One the very top tourist attractions in Australia ( and the one we most eagerly anticipated) is Phillip Island. In order for us to truly enjoy this experience, we went with " A Tour With A Difference" ( a family owned tour company that specialized in small number -no more than ten people- personalized excursions). They were terrific! We were happy with their presentation, and having such a small group allowed us to get to know the other folks during the trip. Located approximately 67 miles south of Melbourne, Phillip Island (named after Arthur Phillip, first governor of New South Wales) is connected to the mainland by a half-mile concrete bridge. Before the arrival of the Europeans, its earliest inhabitants were members of the Bunurong aboriginal peoples. Today, more than 3.5 million visitors per year come to this area to see and feed the kangaroos and wallabies in a wildlife park, explore the history of chocolate manufacturing at the Panny Chocolate factory, and to see the largest fur seal colony in Australia at Seal Rocks (on the western end of the island). But by far, THE largest attraction occurs at sunset each evening on Summerland Beach; the Parade of Penquins! Upwards to nine hundred "Little Penguins" (the smallest species on earth) return from a day of fishing out to sea, and travel up the sand dunes to their nests on the island. This is an amazing spectacle! The Penquins time their emergence from the ocean with the arrival of dusk, so as to minimize the threat of predators. Watching the crowds' anticipatory reactions was almost as much fun as watching the Penquins come out of the surf and march up the dunes (right next to visitors on the protective Boardwalk) to their underground habitats.
The one disappointment to this event is that photography is NOT allowed once the Penquins start arriving. Because of this restriction, (and they are extremely adamant about this, so as not to disturb the Penquins), we've had to resort to using professionally taken photos of the parade for this blog posting.
The one disappointment to this event is that photography is NOT allowed once the Penquins start arriving. Because of this restriction, (and they are extremely adamant about this, so as not to disturb the Penquins), we've had to resort to using professionally taken photos of the parade for this blog posting.
This map shows the relationship of Phillip Island (the red square) to the city of Melbourne.
The family owned "A Tour With A Difference" ten passenger van that took us to Phillip Island. This is definitely the way to experience this attraction. It is a comfortable, personalized, well thought out tour. We were happy going with them.
The Maru Koala and Animal Park allows visitors not only the chance to see wildlife native to Australia...
...but also an opportunity to get close to and feed them.
Look closely at the Koala in the background...who's watching whom?
The Emus very aggressively came up to get some food. If you are not careful, you will get bitten...
...however, the pheasants were a little more friendly.
Our next stop was the Panny Chocolate Factory...
...where everything is made of chocolate...even the mosaics...
...as well as the model gold field village.
But THE main attraction (and the one we most eagerly awaited) is the Penquin Parade. The crowds (numbering upwards to 5000 per night) await the arrival of dusk ....
...and the emergence of the "Little Blue Penquins" (at one time called "Fairy Penquins") from the ocean...
...and march up the sand dunes...
...to their nests, which are nothing more than holes in the ground. The park rangers put boxes over the nests to protect them from the elements and to help prevent them from collapsing.
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