Today is Thursday and we are taking our first road trip, me driving on the left side of the road. After getting turned around once, we made it out of Melbourne and toward the Mornington Peninsula. We stopped for breakfast/snacks at a gas station and there was a huge horse race track and a supply store there too. Check out their window display.
Let me preface this --- I am not an “animal” person. I like dogs and horses, but spending a whole day at a zoo is not my cup of tea. I like zoos and can go for a few hours, but you see the animal and move on. But today was exciting even for me.
Stopped first at Churchill Island, where they had hairy cows, wagon horses, chickens (called chocks), pigs, sheep, and rabbits. At one time it was a working farm, now there is a restored home and outbuildings -- blacksmith shop, barns, sheep shearing station, and picturesque windmill. All this overlooks a bay and marshland.
We ate a Dr. Food’s famous macaroni and cheese pie on this lovely beach, the surf was crashing and the tide coming in strong.
Our next stop was Koala Conservation Center -- a beautiful preserve for these cute animals. They have wooded raised boardwalks for visitors. We saw quite a few Koalas napping. And then we came upon one awake and eating his lunch. Even at my age it was special to see such an exotic and rare animal up close and personal.
These warning signs were everywhere and we are glad we didn’t encounter any.
We stopped at the Phillip Island Grand Prix, didn’t expect much but it surprised us. There were motorcycles racing and kangaroos out back. If I had time I would have done the go carts or the “hot lap” (where you ride around the track) -- but you know me, a true southern belle, I would rather drive around the track myself at a high rate of speed :).
The Nobbies is a rock formation at the end of the Peninsula where they have seals. There is a great center with a wonderful glass lookout. So far all of these Aussie parks we have been in, have been set up and maintained beautifully. It was astonishing to see as many seals as their were out on a rock in the water (you had to use a telescopic lens).
The nice young man there said for us to “rug up” when we got to the Penquin Parade. That means bundle up. On our way there, we saw many signs warning of wildlife and to slow down. The Penguin Center was the biggest of the parks yet. Could not take photos of the penguins -- but you can look them up online. Photos don’t do justice to them anyway. You have to see them in person. We luckily got “premium” seats and were right on the parade path.
Prior to sunset, there were surfers out in the rough water, guess that makes for good surfing (they got in trouble when they got out and climbed up the cliff area -- right through the penguin habitat- idiots are in every country).
From where we were sitting very quietly we kept hearing weird animal sounds. I densely thought it was a recording. Also there were wooden boxes in the underbrush. Those were burrows and the sounds were the “homebodies” calling for the others to come home.
About 10 minutes after it got dark, you could see little bodies coming out of the water. They got to the shore and shook off and looked around for predators. Seeing none (except a bunch of quiet tourists staring at them), they waddled up the paths and cliffsides to their burrows. The only was to describe them is miniature. I saw “regular” penguins at the Auckland Zoo six years ago. But these were “cute” little penguins, about 12 inches to 18 inches tall. They were like moving stuffed animals. And they waddled by some in the lead and others just following along. Penguins came out from under the boardwalk to meet them and walk along with them. All I could think was, every small child needs to see this parade. It is a must see.
We looked under our car for penguins before we legged it. Nothing there :( we couldn’t take one with us.
Prior to leaving we stopped at Dutchies Stonegrill Restaurant. It’s a different dining concept -- kind of like a fondue restaurant - where you cook your own food. They bring the meat out on an extremely hot stone and you cook it to your liking. Started in Australia and I have never heard of it in the U.S.
Had a long tiring drive back to Melbourne in the rain. Glad tomorrow I will be riding all day instead.
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