Melbourne, Great Ocean Road and Penguins!
Trip Start
Oct 13, 2007
1
15
17
Trip End
??? ??, 2009
Melbourne,
Australia
Sunday, February 22, 2009
I'm finally posting pictures of our trip to Melbourne and the vicinity last month. Here are the highlights:
- We started by driving to the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) where Canberra (pronounced Can-Bra) is located, the capital of the country. We had a picnic in a park, but that was about it. Canberra is known as a city of parks, so that seemed to be the fitting thing to do.
- We continued on to Mt. Kosciuszko National Park (pronounced kozzy-os-ko) and stayed one night in Jindabyne (on lake Jindabyne--apparently there was a movie by that name). The snowy mountains are located in this park and is a popular destination for Australians to come for skiing in the winter. Our goal here was to see Mt. Kosciuszko, the tallest mountain in Australia. Sam did a report on it last year so we thought it would be fun for him to see. We took a chairlift at nearby Thredbo Resort leading to a 2 km walk to a viewing area. We could barely see the tip through the clouds, but they finally broke enough for us to see it. We also got to see our first snow in 2 years--some small patches along the walk. I know, I know...most of you would probably gladly give up the snow for 2 years if you had the choice. Our drive out of the park was a wee bit stressful--lots of curvy mountain roads in rain and hail.
- On to Melbourne (pronounced Mel-bun...are the prononuciations getting annoying...I'll stop), where we stayed a couple nights. Jim worked, so the boys and I fended for ourselves on a very hot day (40 degrees=100+), riding the free city tram, seeing various sights and going to the aquarium. We also rode in the newly opened Southern Star. This is the largest observation wheel in the southern hemisphere.
- After that we spent a few days on the Great Ocean Road. This is located just west of Melbourne and has incredible sights along the way. Words can't do it justice, as you'll see from the pictures.
- We headed back east on the Great Ocean Road and took a ferry (with the car) over to the Mornington Pennisula, known for some incredible golf courses. Jim was salivating. From the pennisula, we were headed to Phillip Island to see the main attraction--the fairy penguins (although they refer to them as "little" penguins so as to not offend anyone--true!). Each night, these adorable little guys (and girls) come in from a long day in the ocean to reunite with their significant others--spouses, siblings, children, etc. In order to see this amazing sight, you have to succumb to the tourist attraction that they've built around this event, but it's the only way you can see them, and it's well worth it. There's this viewing platform that you wait on until dark, and then sure enough, they start coming out of the sea in little groups, marching right in front of you, as cute as can be! There's hundreds of them; we stayed for over an hour and they were still coming! You can walk along this boardwalk that is next to the path that they take, and it's almost like you're walking side by side with them. Some of them have to walk quite a distance (5 km) to get to their loved ones so they can barf up their catch. That's love! And then they turn around and go out early in the morning and do it all again. Tough life.
So, after 8 days on the road, too many pit stops to count, one near miss with a Koala (he literally was in the middle of the road and seemed highly intoxicated on eucalyptus), and a box of travelcalm (car sick meds), we were home. A very memorable trip!
Sadly, some of the countryside that we travelled through is now completely destroyed by the fires. I know it got some coverage in the U.S., but it was the worst natural disaster that the country has ever experienced. Aussies are rallying the same way that Americans did for Katrina victims. It's great to see that spirit here in the face of such a disaster. Some of you have asked how we are as it relates to the fires. There have been a couple within an hour of where we live, but we haven't seen an evidence of them. Apparently the smoke from the deadly ones in Victoria could be seen in New Zealand! So, we're fine and thank you for your concern.
Also included in the pictures are a couple of us on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. We had to wait until Sam turned 10 to do it, but we did it!
We're not here much longer (end of June, roughly), so we'd love to have anyone come to visit us. We have a spare bedroom and would love to show you some of the sights in the area. 1 U.S. dollar will get you $1.35 AU dollars! Love to see you before we get home!
Barb, Jim, Max and Sam
