Decided at the last minute to go on one of the day tours from the city. Chose the Penguin Parade which goes to Philip Island South East of Melbourne via a tourist farm with an animal petting area and a Koala rehabilitation sanctuary.
Had lunch at the nice cafe at the Ian Potter Centre then got on the full coach with many different nationalities.
The driver turned out to be a very jolly and talkative type. As we drove along the highway towards Dandenong huge grey clouds loomed to our right. This brought much needed rain (the area had ben suffering a drought for 12 years) but also much colder weather from the antarctic. Never mind there is still lots of sun. After driving through a few farming villages (cattle farming predominant here) we came to our first stop Warook Cattle Farm. It was good for the girls to come face to face with some marsupials.
The farming area locally is slowly being sold to building developers as Melbourne suburbs crawl outwards in all directions. It has also suffered from the drought to the extent that farmers are going out of business.
On to Philip Island. The landscape is flat green fields and hedge rows of Monterey Pine and local species...it must be quite windy at times. Just before Phillip Isalnd we go up onto the small hills that form the southern end of the dividing range that go all the way up the east coast. Here the landscape is reminiscent of parts of north wales near the coast. The Island is a popular weekend retreat and is full of holiday homes as well as a F1 racing track.
The Koala centre is focussed on rehabilitation so has few additions apart from the Koalas and local wallabies. However the Koalas are easily seen and the rangers are very informative. Local birds are very decorative and include parrots.
On to the cold windy coast and the Penguins. They come out of the sea at dusk and scurry across the beach towards the dunes. The beach gets up to 4000 visitors a night in the summer. Tonight was a quiet afair. Unfortunately no cameras or videos so nothing to show. They started arriving in their 'rafts' (groups) about 6pm. Hoever tonight was a relatively quiet afair and we only saw a maximum of about 50 oenguins come to shore. Summer numbers go up to 600 a night. Walking back to the coach takes you thruogh the dunes where they nest in holes in the sand.
Back on the coach and to Melbourne.
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