You will need a thick wetsuit but if you love to surf this is the place to be today! As I walked to Bells Beach this morning the big waves and the black suited surfers sweeping down them drew my eyes to this fabulous winter display of long lines of Antarctic swells that break from Jan Juc to Bells. Walkers, bikers, runners and dogs with owners were all out enjoying the morning sunshine and the surf display with me.

If you are viewing this from the Northern Hemisphere you may not be aware that our winters are very mild - not unlike summer in many northern countries - so it is also perfect for walking, bike riding, and running with fabulous views always in front of you. You do not have to be a surfer to truly appreciate this wonderful natural environment so close to Melbourne (only 1and 1/2 hours) at the start of the Great Ocean Road.

Wild life is abundant too. If you are a “twitcher” the heath is home to many native birds - Rosella’s, honey-eaters, blue wrens, and even the rare Bristlebird may cross your path. This morning a group of kangaroos were attracting attention on the hillside opposite Bells Beach. And for flower lovers the Pink Heath - Victoria’s floral emblem has just started to blossom.

Photos from mobile phone - sorry only device I had with me because I was taken by surprise by the spectacle.

Yesterday I travelled with friends to Otway Estate a gem hidden in the ranges between the Great Ocean Road and the hinterland near Colac. This vineyard, winery, brewery and restaurant is quite close to the Otway Fly where walking at treetop level gives you a bird’s-eye view of ancient rainforest. Comfortable cottage accommodation at the Otway Estate would be a good base for visiting the Fly and maybe even taking a trip into nearby Forrest for a platypus tour with Bruce of Otway Eco Tours.

Having a wheat allergy often means that I have to accept very average food at conferences like the one I attended yesterday. Not at Otway Estate. While I had informed them of my food issue it was wonderful to find that most of the food provided was light, tasty, creative and I could eat it. As dusk arrived we tasted the wines and beers made on-site along with more delicious mouthfuls while we digested the information of the many quality tourism speakers who had spoken during the day.

I can only suggest - take a trip off the main roads into the hills around Colac and Forrest -there is a feast for all senses and even one night spent here at Otway Estate could create unique memories for any visitor. With school holidays approaching this would make a great break for both parents and kids.

Jodi Picoult came to a lunch in Torquay yesterday to the welcome of over 200 keen readers. Her latest book Change of Heart is hitting the top of the best seller lists right now so she has been travelling the world talking to her readers.

Torquay was one of a limited number of events that Jodi attended in Victoria, so there was a real buzz in having an internationally known writer in our midst. Attending with a bunch of book group friends meant we were all talking books, along with a glass of wine and food. We enjoyed the time nattering over lunch before Jodi took the stage.
After an introduction by Rosemary Featherston of Torquay Books Jodi did a short reading from Change of Heart and then answered questions before settling to signing over 300 books and generously accommodating photographs.

It was a lovely day with sunshine and wonderful views to the sea over Torquay. What more could we ask for! And if your interest is books and writing then the Surf Coast has a number of great opportunities coming up. Torquay is hosting a mid-winter writers and readers festival called Froth and Bubble over the weekend of June 21-22. Aireys Inlet has the Festival of the Word from 15th to 17th August (contact Nicole on 0419 110 097 or nicole@greatescapebooks.com.au) and a 3-day Freefall Writing workshop will be held in Jan Juc - October -16th to 19th. We look forward to seeing you along the coast soon.

This little place, hidden behind the Shell Service Station just off the main road at 5 Diggers Parade, is a valuable find for anyone looking for something to tempt the taste buds in Anglesea.

Evening meals start at 6pm at this new restaurant only 15 minutes from Jan Juc along the Great Ocean Road in Anglesea. Locanda del Mare offers light Italian flavoured meals as well as really excellent pizzas, pasta and risottos. A special of the day like Pesce di Suppa seems most suitable for a cool autumn evening by the sea with a good balance between the rich tomato base and fresh seafood. Pancetta wrapped quail would have been my next choice. A crisp pizza with fresh toppings rapidly disappeared on the other side of the table. Creamy mushroom risotto and fresh green salad were worth the trip for my friend from Melbourne.

The warm vibe and the quality of our meal encouraged us to order some luscious desserts. An Adelaide Hills Rose accompanied all of our meals wonderfully.The hard surfaces do add to the noise level but the quick friendly service more than makes up for this and was excellent on the very busy holiday weekend night that we visited.

Take away service is also available. Phone: 03 5263 2904 And winter hours are related to custom so do ring if you are thinking of stopping for lunch.

This time of year is marvellous anywhere in our region. March has been a most unusual month with the hottest temperatures on record for some days (over 40C) as well as very high rainfall for the month at other times. As April begins the cooler nights and clear days are wonderful for walking - beach or bush - and as we have a new puppy we are indulging in our daily walks along the cliff top of Jan Juc with the expansive views to Point Lonsdale lighthouse and even to Point Nepean an Arthur’s Seat on the Mornington Peninsula on a fine day. We watch the surfers catching the best breaks of the year and celebrate that the Ripcurl Pro was a fabulous success this year with warm weather and big waves. Fewer visitors means the roads are easier to drive and accommodation is easier to find. The native birds visit the bird bath in our courtyard each morning and evening for a drink and a good wash. Magpies love to indulge in the full bath; wattle birds take a quick splash and a shake on the nearest tree. Last week the king parrots put on a rare display of group hand feeding for visiting grandchildren. Our guests love the birds too.

Congratulations to Bruce Jackson of Otway Eco Tours for being recognised as the Victorian winner in the national OM4Tourism Hidden Jewel Awards.

Here is what is in an earlier post ”

We have arranged to chat with Bruce Jackson at Otway Eco Tours on our way home. I have seen platypus at Healesville Sanctuary in the Dandenongs on the other side of Melbourne, but never in the wild.

So, here we are sitting on Bruce’s porch in Forrest, chatting about the wonderful wildlife that he regularly shows people in the area around his home.

Bruce and his family moved from Melbourne via Torquay – as a keen surfer he still visits Torquay often. He has a degree in biological science and chooses to utilise his knowledge by showing people the secret lives of our native animals.

While we’re with Bruce, we get to see both a male and female bowerbird – a thrill for me as I am mad about birds and didn’t even know that bowerbirds are common in the Otways. Bruce says we were particularly lucky to see the male as he is quite shy and there are fewer males around.

We make plans to return to Forrest with our family to paddle along Lake Elizabeth and see the platypus.”

Practical Example of planning a Great Ocean Road Trip

This started on December 20^th with a request from Arun in Hong Kong for accommodation at Wattle Court Retreat for two nights on 28^th of December.

Christmas, New Year and all of January is High Season. You can read the whole e-mail exchange, needless to say Wattle Court was not available. We pointed Arun at Find a room on the Great Ocean Road.

A telephone conversation followed and we responded to Arun with a three night four day itinerary.

• “Day one is a short drive from Melbourne airport to Queenscliff - a quaint holiday village on the Bellarine Peninsula.
• Day two is about 300 km to Warrnambool, but as you will be coming back you could do the Great Ocean Road in each direction, on the way down think of Lunch in Apollo Bay, then the Apostles and on to Warrnambool.
• Day three - take a trip to Port Fairy, Tower Hill if there is time and the Warrnambool waterfront is interesting in it’s own right.
• Day four, your return to Melbourne for New Year’s eve, focus on the Great Ocean Road between Apollo Bay and Torquay, if you can fit it in lunch at Chris’ Beacon Point Restaurant. It will be a long but great start to New Year’s Eve.”

By December 22^nd Arun had confirmed bookings in Queenscliff and near Port Campbell.Debriefing after the trip Arun confirmed that:-

• “…we enjoyed the great nature experience of this beautiful area, the only distraction was a big traffic jam before we got into Torquay, as there was no escape route ;
• Booking - after your guidance - was convenient
• The properties had been fine, except the difficulty to get them during the high season”

We invite your questions and will do what we can to ensure that your experience lives up to your expectation.

And remember - weekends, even off season are often fully booked two weeks or longer in advance.

George Biron famous along the coast for Sunnybrae Restaurant at Birregurra which has been in recess for seven years is coming out of retirement this Autumn 2008. We are lunching as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival on Sunday the 24th February. Let me tell you of the delights of the day and what you might be able to look forward to for future dining and in the cooking classes starting soon.

Torquay to Birregurra is a pleasant country drive along quiet back roads where the bite of the drought shows with dry grass and few stock. We are at the end of summer and this part of Victoria has had more rain than other areas of Victoria but is still dry. We pass through Birregurra - a little oasis with its eclectic range of shops - quality clothing, bookshop, amazing handbags and gifts and good coffee shop - on our way to the hidden gem of Sunnybrae. A nondescript farmhouse set in dry paddocks surrounded by scrubby trees and dry gardens. We arrive in time to view “the cattery” - the art studio of Diane co-owner of Sunnybrae and inspired artist. The studio is employed today as a second dining room. Diane is a talented collage artist whose works often with witty cats as subject add to the charm and quirkiness of Sunnybrae. The cook books from around the world lining the walls adds to the warm feeling of being at home with George and Dianne - place where food and the good life is central.

George Biron - owner/chef is passionate about local, seasonal produce. He grows much of the produce we eat today in the dry ground of his property carefully watered by large dams sunk to create a sustainable garden. To come to Sunnybrae is a pilgrimage to the earth and its produce.

The hand printed set menu is explained by the young waitress and we quickly start with the snapper on a bed of unusual green succulents rock samphire (spiky) and purslane (round leaves). Crisp greens complimenting the fresh white fish. The Gosling Riesling provides a flinty contrast.

The dining room buzzes with delighted diners ready to add to their memories of splendid country meals.
Panir a home-made cheese with wilted cucumber, the tiny taste of eel in its salty sauce are the light tastes opening the taste buds to the deeper flavours of the confit with fruit and the soothing haricot bean salad. The local pink wine spells summer in a glass marrying well with all tastes.

Slow cooked braised meats are a rare treat in these time poor days. This version with the orange sofrito creating a fresh zing over the soft gelatinous flesh joined by simple potatoes and fresh garden tomatoes satisfies both tongue and stomach. So much so that we need a walk in the fruit and vegie garden to refresh our palate before dessert.

These gardens display the drying remains of summer crops of carrots, parsnips, celery, lettuce, and the final tomatoes ripening. The new locquat tree looks a bit like an avocado tree to my son-in-law, the asparagus ferns rising high above the beds that will later produce for spring are a feathery mystery to my daughter; young fruit trees planted in lines include pomegranate, nectarine, plum, apricot, peach, pear, quince, walnut, and almond. Future harvests and meals will be come from this bounty.

Small full-flavoured, lightly poached fruit from the trees outside the windows on the plate with cool white buttermilk bavarois slippery like childhood junket with a truly adult glass of muddled peach and champagne - simple uncommon pleasures. Oh bliss!

Replete - our tea and coffee served in pots with the same generosity as every other part of the meal ends a day in the countryside just a few kilometres off the Great Ocean Road. Sunday lunches will be starting again this autumn - see George’s blog.

The Menu for Sunday 24 February 2008:
First starter- Portarlington Snapper with fennel, rock samphire and purslane
Accompanied by Gosling Creek Riesling
Shared starters -
Panir with cucumber, perilla and pepper
Wild rabbit and Western Plains Pork confit with spiced Morello cherries
Skipton Smoked Eel with Anchoide de Croze
Haricot Bean salad with a smokey mustard dressing
Accompanied by Farr Saignee 2006 Bannockburn

Main Course:
Grass-grazed yearling beef braised with red wine and orange sofrito.
Garlic potatoes
Tomato and Ruchetta salad
Accompanied by Innisfail Cabernet Merlot or Farr Rising Shiraz 2005

Dessert:
Buttermilk Bavarois with poached white nectarines and plums
Accompanied by a glass of Birillini
Finished by a Slice of Spice with Timor Coffee

As the Great Ocean Road is such a spectacular part of the world for a golfing holiday, I asked my friend Glenda who is a keen golfer (shown here with her new puppy Scully)to give me a tour of her favourite courses and some tips for golf travellers.

Not only can you play golf on some of the most picturesque courses in the world, but you can also drive along the Great Ocean Road with all the beaches, food, art and nature then return home truly satisfied.

1. LORNE is Glenda’s favourite course because “it is like paradise”, especially the views from the Club House on the top of the hill overlooking the pier. The course itself is challenging due to the hills and Glenda advises, “Do not expect your balls to land where you think you aim for. The hills are tricky.” She asks, “Do you hit straight? Because accuracy rather than length is the value of this course. It is all about placing your shots.” It is a nine hole course so when you play the full eighteen you will get a second chance to look at the views. The other lovely thing is that in some places you will be amongst the bush, which is also gorgeous. While Glenda has not ventured beyond Lorne for golf she has had the Port Fairy course recommended as highly enjoyable to play.

2. THIRTEENTH BEACH – The Beach Course. “There’s not a bad hole on this course. The fairways are undulating so you will not be able to see where you are hitting until you get close to the green. The greens are wonderfully consistent for putting. “There is an advantage in being a female golfer at this course because the men’s course is longer and tougher,” advises Glenda. She also mentions that any golfer must take into account the WIND at 13^th Beach where it can be a “4 club breeze”. The Creek Course is not as pretty according to Glenda and has some water so shots need to be given more thought. Glenda prefers the Beach Course to the Creek course but would never pass up the opportunity to play either.

3. ANGLESEA - Glenda’s home club, is a very challenging course, and Glenda would rate it the hardest on the coast because the hills make the fairways seem longer. Glenda also suggests that you will need longer clubs than you might usually use. For example the Par 3 16^th hole is approximately 110 metres from the ladies tee but the front of the green slopes away so you will need a club that will take you plus 10 metres. Female players who are unfamiliar with this hole will frequently under-club Glenda has observed.

KANGAROOS – are fellow residents of the Anglesea Golf Course and must be given due respect. October is the best time to see the new joeys (baby kangaroos) trying out their feet. They have been known to approach quite close to golfers. HOWEVER it is a strict rule that no golfer approaches a kangaroo as they are wild animals and can be dangerous. Glenda advises that if you just play as usual they will go about their business accepting you as part of their habitat. TOURISTS are not allowed on the golf course but can view from the car park or the Pro shop.

4. TORQUAY is a very accessible and easy course. There are views of the ocean on some holes particularly the par 3 17th hole which overlooks Jan Juc beach as you will see on the website. This course does have some tricky spots but it is also a great course for juniors to develop their skills. If you are planning to play a round during the summer holiday season it is important to phone ahead as this course is very popular with visitors.

5. THE SANDS is the most heavily bunkered course in the district so it is very challenging. Glenda advises that this is a course where course management is essential. The fairway bunkers are deep and Glenda likes to avoid them so she will often take an extra lay-up shot to ensure that she gets to the green via the fairway rather than through the sand.You may need to take 2 shots to get to the green to avoid the bunkers and if you find yourself in a bunker it will be very difficult to recover, as they are deep and sandy. Glenda likes this challenge and if you are a thinking golfer you will too. While this is a private golf course anyone with membership at another club can organise to play.

I hope that this will pique your interest in packing the clubs, bringing some friends to travel the Road stopping off to sample the courses and little towns along the way. Maybe you will see Glenda on the course – say “Hi” to her and thank her for the tips.

Some clubs you might like to try along the Great Ocean Road and on the Bellarine Peninsula:

• Portarlington 445 A9 MELWAY map
• Clifton Springs 456 J4
• Queenscliff 487 A7
• Barwon Heads 497 A5
• 13^th Beach 496 D1
• Curlewis 470 B1
• The Sands 506 G1
• Torquay 505 J9
• Anglesea 196 B6
• Lorne 518 G4 Phone: 03 5289 1267 has no website.

Wow! As soon as school is over for the year, Aussie holiday-makers come to Torquay and other spots along the Great Ocean Road. The caravan parks fill and every bit of accommodation is taken up with families and groups ready to relax. Beach cricket or footy, building sandcastles or just relaxing in the shade is the very essence of an Aussie summer.

English visitors are fascinated by the Aussie Christmas and imagine us eating turkey, ham and plum pudding in our bathers. Of course many of us still do! Most around here seem to opt for a barbecue with salads and seafood these days though. And I enjoy demonstrating my gourmet credentials with some new exotica - this year it was duck confit and our tradition of summer pudding.

Our pre-Christmas family gatherings culminated in a trip on the ferry between Queenscliff and Sorrento to meet with cousins on the Mornington Peninsula - always pleasant and relaxing. Quite often dolphins swim beside the ferry, although the only dolphin we saw was at the Sorrento pier enjoying leftover fish from a fishing boat.

As I sit here blogging, the plink-plonk of tennis balls against rackets just behind our house reminds me that at the end of January the Australian Open will be held in Melbourne, and all eyes will be watching the television until the winner is declared. This is the signal for the end of the school holidays.

Meanwhile all along the coast, every age of surfer and swimmer will be out enjoying the cool waters as temperatures climb above 30C. Inland, where I grew up, temperatures have reached 40C lately. Fortunately for us, here on the coast the heat is tempered by the daily sea breeze.

We love the excitement and buzz that this time of year brings to our small town as we see so many people enjoying what is ours all year round.