Phillip Island

Sun Oct 12
23:27 Melbourne
Just got back to the hostel from the Phillip Island tour. Highly recommend it to anyone who loves wildlife and does not have a car. For those who do have a car, DRIVE.

Stopped in several places. First we went to Gurdy’s Winery (at least I think that’s the name). Did a wine tasting of 2 dry whites (a chardonnay and ??), 2 dry reds (cab sauv/merlot blend and a Shiraz), a Riesling, a rose, and a port. The rose was quite a bit redder than what I’m used to. The port was sweet—I loved it ^^.

A view of the water is available from the winery. In that sense, it really reminded me of Kelowna. Different landscape, though.

Next we went to Maru Fauna Park. It was ok. The Bonorong Animal Park was better. You learn more about the wildlife, and the stories are better. After visiting Bonorong, I wanted to have a wombat and to go on a crusade to save all the tassie devils. No such compulsion here. The only thing that was really better was the fact that the wallabies and kangaroos approached, rather than waiting for you to go to them. The ones in Bonorong really appreciated scratches, though, which is a delight in itself. Oh, you are also legally not allowed to touch koalas in Victoria, so another point for Bonorong. Just go to Bonorong =P

Next up was Woolamai Surf Beach. We only spent 20 minutes here. Tragic. Not that I’m a beach person, but it felt uber rushed. This beach is the second most dangerous in Victoria, getting a rating of 8/10 for danger. The undercurrents are really strong, and can pull you 700m out in a matter of seconds. The waves also came in erratically. I didn’t expect it to come in so quickly, and so much further than the last one, so my (just laundered) jeans got wet. Boo. Luckily, it was a warm day.

Pizza dinner at San Remo. Gotta say, the ham is different here. It’s shredded... but the consistency is more like spam... it’s kinda mushy.

The Nobbies were next. WOW. Just WOW.

The waves crashing to shore were spectacular! There are some similarities in the wave action to Peggy’s Cove, but the colour of the water is something else. Glassy blue water turning into white foam against black rocks. The Blowhole was cool, too. It’s a cave-like structure that has trapped air when waves come in, and causes the water to leave the cave in an explosive spray.

The area is a nesting ground for seagulls. There were chicks. They’re a fluffy, speckled brown. Seagulls really are just bullies towards one another. This parent was regurgitating food, and a couple of adults came by and stole the food! Lots of aggressive displays, and they’re LOUD.

Last and definitely the highlight was the Penguin Parade. I’d paid a little extra for Penguin Plus, and it was worth it. Will and Cindy will get postcards that have the special Penguin cancellation stamp. I would’ve sent more, but alas, I did not know any other addresses by heart. It wasn’t personal =P

So the Penguin Parade is the nightly return of Little Penguins (formerly known as Faerie Penguins) to their burrows on Phillip Island. There are grand stands for visitors to watch them (for a fee... I think Penguin Plus was $35). The regular viewing site is by the beach, so you get to see them walk across. I was at the boardwalk, closer to the nesting grounds, where they feel safe, so they actually stopped in front of us and preened. SO CUTE!

One moment there’s nothing in the water, and when the tide ebbs, there’s suddenly a bunch of them on the sand. You see them waddling along, and their white bellies make them look like they shimmer in the dark. A few tried to jump this one rock, and missed, sliding on their bellies for a bit, and having to repreen. You really have to see them for yourself ^^.