The summer has been wonderful, filled with hot, sunny days, many spent at the beach or the park, exploring and enjoying new adventures here in Torquay. However, all good things must come to an end and so must summer. It was an extra long summer that led into a warm autumn season, but inevitably, winter came and stayed for a very long time! I was always under the impression that Australia did not really experience a winter season. I was wrong! Here in Victoria, the winter season seems to be just as long as the winter season in Ontario, and it can be rather chilly too-not to the extreme that we get back home-this winter, snow fell twice in the Otways and it reached a low of 3 degrees on some days.

Whale watching season happens in the Great Ocean Road region during winter between June and October. If you’re lucky, you can spot the magnificent Southern Right Whales from the shoreline as they migrate to warmer waters off the coast of Victoria each winter to have their babies and build up strength before returning to the sub-Antarctic waters. Reid and I tried many times to spot the whales with no success. He even tried calling them in whale talk which he learned from the movie, ‘Finding Dory.’

We spent time with new friends, trying out many of the cafes around Torquay and the Surf Coast. Some of our favourites are Moby’s because of the enclosed playground, Ginger Monkey because of the croissants and Ocean Grind because of the ping pong table and the yummy treats every Friday. The bubbacinos are always a hit, especially when they come with a marshmellow.

When Alexis was home on the weekends or on school holidays, we made the most of the sunny days as they were not many. There was a lot of rain this winter, so much that there was significant flooding along the Great Ocean Road which caused landslides and washouts. On the cool but sunny days, we enjoyed biking around town as well as playing in the sand at the Elephant Walk beach park.

For Alexis’ birthday, she received 2 tickets to see Disney on Ice in Melbourne. It was very exciting to see Elsa and Anna as well as many other much-loved Disney princesses.

During the winter holidays, we went to the wool museum and Alexis learned how to knit. We also went roller skating at the shopping centre, spent time enjoying books from the library and Reid’s favourite, we fed the ducks at the pond in Taylor Park.

Even though its winter, its hard to complain when it is so beautiful! The endless coastline makes for great walks and the deserted beach during the winter months never gets old. Unlike Canada, during the winter, Torquay is very green with plants and the grass is alive and growing better than it does in the summer months.

There is a trail called the Surf Coast Walk that runs along the coast for 44kms from Torquay to Airey’s Inlet. It is a busy place on sunny weekend days for walkers, runners, dog lovers and bike riders. The views of the rugged coastline from the trail are stunning and breathtaking, making it one of my favourite places to get some exercise and fresh air.

Speaking of exercise, I decided to take advantage of the time I have here along with the mild-ish winters and the beautiful trails. I signed up for my first run, the Anglesea Hoka Trail Run, running 9kms in total. I spent time training, sometimes alone on the beach, sometimes with Reid sleeping in the stroller and sometimes with Jo, a friend I talked into joining me in signing up for a run later on in the season. It was easy to enjoy the training because of the beauty around me, even the animals that I found along the way.

As the rainy days seem to become more frequent, we found ways to entertain ourselves indoors. Reid learned how to write his name! His silly personality, sense of humour and fun-loving attitude became more and more apparent. I feel blessed and so lucky to be able to watch and enjoy this little boy as he grows to be more and more independent and confident. I have absolutely loved my days with him and feel very grateful to have this time with him.

It has been equally fun and rewarding to be involved in Alexis’ school life this year. It has been my privilege to watch and enjoy her grow and mature, learning to read and write as well as play teacher when she gets home from school. She has become a confident, creative, strong-willed, smart little girl this year, excelling in school and making lots of friends.

Although the winter has been long, wet and cold, these two have enjoyed each other; reading together, playing together, exploring together as well as annoying each other at times too.

 

 

 

 

Alexis’ 6th Birthday!

On May 25, 2016, Alexis turned 6 years old! She has been so excited about her birthday for months and has spent many hours planning and preparing for her birthday party. From the first time we visited Melbourne, Alexis had seen the horse and carriage rides that go up and down St. Kilda Road along the Botanical Gardens. She desperately wanted to go for a ride in a beautiful carriage pulled by white horses. We had told her to wait and we would take her for her birthday, nearly 9 months later.

The weekend before her birthday, we spent some time in Melbourne and took her on the long-awaited horse and carriage ride. She was thrilled and enjoyed every minute of it.

After an exciting weekend in Melbourne, we returned home to celebrate Alexis on her actual birthday with gifts, cake and candles. But the night before her birthday, she lost her very first tooth. She was so thrilled about this because almost a year and a half earlier, the dentist had told her that she would loose a tooth when she was five. Up until this point, she has lost hope and was quite upset that the dentist had ‘lied’ to her.

May 25, birthday morning!

The weekend following her birthday, was the much anticipated birthday party. Alexis invited all the girls from her class to join her in celebrating with a cooking party. Alexis planned this party for weeks and spend many hours making decorations, instructions, agendas as well as practising how to run the activities.

When the girls arrived, Alexis taught them how to make a chef’s hat out of paper and then decorate it with stickers, markers and glitter. Then the girls rolled out pizza dough and made their own personal pizzas with their own choice of toppings. Next, the girls made cupcakes, following the recipe Alexis had written out and posted on the wall.

The girls played a few games while they waited for their pizzas to cook. Once the pizzas were cooked, they enjoyed eating lunch together followed by decorating the cupcakes they had baked.

 

For the grand finale, we all sang happy birthday to Alexis as she blew out her candles, and enjoyed some cake together. The girls had a great time, Alexis felt so much love and acceptance from her new friends from school.

The annual birthday questionnaire…completed by Alexis, age 6

1. What is your favourite colour?…………………………. pink
2. What is your favourite toy?…………………………….. Sophie
3. What is your favourite fruit? …………………………… banana
4. What’s your favourite tv show? ……………………….. Sophia the First
5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch? ……… macaroni and cheese
6. What is your favourite outfit? ………………………….. Elsa dress
7. What is your favourite game? ………………………….. pretend cat
8. What is your favourite snack? ………………………….. chocolate bar
9. What is your favourite animal? ………………………… flamingo
10. What’s your favourite song? …………………………… Let it go!
11.What’s your favourite book? ……………………………  Knuffle Bunny
12. Who is your best friend? ………………………………… Dianne
13. What is your favourite thing to do outside? …………. take Sophie for a walk
14. What’s your favourite drink? …………………………… hot chocolate
15. What’s your favourite holiday? ………………………… Mother’s Day
16. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? … Sophie
17. What is one thing you are really good at? ……………. writing
18. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast? …. bagel and cream cheese
19. What do you want to eat for dinner on your birthday? pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? …………. pony rider

In May, we took the short (according to the Aussies) 6 hour flight to Bali to spend a week in a tropical paradise. We were very fortunate to be able to experience the rich and diverse culture of the smiling Balinese people, the inhabitants of this small island, who are known for their generosity and their warm hospitality. We saw their fun sense of humour and their genuine interest in making our experience in their country, one to enjoy. Bali is known for its beaches, surfing, diving, wonderful food and affordable luxury-style accommodations.  We enjoyed many of these things as well as listening to the stories of our Balinese drivers and seeing what Bali is really like for the Balinese people.

Alexis was very excited about the trip, especially because she takes Indonesian class at school and has learned some phrases such as hello, thank you as well as numbers 1-10. It was not a surprise that Reid slept for much of the flight. Once we arrived at the airport in Denpasar, Bali, we were hit with the warm, humid temperatures that are the norm here.

Our villa for the first four days was one of the nicest places we have ever stayed as a family. It was called Villa Seminyak Estate and Spa and it was on a very narrow and quiet street in Seminyak, tucked away from the chaos of the main streets in Seminyak. We enjoyed outdoor living as there were no walls and only a roof, over the living areas. Our bedrooms were air-conditioned (an absolute must in the Bali heat) and the shower was outside. We had our own pool and spa which was used multiple times a day to cool off from the hot and humid weather.

On our first night in Bali, we went to eat at La Lucciola, a beachside restaurant with a creative menu with Italian flair. La Lucciola was one of the first beachside restaurants in this area. We made it for sunset as the sunsets in Seminyak are supposed to be like none other. However, we did not get to see one of these iconic sunsets as it was cloudy almost every evening we were there. The view that looked out onto one of the prettiest stretches of Seminyak beach, the changing colours of the sky and listening to the crashing of the waves, along with absolutely delicious food, was a fantastic way to enjoy our first night in Bali.

On our second day in Bali, we spend time walking around the chaotic streets of Seminyak, shopping at the markets, eating ice cream to keep cool and trying out new foods. We also observed the insane traffic in the streets, trying to imagine how one would learn to drive here and figure out the rules (or the lack of rules) of the road. We were shocked at how traffic flows in a totally unorganized way yet it seems to work. There is very little road rage here and vehicles seem to be untouched (no scrapes, dents or scratches for most vehicles). On our stroll around Eat Street, I insisted on trying to find Revolver, a coffee bar that claims to have the best coffee around. Down a small alley, through two narrow wooden swinging doors, I found the tiny, dark, retro room, creativity decorated with all sorts random items…and the coffee did live up to its reputation. That night, we had dinner at Fat Gajah, an Asian fusion restaurant known for its noodles and dumplings. The food was delicious, as were the expresso martinis. Alexis and Reid tried the crispy duck noodles and a variety of dumplings and enjoyed them too!

The third day in Seminyak, the Toronto Raptors were playing in the Eastern Conference semi finals against Miami so naturally, we spend the morning around our villa (the game was on at 8am because of the time difference) because of the free wifi being the only way Shane could watch the game. We enjoyed the pool and resort facilities. Alexis enjoyed pretending to be the life guard (being in charge, making and enforcing rules seems to be a favourite of hers these days) and using the bouy to save us from ‘drowning’ in the pool.

The kids enjoyed the large inflatable flamingo and black swam in the resort’s main pool. I’m not sure the people whose rooms opened up to the pool, enjoyed us though!

Later that day, we went to the famous Potato Head beach club, which is located right on the beach and features an infinity pool, a funky restaurant and countless sun loungers. Its unique design is striking and makes for a great place to hang out for the afternoon and enjoy the sunset.

 

The fourth and final day in Seminyak, we hired a driver named Wayan to drive us around different parts of Bali for the day. On a side note, we learned that when Balinese people have children, they name them according to their birth order, receiving one of four names. If a couple has a fifth child, that child will have a variation of the first born. So Wayan, our driver, is Wayan because he is the first born in his family. Wayan was an excellent driver, we spent almost 12 hours with him that day and he did not stop talking and telling stories for most of the time that he was with us. We learned a lot about Wayan and how the local Balinese people live.

The first stop on our tour for the day was a traditional or typical Balinese house. The house was more like a large area inside a stone wall with several small buildings dotting the compound. Each small building had a purpose, one being a kitchen, another a bathroom and several others for bedrooms. The main living and dining areas were outdoor. There were also several chickens and hens on this property, each under its own basket. We saw a washing bucket outside as well as laundry hanging on a line. Every Balinese home has a family temple, which can usually be found in one corner of the compound. Alexis tried out the swing on the property as well.

The next stop on our tour was in Ubud. Ubud is the artistic and cultural heart of Bali. Here the streets are lined with art galleries, fine dining restaurants, great cafes and shops full of all kinds of goods. At night, its easy to find beautiful performances showcasing the rich culture through music and dance. Outside the main streets of Ubud, its quick to find the lush and serene rice paddies that spill down the hillsides in every direction. We spend only a few hours in Ubud but got a real taste of what Ubud is about. We stopped at the Scared Monkey Forest Sanctuary and nervously watched the monkeys climb from trees to the inviting tourists to snatch their water bottles, glasses or a banana that was purchased on the way in. We were entertained by their play fighting and enjoyed watching the mothers take care of their babies, while some spent time picking bugs out of each other’s hair. It was especially fascinating for Alexis and Reid to see these monkeys in their own natural  habitat rather than a zoo.

After visiting the monkeys, we stopped for lunch at one of the most picturesque restaurants we have ever been to. The tables were in open air huts that hovered above a fish pond and the view of the rice paddies was one to remember.

After lunch, our driver, Wayan, wanted to take us to a place where they make special Luwak coffee. He had been telling us about this coffee earlier in the day and kept referring to it throughout the day as ‘shit coffee.’ Without speaking to each other about it, both Shane and I had the same thought that we must not be hearing him right, it must be his accent or his broken English. But as the day went on, he continued to refer to this ‘shit coffee’ as something we should try. The time came when we reached the location where they show you how they make the ‘shit coffee’ and the opportunity to try it. At this point, after hearing about it all day, Shane and I were intrigued and decided to go in and see what it really was. Sure enough, as we were listening to the demonstration, we learned that to make this coffee, a cat-like animal eats the coffee bean, digests it and then its poop is collected, the coffee beans are extracted, cleaned and roasted. Hence the name ‘shit coffee’ by our driver Wayan. It turns out that this coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world… and it is delicious.

They also offered us twelve different types of tea to try. Reid enjoyed trying many of the interesting versions. Alexis was sleeping at this point so she missed out on the tea.

The final stop along our tour for the day was at Tanah Lot. Tanah Lot is a temple perched high up on a rock in the ocean along the west coast of Bali. For the Balinese, it is one of the most important temples as it honours the sea gods. For tourists, it is a magnificent site, especially as the sun starts to set. We arrived at Tanah Lot just before sunset which allowed for time to explore the area. Due to low tide, we were able to walk out to the rock where the temple is located. As the sun set and the evening went on, the tide started to come in and cover the area between the rock where the temple is located and the mainland.

For the second half of our trip, we planned to spend some time in the Gili islands. This turned out to be a bit more adventurous than maybe a family with two young children should attempt. However, we would not have changed it for anything. It was well worth the effort to enjoy such paradise.

We spend the last of our time in Bali on Gili Trawangan. The largest of the the Gili islands, Gili T felt like a topical paradise with a kind of serenity that cannot be found on mainland Bali. The fact that there are not motorbikes, car or trucks-or dogs-on the island, added to the serene feeling here. This tiny island (you can walk around the whole island in 2 hours), with its deserted powdery-white sand beaches, coconut palms and the turquoise sea,  makes it a beautiful place to explore.

Once off the main drag where all the boats come in, Gili T takes on a bohemian character where rickety stalls selling jewellery, a 10 minute massage, Bintangs(local beer) and water or an afternoon meal of mie goreng (fried noodles-Alexis’ favourite Indonesian dish) can be found. We stayed on the north side of the island where beautiful resorts and beachside restaurants dot the coast. Besides walking or cycling, the only other mode of transportation was by horse and cart. We took a horse and cart to our villa via the inland sandy lanes, complete with potholes, free range roosters and local moms and their kids lounging on bamboo decks trying to cool off in the afternoon heat. For Alexis and Reid, this experience was more of a thrill ride than a way to get there.

Wilson’s Retreat was home for the rest of the week. It is a resort on the north shore of the island, named after the famous Wilson from the movie Cast Away. We enjoyed our 2 bedroom villa with our own private pool as well as the delicious restaurant with French and Indonesian cuisine.

We enjoyed meals on the beach as well as the friendliest staff we have ever met. The people who worked at Wilson’s Retreat could not get enough of Alexis and Reid and after their relentless efforts, the kids warmed up to them as well.

There were free roaming cats all over the island, one in particular that liked to hang around the restaurant at our resort. Alexis and Reid enjoyed having a ‘pet’ for a short time. Reid loved the chocolate crepes for breakfast and they both loved eating dinner while siting on pillows on the ground in a covered day bed.

Almost all activities on the island involve the ocean, including diving, snorkelling and surfing. One of the main reasons we ventured out to this island was to go snorkelling and search for the giant sea turtles that live just off the north shore. Alexis spent a lot of time snorkelling in the bathtub prior to our trip, practising, in hopes that she would be able to snorkel in the ocean. She did a great job in the ocean and loved it. Reid had a go at it as well but struggled with the salt water getting into his mouth and eyes.

We were able to snorkel right off the beach as the reef is right off shore and the fish are plenty. Shane and I took turns going out with Alexis as she went out two, sometimes three, times a day. She was blown away by the marine life and even saw three large turtles, one of them close enough to be able to touch. Reid stayed on shore, throwing rocks and collecting dead coral that had washed up on the beach and preferred swimming in the pool at the resort.

Alexis had been talking about getting her hair braided in Bali well before the trip (someone in her class had recently come back from Bali with her hair braided). We came across a couple who had a stall selling a variety of jewellery and sarongs as well as offering massage and hair braiding. We learned that they had two children who lived with other family on a different island while they worked here in Gili T, only returning to see their children once a fortnight. We learned that this type of arrangement was quite common for families in Bali and the surrounding islands. The woman told us that she had not braided anyone’s hair in three weeks as it was not a busy time on the island at the moment. My heart broke for this woman and the life she lives and I felt blessed in my own life and guilty about it at the same time. To this couple, we have a family just like theirs but why are we so fortunate to be able to enjoy travelling as a family and living with such abundance that we can pay for someone to braid Alexis’ hair.

Besides water activities and hair braiding, we tried out cycling as well. It is very common to rent bikes and spend the day cycling around the island or simply to use them as a form of transportation. We rented bikes for an afternoon, making a few stops along the way to explore different corners of the island.

It was a successful family activity but like her mother, Alexis was purple-faced and dripping sweat after only a short distance. We stopped at the south end of the island for a swim to cool off and to snorkel. We did not find many fish there but we collected a lot of unique shells.

We continued cycling around to the west side of the island where we discovered the very lovely resort, Hotel Ombak Sunset. This resort had a double swing out in the water, beanbags on the beach and delicious ice cream.

Our last night on the island, we enjoyed the sunset. One of the staff at Wilson’s Retreat spent close to an hour with Alexis and Reid, looking for hermit crabs along the beach. They were very successful and collected close to 20 of them. Sadly, Alexis and Reid had to let them go before the end of the night.

On the last morning of our trip, we made our way back to the boat launch near the main street of the island. It was so hot that just walking around proved to be too much for Alexis and Reid, so we found a spot to have a cold drink and brownies and ice cream while waiting for the boat to come. The trip back to Bali mainland was about 2 hours with fairly calm waters opposed to the warnings we received. We spend the afternoon at Logan and Jacquie’s (Shane’s colleagues) villa in Seminyak before heading to the airport later than evening.

After a week of relaxation, exploration and adventure, it was time to fly back to Australia. We enjoyed Bali, the people, the food, the luxury accommodations, the weather and the opportunity to see another part of the world. It is a beautiful place, full of culture with people that are welcoming and generous, friendly and who believe that in this life, how you treat other people will come back to you tenfold. What a wonderful way to live!

 

My family and I went to Bali on a holiday in May. This is my story of what we did in Bali.

Day 1: On Wednesday, I went on an airplane and I was going to Bali.

Day 2: On Thursday, I went to the market and bought the best dress. I swam in my pool at my villa.

Day 3: On Friday, I swam in the big pool.

Day 4: On Saturday, I drove to a monkey sanctuary. I saw a Balinese house, it was different than my house.

Day 5: On Sunday, we went to Gili T island by boat. When we got there, we rode a horse and cart to my villa.

Day 6: On Monday, I went snorkelling and saw a big turtle!! And saw hundreds of fish.

Day 7: On Tuesday, I rode around the whole Gili T island on bikes, it was hot.

Day 8: On Wednesday, I played at the pool at Gaby’s villa. Later, I went on an airplane to go back home.

Written and Illustrated by Alexis Bannerman, age 5 (almost 6)

 

In late March, Alexis finished her first term of prep at school. It was time for school holidays and she was ready for her two week break. The beginning of the holidays was celebrated with Easter weekend.

For Easter this year, we visited Werribee Park where the kids participated in a massive Easter egg hunt.    It was more of a race to gather as many eggs as you could rather than a hunt, but great fun nonetheless! And the chocolate eggs were delicious, I think the Cadbury chocolate is better here in Australia!

The kids had a good time. They even posed for a picture with the Easter bunny, a first!

In Torquay, Easter weekend is more than just chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies, it is the time of year for the Rip Curl Pro. This surfing competition is world renown and surfers from all over come to compete to be the one to ring the bell. Being a ‘local’, it was important that we made it out to Bells Beach to watch this epic event.

We enjoyed watching some of the most talented surfers around like Kelly Slater, Matt Wilkinson and Jordy Smith, just to name a few.   The kids enjoyed watching the surfers but quickly lost interest and played in the tide pools and the sand instead.

During first week of school holidays, we ventured into Melbourne for the day and spent some time at the Melbourne Zoo.

We got up close to the adorable lemurs.

The butterfly house was Alexis’ favourite. She stood very still for a long time, waiting for the butterflies to land on her.

Reid’s favourite was the penguins and the lions.

Mommy’s favourite was eating lunch with the giraffes and the zebras.

Even though Daddy was not with us because he was working, we took a picture of his favourite too…the hippos.

The Keeper Kids area was a highlight for Alexis and Reid. They were able to experience what it might be like to be a zoo keeper, a researcher, a veterinarian and a grounds keeper.

The Melbourne Zoo promotes the conservation of animals and did an excellent job educating us on how we can help fight extinction and care for our environment. We had a great day at the zoo.

On a Sunday afternoon, we drove along the Great Ocean Road to the seaside town of Lorne where the foreshore became a picturesque platform for dozens of sculptures to be admired and explored. The Lorne Sculpture Biennale is an art event consisting of about 100 sculptures lining the foreshore. It is expected that these sculptures will be viewed by 70,000+ people over the 23 days that they are on display.

To finish off the holidays, we spent the night in Melbourne and enjoyed the city on a cool and rainy day.

To escape the rain, we decided to go up the Eureka Skydeck to the 88th floor. Despite the weather, the view was breathtaking and we were able to locate some of Melbourne’s key landmarks through the viewfinders. We were daring enough to walk on ‘The Edge’ which is a glass cube that projects 3 metres out of the building and 300 metres above the ground! Alexis and Reid had no fear, they lay face down on the glass floor and admired the tiny taxis and trams below.

It has been 6 months since we arrived in Australia and it’s finally time for Alexis to start school. She has been out of school since the end of junior kindergarten, which was 7 months ago. She has enjoyed her extra long summer holidays being at home with Mommy and Reid.

  
  
We have enjoyed endless days at the beach, playing in the sand with friends, bike rides, playing school and bubbacinos at the café.

  

But the day finally arrived…the first day of school…January 29, 2016.

Alexis was very excited to start a new school and wear a school uniform for the first time. There were no tears and almost no hesitation to join her new classmates. For Reid, it was very different. He was the one that had tears and trouble letting Alexis go. He would miss his best playmate and friend dearly as he stayed home with Mommy.

 

In early January, three very special visitors came to visit us in Torquay. Oma, Opa and Auntie Allison made the 30 hour journey to the other side of the world to spend some time in Australia with us. Alexis and Reid (mostly Alexis) had been counting down the weeks and then days since they told us they were coming back in November. They made signs and decorated the driveway with chalk for the long awaited arrival.

Oma, Opa and Auntie Allison spent just over two weeks with us and we made sure to fill every day with as many Aussie experiences as possible. We started with a tour of Torquay, which only took a day due to its size. The next day, we drove down the much anticipated Great Ocean Road, stopping at the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch and the London Bridge. We had a perfect day for touring and taking pictures.

We stopped in Warrnambool for a couple of nights to enjoy Flagstaff Hill and learn more about the Shipwreck Coast. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is a typical coastal village of the late 1800s. We explored the Sailmaker’s shop, the Dressmaker’s shop, the doctor’s house, the bank, the church, the lighthouse and the farm. It gave us a glimpse into what life was like along the Shipwreck Coast during a time when the Southern Ocean was the main passage way for ships to reach new settlements.

Experiencing what life was like for those living in a coastal town in the late 1800s was fun. At night we walked through the village by lantern and watched a light and sound show that relived the tragedy of the Loch Ard shipwreck. We heard the touching story of the only two survivors of the wreck, Tom and Eva.

The village is also home to the Maremma dogs, Eudy and Tula, when they are not working on Middle Island. Meeting Eudy and Tula, seven year-old sister Maremma dogs, was the highlight of the day for Alexis and Reid.

These Maremmas guard the local penguin colony who are living on Middle Island. These dogs protect the Little Penguin fledglings from foxes during the October-April breeding season. Under the protection of Eudy and Tula, the number of Little Penguins has grown from just 10 in 2005 to 180 recently.

The last stop in Warrnambool before we made our way back to Torquay, was Logan’s Beach. Almost every year in the winter months, female Southern Right whales return to Logans Beach to calve. It  makes for an excellent viewing area during that time.  There were no whale sightings while we were there due to the time of year but we enjoyed the deserted beach. Oma and Alexis enjoyed running from the waves.

We continued our journey along the Great Ocean Road the next day, starting with Aireys Inlet. The Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet is the main attraction there. It was built in 1891 to guide ships through the eye of the needle, the Bass Strait, between Tasmania and Victoria towards Port Phillip Bay and onto Melbourne. Oma, Opa, Allison and Alexis climbed the 136 steps to the top and enjoyed 360 degree coastal views. Reid was too young to go up so we stayed at the bottom and waited to see the others emerge out the top of the lighthouse.

Views from the top…Can you spot Reid and Mommy?

We continued on down the Great Ocean Road until we reached Wye River. This area was devastated by forest fires over the Christmas holidays. We saw homes and a lot of forest that was burnt. We also saw helicopters getting ocean water and dumping it on the surrounding area. We stopped here for lunch and dipped our feet in the ocean. Opa and Alexis tried to beat the waves.

A bit wet and sandy, we headed back to Torquay with a stop in Lorne first. Lorne is a lovely seaside town with a unique environment where beach meets rainforest. The mountains surrounding Lorne create a spectacular view of the Great Ocean Road as well as plenty of fantastic walking trails. We stopped at Teddy’s Lookout in Lorne to appreciate the view from up in the hills. We also stopped here for our daily dose of ice cream.

Our final stop on the Great Ocean Road was the Anglesea Golf Course where we saw kangeroos living at the 18th hole.

Before Oma, Opa and Auntie Allison went home, we wanted to show them Aussie wildlife. Ballarat Wildlife Centre seemed to be an excellent place to do that as you can get up close and personal with many of the animals there.

Alexis and Reid loved feeding the kangaroos and Alexis wanted to take one home with us as a pet. We followed an emu who was taking a leisurely stroll and Allison, Alexis and Reid all pet a poison snake. We had an eventful day meeting many Aussie animals in Ballarat.

We spent a day on a boat at Queenscliff to look for dolphins and seals. Unfortunately, we did not see any dolphins. However, the seals were playful but very smelly.

A trip to Australia, especially Torquay, would not be complete without going out for a surf. Opa and Shane took a surf lesson while the rest of us enjoyed the beach for the day. It proved to be more difficult than it looks (and it looks hard).

We had a fantastic time with Oma, Opa and Auntie Allison. Dancing, singing, eating ice cream, doing hair, feeding ducks, playing bat and ball and sightseeing made for a fantastic holiday together.

One of our last meals together before Oma, Opa and Auntie Allison went back home to Canada was a bbq at the park with a beautiful view of the ocean.

We were so excited to have these three special visitors and we had such a good time, it was hard to say goodbye and see them go.

Our first Christmas in Australia was definitely different from what we are used to. The most obvious difference is that December is the height of summer here, which means the weather is sunny and hot and the days are long. The magic of Christmas seemed to be lost due to the fact that there was no snow outside and the use of Christmas lights seemed pointless because the sun didn’t set until 9:30 or close to 10:00 at night. Christmas also falls somewhere in the middle of summer holidays for kids so many people are on holidays during the Christmas season.

We are not complaining though! Torquay came alive with tourists and the beach was full of colourful tents, kids playing cricket, sandcastle creations and all types of boards; surfboards, SUP boards (stand up paddle), kiteboards, windsurfing boards and boogie boards. We spend countless days on the beach, jumping the waves, learning to boogie board, digging holes in the sand and collecting shells. Not a bad way to enjoy the Christmas season.

For the sake of the kids though, we tried to get into the Christmas spirit by participating in many of the regular Christmas traditions. For example, Elf on the Shelf found us in Australia…and brought a friend for Reid.

We put up a Christmas tree and filled it with homemade decorations.

We made Christmas cards and wrote letters to Santa.

We made gingerbread houses and entered them into a competition at the local golf course. They put all the entries on display in the lobby and it made for quite a unique conversation piece. Alexis and Reid did not win any prizes but enjoyed the process of making them and voting for themselves over and over again.

Geelong had a Christmas discovery trail where you could follow a map around the centre of Geelong to locate numbered stars on the sidewalk. Each star was some sort of display, activity or point of interest. Alexis really got into reading the map and leading Reid and I around the city centre.

Alexis and Reid inside a giant snow globe, riding the reindeer, standing in Santa’s shadow and a window display of the nativity scene were some of the stars on the discovery trail.

We also did some Christmas baking, which we discovered is not a thing to do here in Australia at Christmas time. Actually, any kind of baking or cooking, using the oven, is not common at Christmas. People here have cold salads and seafood at Christmas. If there is any cooking, it is done on the barbie.

Shane hosted an ‘ugly Christmas sweater’ themed party for his area where the families and partners of his employees were invited. We had trouble finding ugly Christmas sweaters due to the summer season, so we settled for these ‘ugly Christmas t-shirts’.

Melbourne got into the Christmas spirit and also had a discovery trail. We spend a weekend there and enjoyed some of the sights of Christmas.

Although the sights were Christmas-themed, the Aussie influence was very clear. This Lego Christmas tree featured Santa in shorts holding a surfboard as well as an elf with a cricket bat.

We visited the incredible Epicure gingerbread village featuring Melbourne landmarks such as Luna Park and the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). The window displays at the Myer department store had moving parts and told the story of The Little Dog and the Christmas Wish. There was a lineup down the street to view these windows. I enjoyed the exceptional coffee at the cafés that spill out into the iconic laneways hidden in amongst the streets of Melbourne.

Back in Geelong, we had morning tea and a photo with Santa, followed by a ride on an old  fashioned carousal. This was the first year Alexis and Reid have wanted to stand beside Santa (sitting on his knee was too far) and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. After we finished with him, Alexis commented on his accent…lucky for me, because she had never actually talked or even got close to Santa in past years, I was able to convince her that Santa really does have an accent.

On Christmas Eve, after eating the cookies and milk, Santa managed to find us in Australia, get in through the front door (due to lack of a fireplace) and left some gifts for Alexis and Reid.

On Christmas day, we celebrated the birth of Jesus at church and spent the rest of the day at the beach, blue skies, 41 degree weather and all. Although we missed our family and friends dearly during this Christmas season, we enjoyed a gorgeous day the beach, with just the four of us. We are truly blessed.

As summer is approaching, I thought it is now time to educate ourselves and the kids on marine life in Australia. So a trip to the Sea Life Aquarium in Melbourne seemed like a good start. We learned about a wide variety of sea life including seahorses, jellyfish, starfish, a massive crocodile, penguins and of course, sharks.

 

The shark exhibition was particular exciting, especially when the sharks swam right up to the window we were standing in front of and over our heads as we walked through the tunnel.

 

The last stop at the Aquarium was the Penguin Playground. Reid tried to copy the penguins as they waddled along. It was entertaining, for not only Alexis and I, but for most of the other visitors standing around as well.

 

The Great Ocean Road region is more than just a drive, it’s a journey worth experiencing in one’s lifetime. There is a list of must-dos but it might be the many secrets you can discover if you slow down and take a few days, that makes this journey a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The dramatic coastal scenery, the ancient rainforests, the volcanic plains and of course, the iconic surf beaches, are just some of what this region has to offer. We decided to create our own journey of discovery in early November over a long weekend.

Our adventure started in our own backyard. Torquay is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. Our first stop was the legendary Bells Beach. Bells Beach is the home of the Rip Curl Pro, a surfing competition where hopefuls travel from near and far.

Our next stop was Aireys Inlet. This small coastal town is home to the Split Point Lighthouse. Built in 1891, this lighthouse was built to guide ships through the Bass Strait on their way to and from Port Philip Bay to access Melbourne. Although we were unable to tour the lighthouse, we enjoyed to beautiful coastal views as well as the stunning white lighthouse itself.

We enjoyed the stunning coastline as we continued to drive along the Great Ocean Road, passing through the charming town of Lorne where we stopped for a picnic lunch. It was here that we discovered an ancient rainforest, complete with waterfalls, massive ferns and even the threat of snakes. We hiked a short distance to Erskine Falls to admire the stunning 30 metre waterfall.

We continued driving along the Great Ocean Road, enjoying all its many twists and turns, until we reached Wye River. Although the kids were sleeping, I wanted to stop in the very picturesque town of Wye River, nestled between two cliffs. The charming café served delicious coffee and offered outstanding views.

By late afternoon, we passed through the town of Apollo Bay and reached our destination of Bimbi Park, who’s slogan is ‘camping under koalas.’ Bimbi Park is a campground, located in Cape Otway, sheltered by Manna gum trees and full of wildlife such as possums, kangaroos, echidnas and most exciting, koalas. We stayed the night in a cabin, and went looking for koalas in the trees above us. Oddly enough, Reid was the one who located most of the koalas we saw. These cute and cuddly koala bears are not part of the bear family at all, but their closest relative is the wombat. They carry their young in their pouch for the first six or seven months. Koalas are the laziest animals around, sleeping up to 20 hours a day! We saw several koalas in the trees but the most exciting sighting was where we saw one mother with two young ones. It was an amazing experience, one we will remember and the kids will talk about for a long time.

The next day, we got up and the kids played on the swings as a koala sat eating some leaves in the tree above them. Soon after, we left to drive up into the rainforest and visit the Otway Fly. The Otway Fly is a rainforest walk which features a steel structure that takes you to the top of the trees in the rainforest. It was a fantastic learning experience for us but perhaps the highlight was having a toast with the girls at Amy and Frank’s wedding via FaceTime.

Next stop: The Twelve Apostles. This was probably the highlight of the Great Ocean Road. To access the Twelve Apostles, there is a path that takes you from the parking lot, underneath the highway and then right to the coast where there are viewing platforms. As we approached the end of the path to reach the platforms, there was a moment when these majestic ocean-bound rock stacks came into view…and it took our breath away. It is something to been seen…the photos can’t capture the beauty of this jaw-dropping coastal architecture. Alexis was quick to question why it is called the Twelve Apostles when she could only see 8 stacks…it was a good lesson on erosion for her.

After leaving the Twelve Apostles, the kids quickly fell asleep and we traveled to Warrnambool, our home for the rest of the weekend. Warrnambool is home to a colony of little penguins that live on Middle Island. The evening we arrived in Warrnambool, the tide was so low that we could almost walk out to Middle Island. It was fun to explore the rock caves that were not filled with water at the moment as well as the tide pools. We also enjoyed viewing the dramatic coastline as well as the stunning beaches in Warrnambool. However, in true Alexis and Reid fashion, their highlight of Warrnambool was probably the playground that featured an old school merry-go-round.