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| Woolamai |
So I was getting all set Friday afternoon to write this long post about my week and all the daily stuff that happened when a friend called and asked if I wanted to go to Phillip Island on Saturday. I knew I'd have tons to share after that, so I waited to post my news til now.
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| Surfers |
Phillip Island is about 140 km southwest of Melbourne (according to my Lonely Planet guidebook), so for the journey we rented 2 cars for 9 people. My friend Justin is living at St. Mary's College on campus, and a group of kids there had planned this trip but there was extra room in the cars. We met at the Budget in Melbourne, piled in our white Corolla, and headed out. It took about an hour and 45 minutes til we were crossing the bridge to beautiful Phillip Island.
Our first stop was Woolamai Beach, which was completely gorgeous. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day. There was a surf competition going on, so we sat and watched/sunbathed (I was heavily sunscreened) for a bit. We then drove over to the Nobbies, these craggy offshore rocks where seals live, though we didn't see any seals. From the boardwalk there, though, we did see little penguins!
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| The Nobbies |
Which brings me to the main tourist attraction of Phillip Island: the Penguin Parade. Every night hundreds of "little penguins" (previously known as "fairy penguins") return to shore each night and nest on this island. They've set up a viewing area and boardwalk to watch the penguins come up the beach and go back to their nests. After stopping for dinner in Cowes, the one main town on the island, we arrived at the area, and by 8:15 the penguins were all over the place. From the boardwalk we could get so close as they travelled further inland! They don't allow photography so I don't have any pictures of them from the night, but it was amazing. I've never seen anything like it before. They're so little!
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| A blow hole carved out by the ocean |
Tired but completely thrilled, we got back in the car and drove home to Melbourne. A completely wonderful day. And this morning, I drove the car back to the rental lot, so now I've driven in Australia!
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| A little penguin, molting! |
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| We also saw a wallaby! |
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| Pier and festival at Cowes (there are festivals everywhere I go apparently) |
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| Driving skills |
How cool is that! Especially since the temp here this morning was about 38 degrees (and that's Fahrenheit). So sorry there are no pictures of penguins, so I guess we will just have to come and see for ourselves. But a wallaby, very cute.
ReplyDeleteAnd driving, left side of the road?
Actually I meant to say 28 degrees, its cold!
ReplyDelete