Phillip Island, the car journey

Phillip Island is touristy and pretty easy to get around. That is, of course, if you have a vehicle. We didn't but decided to remedy that.
May we introduce you to The Wombat:

We drove around the island to the Grand Prix Circuit. We thought we might go go-karting by the sea. But it was far more money than any sane person would choose to spend!
So we drove to The Nobbies, a set of rocks that houses heaps of seals and birds. There were walkways to get a better view of the rocks and the sea. They all led to The Blowhole where waves have carved out a cave. The waves rush into the back of the cave and the pressure pushes the water and air back out in a forceful mist. Very dramatic. Very hard to photograph.

Then the next day as I was looking out the window I saw a wallaby in the yard next door! How exciting!!

Phillip Island... A long walk

After the Chocolate Factory we kept on walking and walking. We walked from Newhaven to Cape
Woolamai.

 
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We walked through the town of Cape Woolamai and into the State Park. We didn't know what to expect but as we walked over the hill all we could see what an overwhelmingly beautiful view of the sea.

We walked down to the nearly deserted beach. The sand was perfect and fine. The only worry was that there were many jelly fish washed up on the beach.

We walked up to the highest point on Phillip Island to see The Pinnicles, a granite rock formation.

On the walk back we saw an echidna waddling along in the wild. I still think of these animals as things that are only in zoos!

We ended up walking 23km and ended the day with the most delicious pizza and pear cider eaten on the side of the road... (it didn't last long enough for a picture!)

Phillip Island Chocolate Factory

We decided to take a mini-break and get out of the city for a few days. Phillip Island was the obvious choice, being only 2 hours away.

We stayed at the only backpackers on the island in New Haven. We got there slightly later than planned as the bus driver forgot to stop in the town. We had to wait around in the town of Cowes across the island until the bus made a return trip.

We thought we'd spend our first day wandering around the island and see what we could see in the area that we could walk.

First up was The Big Wave!

Look at this giant flower!

One of the attractions on the island was a chocolate factory!

There was a massive Dame Edna (what? why?) portrait made of chocolates.

A statue of David made entirely of chocolate!

A chocolate waterfall!

Shoes made of chocolate! My two favourite things!

There was this amazing chocolate bar making machine. We got to choose what kind of chocolate and what flavour you fancy. Sadly (but oddly delicious), the flavours were strange: Strawberry, cola, wasabi and vegemite!

Under the Sea

The Melbourne Aquarium is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon.

Sea Dragon. Delicate and strange

Jellyfish! So peaceful, so painful

Enormous rays that weigh 700lbs

School

Shark and turtle! Pretty much Finding Nemo!

The absolutely best part was, of course, THE PENGUINS!!! They are the greatest animal... they waddle!

Non-halloween

Halloween isn't much of a thing here. We carved a Jackolantern. But this was the only sign of Halloween that we saw.

Long live Jack Skellington!

Australian Post

Australian Post is cute. They deliver mail on bicycles or little scooters!

And the mail boxes are built into the walls of the residence!

Koala Cuddles

As soon as we stepped into Australia TJ and I decided that we wanted to cuddle a koala. Luckily, close by there is a place called Healesville Sanctuary.

We drove for a couple of hours and arrived in an Australian animal paradise.

Sadly, we were unable to cuddle the koalas. From all reports they are heavy, smelly and not as soft as you might think.

The best was Hamish, the cutest koala of all!

We also saw some lazy kangaroos. Even with me saying "Jump! Jump!" all they did was lay there like lazy marsupials.

 You think that he's about to jump. He's not. 

Those lumps in the background are lumparoos

And some oily emus. Creepy.

We also walked by a small rest hut, which I imagine is for small children and the elderly, but there were 2 young people making out inside. Honestly... we can see you!