Land Down Under Part 3: The Great Ocean Road and it's 12 apostles, Erskine Falls, and yes, Caffeinated Goodness :)

Not only has Christmas past, but Easter too, before I've posted another plug for more amazing caffeinated beverages abroad. Life always seems to get in the way, yet, I still manage to find the time to stop in to a local coffee shop for some relief and satisfaction with every percolated drop.

3 posts ago, I'd mentioned I had experienced a plethora of caffeinated beverages in Victoria Australia, and particularly in Melbourne. While I was in Australia the second time in August 2011, I did go on a road trip to the Great Ocean Road, southern coast of Victoria, to see some of the most amazing natural scenery in the world. Between photo stops, a helicopter ride, hiking to the bottom of beautiful waterfalls, and the need to get that stereotypical Kangaroo crossing sign in my photo library, a few lattes and other beverages were consumed and greatly enjoyed. Australia definitely dominates in impressing this self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur :)



Latte, Lorne, Victoria, Australia

 This first featured latte I experienced in Lorne in the restaurant of the resort I stayed in. It was frothy and light, leaving a lighter less bitter taste on the palette. A definite A-1 beverage that satisfied my craving whilst admiring the scenic land around me full of wild Cockatoos and ducks.

While travelling the Great Ocean Road, I could not leave before trying a latte with the 12 Apostles in my view. This latte, with the primitive cup and valiant foam art effort, was not the most exciting of drinks, but the scenery and location of where I drank it, both made the less-than-perfect tasting beverage seem less offensive to my coffee palette. This latte, made in a small shop just overlooking the apostles, whose speciality was either pizza slices or deli sandwiches, definitely was not the barista quality
I was used to, but experiencing this latte, as unimpressive as it was, is better than not experiencing one at all at this beautiful part of the world.
 


And lastly of my Great Ocean Road coffee beverages was a frothy and delicious one made in a teensy cafe steps away from Erskine falls, a beautiful lush natural array of vegetation and wildlife surrounding a gorgeous waterfall. After hiking to the bottom of these picturesque falls, then hiking back up the hundreds of steps, I definitely enjoyed the step back and relaxation of this caffeinated beverage boost. The cafe that boasted gourmet pastries and other complementing savories, did not disappoint. It was a time-out i'll never forget as the tumbling falls majestic waters'echoed in the backdrop of my patio seat.

 

 

So in conclusion, Australia definitely has a strong coffee presence and many places to experiences both amazing and mediocre brews. For me, experiencing over a dozen different beverages made by a dozen different shops and baristas, was definitely a world traveller's and coffee connoisseur's dream. They are definitely in my fondest memories of my time Down Under.



The 12 Apostles - Great Ocean Road ~ Victoria, Australia