March 28, 2018
Today we have an early start for a full day of touring concluding with a visit to Phillip Island to view the emergence of the fairy penguins from sea and their march to their burrows.
As we did yesterday we boarded a coach after breakfast and it made a few stops to gather passengers and then took us to the central terminal. Here we transferred to a coach that would take us on our tour.
Our driver informed us that our first stop would be at the Moonlit Sanctuary where we can buy tickets to have a photo holding a koala. We will also see koalas up close and other native Australian animals and birds and take a walking tour of the grounds.
http://www.moonlitsanctuary.com.au/
We arrived about 90 mins later and got off the bus and into the cafe/welcome center and proceeded to follow the trails to see the koalas. After we viewed the koalas and took photos of them we started walking down to the area where the Wallabies and kangaroos were.
They were in an area with just a rope to keep them off the trail and were waiting by the rope to be fed. Wallaby food was sold at the visitor center. The kangaroos were more shy and stayed back away from the rope.
Once we saw them and took photos of them we went along the trail to walk back to the visitor center.
There we had time to have a refreshment before it was time to get on the bus and head to Churchill Island Farm.
https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/Phillip-Island/Things-to-do/History-and-heritage/Churchill-Island-Heritage-Farm.aspx
Here we had our lunch and then walked around the farm and then to the barn to see a sheep shearing demonstration and watch a farm hand demonstrate on how to use a whip and then guests were invited to try to use the whip.
We did not have enough time to watch the sheepdog demonstration.
Back on the bus and going to the Nobbies Center Antarctic Center.
This was a very interesting place. It is like taking a tour of the Antarctic. There is a room that is as cold as the Antarctic so one can experience the extreme cold of the Antarctic. There is a stage/area where one can stand and pretend to feed the seals and pet an orca. My photos did not come out very clear but you can get the idea.
There are many screens showing films of the Antarctic and the wildlife. It was a very good experience.
Outside there are viewing platforms to see the surrounding area and some penguin houses.
It is about 4:00 and we are now going to Cowes, a small resort town on the island for our dinner break. The main street has small shops and a variety of restaurants. Our tour guide has allowed us 90 mins., to have dinner and get back on the bus.
We ate a seafood pizza restaurant which was ok and then headed to the bus.
We arrived at the visitor center at Summerland Beach to get ready to view the penguins.
Our tour provided premium viewing so we headed down to the viewing platform around 7:30 to get a place to view the arrival of the penguins.
Around 8:05 the first penguins emerged from the sea. They would stand around on the shore like they needed to rest before heading up to their burrows/house.
No photography of any type was permitted of the penguins.
Every few minutes a new wave of penguins would land and repeat the process. I asked a center guide how long it takes for all of them to return and was told it could be many hours.
Below is a link to see some videos of penguins.
https://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/activities/
Walking up on the boardwalk to the visitor center I could see the penguins waddling up next to me heading to their burrows.
We boarded the bus at 9:30 pm for the 90 min. trip to Melbourne. We were the last to be dropped off at the hotel- 11:45 pm.
This was a wonderful experience and one of the highlights of my visit to Australia.
Tomorrow we check out and fly back to Sydney.
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