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Published: March 7th 2007
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Fun packed 24 hours on Phillip Island
Penguin Parade
Less than a two hour drive from Ramsay Street is Phillip Island, a place we both really enjoyed. The evening we arrived we went to see the “Penguin Parade” where hundreds of penguins come ashore to bed just after dusk. We arrived early and grabbed a front row corner spot in the sand - the best seat in the house we later discovered. After a cold 45 minute wait groups of penguins began emerging from the sea and lollopping up the beach towards us and the safety of their nests in the sand dunes. As we were on the corner many of the penguins passed within a metre of us taking the shortest route to their homes (Pete was tempted to pop one is his bag). After three troops of about 20 penguins in each had passed we noticed one particularly fat one had got left behind and was very slowly making his way up the beach. He had lost sight of the others and seemed to be heading for the crowd. The warden guided fatso towards our corner but it got tired and decided to stop right next to
Ang. By this time it was quite grumpy and was hissing and squarking right beside Ang’s toes, no chance of having a cuddle with it. The warden eventually got it to pass around us and it did make it to the dunes. It was so amazing to be so close to these wild birds. You weren’t allowed to take photos as the flash upsets them so we had to put up with spending lots of money in the gift shop instead.
Smith’s Beach Surf Lesson
Pete’s been itching to get back on a surf board since his cuts and bruises from Sri Lanka healed. Smith’s Beach on Phillip Island is a great place to learn to surf so we decided to hire some boards and wet suits and ride to rips, waves and tides (???!!!). On arriving at the surf shop we inquired about surf lessons but unfortunately a local high school had already booked out the expert surfer dudes. With a little persuasion (of Pete and the school teachers) we were allowed to join the group of 16 teenagers. The lesson was so much better than we had been given in Sri Lanka and we were
thrilled and shocked as we both rode our first wave in together, standing up and in control! We stayed out there for 4 hours until tiredness and hunger took precedence. Highlight being the wave we both caught and gave each other a high 5 whilst cruising in.
Wilson’s Prom
We spent a couple of hours walking in this national park and saw our first joey climbing in and out of its mum’s pouch, the back end of an enchida (aussie hedgehog) and a couple of dead octopus which Pete played with. There were some beautiful, almost-empty beaches here; it would have been nice to have more time and done a longer walk and camped in the bush.
Continuing driving along the coast we reached the 90-mile beach. We stopped at a little car park and walked over the dunes onto the beach and not only was there beach extending on both directions as far as the eye could see, there was nobody in sight. A shame the tides make swimming hazardous. You would not get empty beaches on a sunny day like this in England!
The Snowies - Climbing Australia’s Highest Summit
Leaving
the lovely beaches we drove inland towards the Snowy Mountains stopping on the way in Bombala. Despite stopping only because it was getting dark, it turned out to be a great decision; Bombala has a platypus reserve and we managed to get up early and see a couple in the river before breakfast.
As it’s summer here there was no snow in the Snowies, a shame. We decided to “climb” Australia’s highest peak Mount Kosciuszko at 2238m. It may sound impressive but we cheated a bit by taking a ski lift and then it was only a 13km round trip along well-established paths. With the pretty scenery, a bit like Snowdonia, and no rain, it was a lovely day.
Back to the Seaside
We drove back to the coast, now on the eastern side of Australia, to Narooma. Pete decided to cook Ang an old uni favourite recipe of his with an aussie twist - Sweet and Sour Kanga Bangas. They tasted pretty good although Walls’ plain pork sausages remain a firm favourite over kangaroo. The meal seemed to give them renewed youth and they spent the evening doing handstands on the beach.
All
day wine tasting
The Mystery Bay campsite was selected based on its proximity to the Tilba vineyard - they had both decided that neither should drive so they were going to walk to the wine tasting. The journey there was interesting. Walking along the main road they spotted something moving on the ground… was it a worm? Was it a snake? No, it was a detached lizard’s tail still flapping around. We knew they dropped their tails if scared but didn’t realise the tails took on a life of their own flapping around for a few minutes!!! Urgh!
After a 4.5km walk we arrived hot and sweaty and ready for a few drinks. We both tried the wines (we didn’t pretend to know what we were talking about with “bodies and bouquets” and there was definitely no wastage through spitting them out) and selected the bottle to have with our lunch. The food was great and we ended up staying past the 4pm closing time finishing off our bottle and then buying one for the road. The journey back to camp seemed a lot quicker and we managed to dodge the thunderstorms which were looming on the horizon.
Little Joey
not so little once he is out of the pouch - poor mum Fifteen great surf beaches but no surf rental shop
Lonely Planet told us there were 15 great surf beaches in and near to Wollongong so, as we are now an established surfer dude and chick combo, we headed there. Having phoned and driven around most of the area we learnt there are apparently no shops to rent out boards!!! We made to make do with jumping over the waves, there was little else for us to do there!
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Dennis Barlow
non-member comment
Upside down
Your last photo is much more impressive when it is turned upside down!