Shear Outback

At Warrnambool, we headed North East on our way back to Narrandera. We were out of sightseeing mode and definitely in the "Let's get home and out of this car" mode. Dan needed to be at work the next day and we had some serious miles to put behind us. Hopefully we will get back to check out the paddle wheel steamers on the Murray River at Echuca, the Gold Rush towns of Bendigo and Ballarat and the sheep shearing competitions in Hay.
The last thing we want to note from our ride was the desolate area between Deniliquin and Hay. It is pretty much an hour of NOTHING! It is a little frightening to think of breaking down out there as for the majority the ride we were alone on this highway.
This area of Australia (including where we live) has been in drought for 10 years. This means that in last 10 years, there have been red dust storms and heat and dryness like we have never experienced. The year of our arrival has brought relief and more rain than they have had in years in just a few months. It has also meant an explosion of flora and fauna. Areas that would have been just red dust are now covered in scrub grass and other desert type vegetation. It has also meant plague like invasions of grasshoppers, crickets and now, mice (our first night home, I woke up to a mouse on the bedside table)!
The region we drove through is called the Shear Outback because it is a Sheep Shearing area (the Hall of Fame is here) and it is rich in history. It chronicles the sheering and wool industry history. It would definitely be worth a day trip back to one weekend.
Anyhow, we took some pictures of the desolate outback area and Jacob to a soil sample. Now that we are home and the holidays are coming to an end, we are gearing up to head back to school for the second term and to settle back into our normal routine.

Treetops and Dinosaurs

As we were travelling the Great Ocean Road, we noticed a sign for the Otway Fly Treetop Walk and thought it would be a great stop to stretch our legs and experience the forest from the top.

You walk the treetop canopy of the ancient Beech Myrtle tree forest on metal walkways. The forest floor is covered in ferns that are taller than us (I'd love these to have in the yard at home) and you'd expect a raptor to come charging out at you - in fact we did see some dinosaurs along the way! The trees are on average up to about 60 metres tall with the tallest being 65 metres and 5 metres in diameter at the base. Due to logging and receding in the areas over the years, they are not up to their true height which can be up to 100 metres. Wow!
There are also mountain ash in the forest. These trees reach maturity at about 300 years, but they can live far beyond that. To sustain their enormous height, they develop huge buttresses at the base of their trunks. It is said that the buttresses were hollowed out for various purposes. One became a stable big enough to house five horses. Another formed the base of a racecourse grandstand, while others became temporary homes for early settlers. Wow!
There is also diverse wildlife in the forest. We looked for the Crimson Rosella, the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo didn't see it but think we heard it's distinctive cry), the Spotted Quoll and the cute Pygmy Possum - but didn't see them - perhaps we weren't quiet enough :)
There are also unusual species only to be found in the region which include the Otway Stonefly Eusthenia nothofagi and the carnivorous Otway Black Snail which we also did not see. There are many more types of wildlife here as well, platypus, wombat, etc... but we were out of luck on this day.
What we did see was gorgeous, dense forest that you sure wouldn't want to be lost in at night! It was like stepping back in time and when we returned to the car we were tired and ready to sit once again! A worthwhile diversion! Check out our pictures below.

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Lunch on the Beach

The views on the open road really made us work up an appetite so we unpacked the cooler and set up a picnic on the beach. It was low tide so there was plenty to explore. The smooth rocks of the shore left tide pools with loads of life to view. The kids had a great time playing with seaweed that had the strength of those rubber work out bands - Jake pulled with all his might and ended up digging in his heels - it just wouldn't give!
The boys found many shells that they wanted to collect but we left them all in their natural habitat to be enveloped once again by the sea when the tide came in. You know, we can spend hours on the beach, seaside and never get bored and IT IS FREE! The boys are already asking when we are heading back to the beach again! Nature's playground - how wonderful!

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The Great Ocean Road

The shoreline at Queenscliff led us to the Great Ocean Road. We had perfect sunny and comfortable weather. We banned all electronic devices from use in the car so that the incredible views and landscape could be fully enjoyed by all.
The Great Ocean Road officially begins at Torquay and follows the coastline all the way to Warmambool. It is about a 4 hour drive but it took us 2 full days because of all the sights to see. There is a great number of wildlife to see along this route depending on the time of year. You can take in some great whale watching along this coastline depending on the time of year - we weren't here at the right time THIS drive but hopefully we will have the chance to get back.
We stayed the night at a caravan park in Torquay and could feel the surfing vibe STRONG with the shops and outlets specifically geared to the surfing crowd here. It is a playground for those who can afford the surf coast lifestyle and we were a bit envious. Torquay is the home of Bells Beach and the birthplace of surf brands like Rip Curl and Quicksilver. Torquay is Victoria's surfing capital and we happened upon it just prior to a huge surf competition to be starting that weekend: The Rip Curl Pro.
We settled into our cabin and the boys went about exploring the park, bouncing on the giant pillow and playing ping pong and just getting some much needed activity while Dan and I enjoyed some much needed quiet time.
The next morning we wentout to Bell's Beach before heading back out on the road. Bells Beach was alive with activity as preparations were being made for the big competition - tents were being erected, sound systems hooked up, sponsor branding being hung. There were a few surfers out already and we watched them a while from above. It always feels surreal to me to see a surfer because I spent most of my life watching them on TV, in old Elvis movies or in Point Break. We don't know if any of the big names were out when we were there but we'd like to think they were. We climbed down to the beach level and the boys played a bit and pretended to be surfers. It was sunny but it was brisk so we didn't venture into the water - also the force of the waves crashing on the shore and the giant beach sign convinced us that swimming was not an activity we wanted to enjoy at Bells Beach.
On the way back up to the car, we came upon a hang glider getting reading to step off the cliff. We chatted with another hang glider and learned that the updraft off the cliff makes this an ideal place for taking flight. He told us that the day before, they spent 3 1/2 hours in flight going up and down the coast. Wow - peaceful and beautiful. I asked if they are exhausted by the time they land from the exertion but he said you just "chill" - relax up there and enjoy the ride. As he said that, the fellow in the glider stepped off and up and away he went. Amazing.
We left Torquay and headed West and it wasn't long before we were treated to the beauty of the road. I have never seen the ocean look so vast and blue as on the road. I don't know if it is because of the elevation you travel on parts or the knowledge that the next piece of continent south is Antarctica. We discussed the sharks that this coastline is known for (we were told repeatedly that we should not swim in there) and the power of the waves as they cut away at the shore. It is truly something to behold.
Along the way, we would see surfers in spots we couldn't even fathom - how did they get there? How can they catch those powerful waves? How can they be out there knowing they could be eaten at any time? YIKES!
The shore landscape was also changing along the way. We passed through rugged cliffs, lush areas, scrubby coastline and traversed swichback roads that had us putting the windows down and staring straight ahead for fear we would be seeing our breakfast or lunch again.
The Great Ocean Road is truly set up for tourists. The sights are well marked and there are plenty of washroom facilities along the way. The viewing areas have lovely boardwalks and paths out to the viewing points and every platform gives you a view that makes you gasp in awe. Some sights have multiple platforms and we quickly leanred why you want to take the tiem to get to each one. Every turn gives you a different perspective of the same sight and each view is like a present you just opened. I took picture after picture after picture but I couldn't help it. If you take the time to watch the Smilebox of the Great Ocean Road sights, you will see why.
The highlight for all of us, was the Twelve Apostles. I don't know if it was extra special given the time of year, with Easter approaching or just seeing something you've heard about in real life, being there as the sun was setting (sunrise and sunset are the best times to be there) or just the awe of the site itself. Even Sam was taken by the beauty of it and openly commented about it. Also, watching the sun set on it with the hundreds of other people who were there and the silence as we were all gobsmacked by it's beauty. It was a powerful experience.

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Back in the Car and on to the Boat

The next morning, we left Phillip Island and headed out to find the Great Ocean Road. We drove to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula and then hopped on a transport ferry to get to Queenscliff which would lead us to the Great Ocean Road.
The ferry ride is about 40 minutes long and brings us back to the mainland where we would head west along the coast of Victoria. The boys loved the ferry ride. We saw a container ship heading out to sea which once again brought Madagascar to mind. We also saw dolphins and an eel. It was a beautiful ride and a welcome break from riding in the car for all of us.

Penguin Parade

We left Melbourne on a grey morning. Our intent on the trip was to head 140km south to Phillip Island to see the Little Blue or Fairy Penguins but the prospect of sitting in cool drizzle after dark for 2 or 3 hours was not very enticing. We decided to drive to the island as planned and then judge what we would do once we arrived.

The further south we drove, the better the weather and by the time we reached Phillip Island, it was sunny and clear. We drove straight to the tourism information booth to find accommodation and to buy our tickets to see the penguins.

Phillip Island is a tourist destination that is visited by 3.5 million people each year. The Penguin Parade at the Phillip Island Nature Park attracts visitors from all over the world. They come to see one of the few areas where this species of penguin can be seen. We had just enough time to check in and get to the Penguin Parade. We arrived at the beach with plenty of time to spare. The view was magnificent but unfortunately we were not permitted to take ANY pictures once we left the main building.

I spoke to one of the Island's Guides and he told me that years ago, before the bridge joined the island to the mainland, the island was home to 100's of 1000's of penguins. When the bridge was built and people began to make their homes on the island, the habitat of the penguins was disturbed. People also brought their dogs and cats and this led to a rapid decline of the penguins.

The land the Nature Park is on is protected for the penguins. There are viewing stands up the banks and a boardwalk that meanders through the property. We found a spot on the boardwalk to wait and the kids were allowed to go down to a designated area on the beach to wait.

What happens is that at dark, the penguins come to shore on "rafts" or groups of 10 to 20 penguins - they do this for safety from predators. Once they reach shore, they assemble in their groups and move up the bank into the vegetation to find their burrows. There are thousands of burrows and each penguin knows which is his home. Once there, they recover from the weeks they've spent fishing and "party" with family and friends until heading back out to sea. They are only 33cm tall and are a lovely blue colour. They are the smallest of the penguin species.

There were over 600 penguins who came in on the night we were there. It was funny because you'd be staring out at the sea and a wave would come in and then like magic, the penguins would appear on the shore and start waddling up the bank in their groups. They walk RIGHT by you without paying you any attention. We were fascinated by them and how cute they were. Sam and Jake kept quoting Madagascar as the little groups would pass by: "Cute and cuddly boys, cute and cuddly." It was a worthwhile experience - one we will remember for a long time.
To visit the penguin parade and see what we saw, click the youtube video below:

Day Two at the Zoo

We woke up the second morning to more rain and cool weather. They were predicting flash flooding in some areas around Melbourne within 24 hours so we just hoped we weren't in any of those areas - luckily we were safe! We got up and ready and once again boarded the train for Melbourne. The showers seemed to be lighter and more scattered than the day before so we thought we'd dress warmly and head up to the zoo. We got off the train downtown once again and then took a tram over to the zoo. The boys really enjoyed the tram ride and it let us off right at the gate. We excitedly went in and enjoyed our day at hands down, the best zoo I have ever visited! It took us about 4 hours to get through the entire zoo but you wouldn't have noticed because you were engaged all the way through! The animal "display" areas are huge yet layed out in a way that you are very close to the animals without being intrusive. They are always upgrading and it is very easy to see why the zoo is so incredible. There are over 320 species on display. We saw a family of Western Lowland Gorillas, led by Rigo, the Silverback male, in their tropical rainforest home. We saw elephants, orangu-tans, reptiles (yuck), emus and butterflies as well as giraffes. We actually thought one of the giraffes were going to walk right over to us - and he could as the only barrier between us was a small ditch. They have a wild sea exhibit which focusses on the incredible marine life that inhabits Victoria's ocean coast. It featured penguins and seals in an interactive close up environment. The zoo also houses 70,000 plant species and is part of what makes the journey through so enjoyable. Although it was a cool and wet day, it was one that we will remember for a long time to come. Check out some of the highlights! Here is a link if you'd like to check it out for yourself:

http://www.zoo.org.au/

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On the Road Again, Just Can't Wait to Get on the Road Again...

On a rainy Monday, April 11, we happily hit the road for our first school holiday adventure. We've heard how wonderful the state of Victoria is and in particular Melbourne, Phillip Island and The Great Ocean Road. We planned on a week for this excursion and couldn't wait to see the sights! Melbourne is about a 4 1/2 hour drive from Narrandera. We pretty much went straight South stopping along the way at the "Big Strawberry" and for snack breaks until we could see the tall buildings of Melbourne! We were so excited at our first glimpse. Melbourne is the Capital City of Victoria and is home to over 3 million people. It is second in size only to Sydney but it is predicted to surpass it in 5 years. It is built around the Yarra River and the Ocean and is very picturesque.We drove through the city (yikes! Trams and many lanes made it a little tricky for Dan but we managed to get through) and went to our rented cottage south of the city near the ocean where we would stay for 3 nights. Our beach hopes were dashed by the cool wet weather but there was PLENTY to do in the city.

We settled in and the next morning we were up early to take the train into the city. Driving and parking in Melbourne are both expensive and difficult so we opted for public transit. It was fantastic! Jack continues to be fixated on The Polar Express, so this was a perfect opportunity to give him a train ride. Melbourne has the world's 4th largest light rail transit system so it was easy, relaxing and convenient to take. We hopped on a train 3 minutes from our cottage and were in the heart of the city within 30 minutes.

On our first day in, we decided to take in the Melbourne Aquarium. It was a great activity in the wet weather and we were told it was a must see! It was very enjoyable! We saw many species of ocean animals in a great setting! We learned interesting facts like the rays can get to be 350kg's! Imagine that! We saw a diver feeding a 180kg ray in the tank and it looked like it could swallow him up! The divers where helmets in the tank, not because of the sharks, but because of the rays. The rays try to suck on their heads to show them they want food! You can actually see the scrapes on the helmets from them sucking. The Cardinal Ones will be happy to know that I saw and photographed sharks, stingrays, sawfish and even an anglerfish among others! Check out the photos to see what else we saw!

After the aquarium, we walked around the Melbourne streets to take in some of the sights. There was so much happening in the city - International Comedy Festival, Tutankenam Display, AFL games - the city is alive with activity! It was really enjoyable!

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At the end of the day, we wandered into Chinatown and enjoyed a dinner of dim sum (dim sim as they call it here). This was the kids first experience with dim sum and they enjoyed it. Jack was so worn out from the day, he fell asleep at the table. He perked up for the train ride home though!

Jacob's Cross Country Race

Today was the St. Joseph's School Cross Country Carnival. It takes place at the "Oval" which is also where Sam plays footy. It is a round stadium type venue. Jacob raced with the 8, 9 and 10 year old boys from our school. The course is 2 km's and basically you run the perimeter of the oval about 1 and a half times, then you enter the tunnel and race around the inside of the oval to the finish in front of the grandstand. The house teams are in the stands cheering and waving their house flags to root for their team members. Jacob came in second in the 10 year old boys division. He now goes on to the larger race which involves more school at the end of April. I guess we will need to start training harder for that. It will take place at the pony club and the course sounds a little more rugged. Congratulations Jacob!

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