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| The last bucket list item |
I did it, I actually did it! I made a bucket list of things to do whilst I was back in Australia and I was able to check off every single item. So what, you say? Big deal, you think? Well, it is. The first six months I did exactly nothing on my list. Sure, I did an odd outing here or there but I was completely focused on the job at hand. Maybe because I was here previously on holiday and had done all the touristy things you do on a vacation. Maybe it was because I was focused on the job at hand but the results were ‘all work and no fun’ for me. Just long days (and nights) of work. For this reason, I knew that I needed to make the most of my last stint down under.
Saturday was a day I had been looking forward to as much as the Great Ocean Road. We purchased tickets a good month in advance to go see the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island. Bob Miller, co-founder of Miller Heiman told me about it last year saying it was one of the most memorable things he's ever done (trust me when I say this man has done a lot of things!) so you might even say this was the reason I made a list of things to see and do in the first place.
In addition to the seeing the penguins, you also received entry into several other attractions around the island. We took off from Melbourne around 10:45 and started to make our way into the surrounding countryside. Of course, we had to make a few pit stops before we were even out of the suburbs – snacks, drinks, and the all important bathroom break. The conversation between Denise and her husband Joe was classic. Denise – “What do you mean you have to go? Why didn’t you go at the car rental place?” Joe – “I didn’t have to go then.” Carol and I just snickered from the back seat. This would be the first of several amusing exchanges as Joe chauffeured us to our destination. Poor guy had not one, but three female backseat drivers (technically four if you counted the navigation system which spoke with a strong female Aussie accent. Joe got so annoyed with it he had Denise turn the voice off after 10 kilometres). So you had to give him props as it is not easy to have backseat drivers when you are driving on the left-hand side of the road from the right-hand side of the car where everything is backwards. Let’s just say we had the cleanest windshield as he continually pushed the wrong lever when attempting to use the turn signal.
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| So cute! |
First let me say it was a gorgeous day; a day that Goldilocks would have enjoyed – not too hot, not too cold – just right! Our first stop (that wasn’t for food, drinks or bathroom) was the Koala Conservatory. We entered through the gift shop and immediately started looking at the goodies. I quickly found a shirt (like I need another Australia shirt but whatever) and the most adorable stuffed koala (I know what you’re thinking and again I say what.ev.er!). So I decide which items I will purchase afterwards and reluctantly put my koala back on the shelf. But then I notice that Denise is making a purchase so I grab the exact koala I want and shirt and head to the register. I then spot something for Maddy which makes me look for something for Jameson and you know how that goes. Denise says go ahead so the three patiently wait whilst I buy more stuff that I didn’t need. Joe was debating about a tee shirt but had decided to wait until afterwards. Then it was another conversation about whether or not the one XL would still be there so Joe decides not to wait so he gets in line to buy it. Then we had to go back to the car. Then we thought we’d better use the restrooms. Then it was applying bug spray. Geesh, reminded me of the days when we were kids and travelling with the family.
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| Mother and baby |
Finally, we get our act together to actually go see the Koalas. We wandered out through the pathways to the koala viewing areas. They build boardwalks high enough that you can actually see the cute little buggers. They have a tendency to be up high so from the ground they can be hard to see. Of course, they spend 20 hours a day sleeping so you have to consider yourself lucky if you find them awake. It was our lucky day as not only were several awake, we got up close and personal with a mom and her baby. Both were awake and hanging out on a branch just above the walkway. The look so cute and cuddly you are tempted to pet them but there are strict rules about touching them as they are wild and not used to being handled by humans (so they say but after viewing countless photos of the koalas being held by rangers and such I had to wonder). However, they do have very mean looking claws to hang on to trees and also know to bite to defend themselves. We had to be satisfied with being as close as you could be to a koala in the ‘wild.’ As we were circling around trying to get the best shot, the baby continually dropped pellets so you had to be very wary of walking directly underneath. We let Joe take the hits as he was the tallest and could get really good shots. Well, in theory because like children, they tend to turn their heads around so you miss the best pictures. In addition, we saw several birds, wallabies and fortunately no copper snakes. One can get a little paranoid when you see signs all over warning you to be on the lookout for snakes and you remember Australia has several snakes and spiders you don’t want to tangle with. You must remain wary at all times and not be crawling around in the grass trying to feed a wallaby (Joe!).
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| Churchill Island |
Our next stop was Churchill Island, another island (duh!) connected to Philip Island by a one lane bridge. It is a working heritage farm established in the early 1800’s. It wasn’t nearly as exciting as the koalas but was very scenic and worth the effort of going. Joe, as it turns out, is a huge animal person and wants to take home every one of them. It also meant stopping and visiting every animal. It was your typical farm with horses, sheep, ducks, chickens, pigs, sheep, and turkeys. We had intended to have lunch but the cafe was closed by the time we arrived so we didn’t stick around much more than an hour as we were all pretty hungry at this point. We headed back up the road and stopped at a pub close to the koala place. We look at the menu and decide it is a good choice only to find out they weren’t serving for another 45 minutes. Sigh.
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| Carol, Denise and Joe |
Back to the car we go and then decided just to go to the Penguin Parade site knowing there would be a cafe. But you guessed it, they weren’t serving yet either for 45 more minutes. But wait! Do I see yet another gift shop? Oh my, it’s a BIG one! [Insert big smile here] Might as well browse and get goodies we don't need before having what would now be dinner. And yes, I bought another shirt (too cute to pass up) and a couple of small things for the kiddos. We traipsed back to the car (we decided to park in the farthest car park and the last parking slot thinking this would be the ideal location for a quick getaway at the end of the night) and back again to the cafe for food. Whilst the food was mediocre at best, it was food and it filled us up (and rather inexpensive for Australia and a tourist spot). Next on the itinerary was a film of the tiny creatures we’d come so far to see and on to the displays and information as the monitors showed the countdown to sunset and the main event: 20:48 (or 8:48 pm). I assumed the penguins were in getting ready for their nightly show and hopefully had set their watches so they wouldn’t arrive too early or too late. We ventured outside and started chatting with a rather cute park ranger named David. After awhile, he suggested a stroll along the back boardwalk before meeting out guide at 8pm. So we start to meander around and spot more wallabies (I forgot to mention these are smaller kangaroos earlier but you probably already know that) and the hundreds of burrows where the penguins make their home (both penguin and man-made). We arrive back at the building to discover the door is locked. [Insert explicative here]. Five minutes until meeting time and it was a 8 minute walk or better. Carol hands me her stuff and takes off running with me close behind her and Denise and Joe bringing up the rear, cursing David all the way. We all made it back on time with a sheepish David apologising profusely for the error (he didn’t realise the back door was locked). He was such a nice (good looking) bloke you had to forgive his error. He handed us over to our guide, another David (not as cute and married anyway). Once the group had gathered (all 10 of us – two people were late and I won’t tell you their nationality or I could be accused of stereotyping), he handed each of us a seat, binoculars, and a headset.
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| Penguin Parade (from website - no photos allowed) |
We began our tour with the usual background and information about the littlest penguins in the world. At one time there were 12 colonies on the tiny island but when the British came, one of the blokes decided he wanted to go fox hunting so he had some brought over from the UK and they all but decimated the population of penguins. The one pocket that was spared was due to the remote location and managed to outfox the fox and persevere. In fact, the land around the colony was bought back by the government to make it a sanctuary and ensure the penguins continue to do what they’ve done for centuries. Finally, it was almost dark and we headed to the beach. It was great to be able to pass all the people in the stands and go front and centre for the best viewing. So we sit and wait. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before we spot 4 penguins coming out of the surf to the left of us. Everyone is in awe as they ride the surf to shore and look about before waddling up the shore. This is where they are most vulnerable from prey, even in the darkness. The penguins have keen eyesight at night and the colouring helps camouflage them as they make their way home. As we were looking to either side, an individual penguin pops up directly in front of us. It scurries straight for us and then stops. We all freeze; it is looking at us and we are looking at the penguin. It seems confused. The entire time the ranger is warning us to be still and not touch it. Eventually, I had to put the binoculars down because it was too close. It came within 6 inches of our outstretched legs. I held my breath; part of me wanting it to come up closer but part of me wanting it to turn and follow the others. Finally, it figured out where to go and waddled by us to join the general population. The ranger told us we were very fortunate as that happens three to four times a year. What? Me lucky? Take that, Murphy! For once, I did get to experience something remarkable. Sounds like a small thing but it was amazing to see one so close and personal.
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| Little Penguin |
David then escorted up to the private viewing area where we got to witness traffic on the penguin super highway. This is a sandy path where hundreds walk buy on the way home from the office. There little legs are on average 6 millimetres long and for them, the commute would be equivalent to a human walking from Melbourne to Philip Island (around 150 kilometres). They stop periodically and look at us while we look at them. They sing to each other and to us and you can’t help but wonder what they think of the million tourists who come to watch them annually. We hang around until around 9:45. It starts to sprinkle and we have a 2 hour drive so we reluctantly head back to the car. There are several signs warning you to look under your vehicle before driving away as the penguins can be in the parking lot. We forgot to do this but luckily there was no tell-tale thump as we drove away.
Back to Melbourne we go in the dark and in the rain. Poor Joe was exhausted and it was hard to see where to go. The navigation unit kept giving us directions via the toll road which we could not use. There are no coin operated toll booths so if you didn’t have an electronic pass you had to drive on the ‘free’ motorway. I finally got out the trusty iPhone to ensure we were going the right way.
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