The Shipwreck Coast

In spring and summer, Probus Clubs are busy outside! With gorgeous, warm weather beckoning you, it’s easy to head out and explore. But what about the cooler months?

One of the brilliant things about Probus Clubs is that they can also entice you to stay active and outdoors in the cooler, winter months, when motivation may be otherwise lacking. And we are all the better for it –staying social and active is important for your health and well-being all year round.

Probus Clubs around the country continue adventuring all year round. Soaking up the winter sun and spending time with their Probus friends exploring our beautiful, wide, brown land. Here’s the story of one such Club, in their own words.

We were not at all optimistic that the weather would improve any time soon when we left on our five-day trip one very wet Sunday morning. Fortunately, it did except for the notoriously brisk winds along the southwest coast.

Once out of the city, we celebrated with a hot chocolate at the Great Ocean Road (Anglesea) Chocolaterie for morning tea, a famous scallop pie at Apollo Bay for lunch and a walk on the beach!

Further along the Great Ocean Road, with its rugged and beautiful coastline, the remaining ‘Twelve Apostles’, the Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge enchanted everyone. Especially when the afternoon sun lit up their brilliant colours. Sadly, we remembered that many ships and lives were lost along this coast.

Onward to our base at Warrnambool! After settling into our motel rooms, an open fire welcomed us in the lounge. We relaxed with a drink or two before enjoying the first of our delicious two course meals.

The next day was busy but fun exploring the area around Warrnambool: Tower Hill, Hopkins Falls and the Allansdale Cheese Factory. The latter was a real hoot with props for quirky photo opportunities. Remembering that we were in the land of dairy cattle, it was no surprise to hear from the guide conducting the cheese tasting, that many of the brands we buy in the supermarket are made at Allansdale each with their own label. Great Ocean Road milk comes from the area, too. “Have you heard the one about Summer Cows? Summa brown, summa white and summa black!” - Quip is courtesy of our hostess.

Heading to Camperdown via Terang the following day, saw two crater lakes: Lake Gnotuk and Lake Bullen Merri. However, it was the lookout at Mt Leura that provided more than we bargained for. As the bus pulled up, two heads arose from the back seat of the lone car in the car park. We nicknamed the scenario as “seniors interruptus”.

Once we recovered, we appreciated the surrounding landscape with its many volcanoes. Extinct of course!

More fun was in store at Cobden where we had rides on the miniature railway run by a team of volunteers. But wait there is more! Did someone mention an ice-cream stop at the Timboon Fine Ice Cream shop?

Apologies for our childlike behaviour! However, when you are given so many choices of ice-cream in flavours you’ve never seen or tasted before, you’ll understand.

Warrnambool itself offered so much to see and explore. It is truly a lovely city. We visited the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village which authentically recreates the appearance of a small coastal port around 1850 - 1900. The Maremma dogs that protect the Little Penguins on Middle Island (just off the beach) live at the village too. (Remember the movie “Oddball”?) We returned that night to relive the wreck of the ship Loch Ard with the light and sound performance –“Shipwrecked”. Fantastic!

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the next day we headed to Portland: the only deepwater port between Adelaide and Melbourne and the oldest European settlement in our state. Amazing to see B-double trucks almost vertical on hydraulic ramps as they unloaded their woodchip at the port ready for shipping; nearly two miles of tunnelling connecting the aluminium smelter to the port; and then there were the grain silos. It was so gratifying to see our industry at work.

Still in Portland, we hopped aboard the Portland Cable Tram (restored saloon cars) for a tour along the seashore getting a taste of yesteryear and looking at spectacular scenery. Great fun! Again, willing volunteers manned the tram and provided welcome knee rugs against the chilly breeze.

Port Fairy was the jewel in the crown for the ladies though: gorgeous shops and loads of fashion. But as we drove around it still seemed like a small fishing village with its many bluestone cottages. The National Trust has classified 50 of the original Victorian buildings.

Even on the final day, the delights continued. We visited Geelong and witnessed its textile history at the National Wool Museum. An exhibition featuring woollen fashion over the years was due to open the following day. Sorry to have missed it.

After lunch at a local hotel, we drove to Queenscliff to board the ferry to Sorrento. In contrast to the day we left, we sailed across the Bay in brilliant sunshine and drove home via the Mornington Peninsula. Three cheers to the hostess Carolyn and the driver David. They were informative, flexible and loads of fun.

And a big thank you to members of the Mt Waverley and Syndal Combined Probus Clubs along with some residents from the Nellie Melba Retirement Village who joined us on the tour. It was another example of our Club reaching out into the local community to make new friends and hopefully, some new members.

Would we do another bus trip? You bet!