undergrowth. About 2 foot long and about the thickness on a banana at its thickest. Unfortunately, by the time both of us get over our startlement and I reach for the camera it is gone.<\/p>\n It is very blowy so I’m not sure how the video will look but the stills look lovely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Sheer cliffs and rock stacks dominate the bays and there is raw beauty here. It is just a pity it is a bit misty but I’m sure we will see more tomorrow as this is the nature of the coastline here.<\/p>\n Onwards to Port Campbell.<\/p>\n We stay in the hostel in Port Campbell.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n