Loch Ard

After visiting the Twelve Apostles, Richard took us to Loch Ard. This is the site of one of the most famous shipwrecks along the Shipwreck Trail. The Loch Ard was a ship travelling in 1878 from England to Melbourne. It ended up sinking in about 15 minutes. One of the crewmen floated on a lifeboat into the gorge. He heard an 18 year old woman screaming, so he swam back out for her. She was unable to swim, but had held onto a spar for four hours. They struggled for an hour in the water, but finally made it to shore. They rested in a cave and used some washed up brandy to recover. Then, the man climbed up the huge cliff to safety and found help. (This was the story I was told, anyway...)

Loch Ard

Notice the cave on the right!



With Charlotte



Huge stalactites



Cave at Loch Ard (we think it's probably the one the shipwreck survivors slept in)

So of course we had to venture in!

From inside the cave

The cliff the crew member supposedly climbed...

I loved hearing the story of this place and climbing the rocks into the cave. I have some beautiful pictures of The Arch, London Bridge, and the Grotto coming very soon!