Little Penguins and more...

Since I had a couple of days before I fly to Brisbane for the next part of my journey, I decided to take the opportunity for a day trip to Phillip Island.  The trip included stops at a wildlife park where I saw a few animals I hadn't had a chance to see yet...

Dingos...

Fed some Wallabies...

This Koala put on a show, one of the few I have seen awake...

I also saw the nose of a Tasmanian Devil and a Wombat but both were sleeping...so I will have to keep trying to get good photos of them.

Our next stop was Churchill Island which is set up as a heritage farm.  One of the demonstrations was sheep herding by a border collie...

He then showed off by herding some turkeys...

We then saw a sheep shearing demostration...

Our last stop for the night was to see the Little Penguins (about 33cm tall) return home for the night, they come up on the beach in the hundreds and make there way to their burrows, it is quite a sight and they are super cute!  We weren't allowed to take pictures so here are some images that I found online...

The Otways...

Well it is time to head back to Clifton Springs...but first we stopped at the Otway Fly in Great Otway National Part.  It is a rainforest walk that is about 2km in total and features a 600mt long and 30mt high steel structured treetop canopy walkway that takes you right into the treetops.  It’s the longest and tallest walkway of its type in the world.  It was a bit chilly so I had to break out my toque again, but it was a beautiful walk!

We then finished off our trip with a hike to Triplet falls, much of the hike was through, or rather under, large tree ferns, which made it feel very prehistoric!

Luxury Accommodation...

So far on my Australian journey I have been staying with friends who have provided very comfortable accommodation, which is really good because I have learned that I may just be too old for sleeping on the floor!  During our trip down the Great Ocean Road we stayed in cabins at the Caravan Parks for the most part, which most of the time means one double and then some bunk beds.  On our first night I had a triple bunk...it was an interesting experience!  You really have to make sure you don't sit up during the night!

The most unique however was this converted rail car in Port Fairy, it was quite nice actually and had all the amenities, even a small drawer dishwasher!  Luckily we woke up in the same place we started!

Lurking Emus...

As we tried to have our picnic lunch at Tower Hill outside Warrnambool today we had a pair of lurking Emus trying to steal our food...I think they wanted my peanut butter and jelly sandwich but I managed to fend them off...

There were a couple of Koalas sleeping in a tree nearby but they slept right through lunch.
Once we arrived in Port Fairy we went for a walk around Griffith Island and met some Black Wallabies on our way...

Our Journey Down the Great Ocean Road Continues...

Today, Joan, Cookie and I made our way from Port Campbell to the end of the Great Ocean Road and then on to Port Fairy.  Along the way we stopped in at the rest of the major rock features along the coast. 

The Arch...

London Bridge...

The Grotto...

A huge wave coming into the Grotto...

And as it breaks on the rocks...

Bay of Martyrs...

Bay of Islands...

Wind, Waves, Wow...

Today we journeyed to some of the most popular viewpoints along the Great Ocean Road, part of the Twelve Apostles National Park.  Despite some of the warning signs we braved the trails...but definitely didn't go off the paths!

Our bravery was rewarded with some beautiful sights...

Two of the Twelve Apostles at sunset (oh and me too!)

Some of the other Twelve Apostles (there were only ever nine and one collapsed a few years ago)

The beach at Loch Ard Gorge where two shipwreck survivors washed ashore.

Various features from my helicopter flight along the coast (lots of salt spray in the air it was quite windy)

The remains of London Bridge, there were two arches but the one connecting to the shore fell in 1990 stranding two people out on the other arch - no one was killed when it fell, which is amazing considering how many people visit this coast.

Loch Ard Gorge from the air...

The Twelve Apostles from the air...

From the ground...

On the beach at Gibson's Steps...

It got rainy and stormy by late in the afternoon...I am hoping for sunshine tomorrow to add to my photo collection.