PHILIP ISLAND – THREE PARTS (Australia VI)

Part one –  the Koala conservation center

Philip Island is in Victoria. It’s one of the two islands in Western Port bay. We drove from Melbourne through dandenong onto the Bass highway to San Remo. From San Remo we crossed the bridge to Philip Island. It was a rainy day but I will not let that get in the way of meeting the penguins.

We first went straight to the Fairy Penguin Area and bought a composite ticket that covers the Koala Center, the Penguin Parade and Churchill Island. The penguins won’t be coming ashore until dusk but Russell wanted me to see the place at day time. We had lunch there and then went and checked in at the “Kaloha Holiday Resort” in Church street, a two bedroom motel with own kitchen, living room, t/b, heater and cable TV. It’s a whole house already by Philippine standard

We still had plenty of time before the penguin parade so we went to see the Koalas. The Koala Conservation center is also on the island. We went in through the entrance building which includes an information area and souvenir shop; and out into the reserve. We went around on an elevated walkway, from about 2 to 12 feet from the ground which had been planted with the type of gum trees Koalas eat.

There were other visitors on the site and we all scampered for pictures. The Koalas were high up in the tree and sometimes difficult to see but there were plenty of them. It was cold and drizzling but I had a great time looking down to the ground below me and looking up to the fury, unmindful creatures. Being here was like a dream, a dream that I was living for real.

Before we left the center, we happened to catch some wallabies, Kookaburras, magpies and a rabbit.

Click to enlarge

The Koala experience was so awesome that I couldn’t wait to watch the penguins but that’s for another post. It’s now 5:55 in the early evening here, Friday, 5 months after that memorable trip and I have to make dinner.

Keep praying and keep dreaming. Sometimes dreams do come true J

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.