Tuesday 31^st January, 2012

Today we slept a bit longer as we did not have big plans. On the Island we first visited a chocolate factory. A sample convinced us that you can also get good chocolate in Australia. After this sweet strengthening we continued to the Wonderland Animal Park. The animal park was a bit sloppy, so we decided also to visit the Maru Koala Park. I was here already last time and this is a small and fine animal park. It is lovely to observe the animals here. The interesting thing was that they have 3 albino kangaroos and one albino peacock. Then we drove to Foster. As we had time, we took the coast road and enjoyed the many view points. While driving Konrad saw another Echinda. As I take a picture of everything jumping in front of the lens, I had to do a 100m sprint to get to the animal. I was lucky it was still there. But my arrival scared it and it run into a trunk and curled up. In the late afternoon we arrived in Foster and went to our accommodation for the next two days.

Monday 30^th January, 2012

We awoke in the early morning as the main street was just below our window. Sow we packed our stuff and went to the ferry. Unfortunately we were a bit too late so we had to wait for the next one. We used that time to have breakfast. With the ferry, a katamaran, we went to Sorrento. On the Mornington Peninsula we drove along the coast. We actually wanted to go to French Island to observe Koalas. But a few drops of rain made us to think it would be better just to continue driving. We enjoyed the nice view to the coast a went a bit walking. On the way we saw also a few parrots. Until noon we had luck with the weather as it was clear in between. But the rain started again as we drove over the bridge which connects Philipp Island with the mainland. As we reached the Koala Conservation Centre it was bucketing down. We waited for 10 minutes in the car and hopped it will get better. Our prayers were answered and the rain got fewer. We used this moment to run to the café. Then the weather went better and better and we finally could go to see the koalas, kangaroos, birds and insects. After we found accommodation, we went to the Nobbies Centre, a place were you could see seals. At least if you go at the right season. There was a very strong breeze and we had to make sure that our caps did not fly away. We followed a boardwalk and at one spot there were many people with cameras. Below the walk there sat a small, 15 cm tall penguin. The penguins here, the Little Penguin, is the smallest penguin species and they come back every evening from fishing. With some skill it was possible to take a picture of it. Also here we met some wild kangaroos, somehow there are many animals on this island. As it was already late in the evening, we decided not to go back to Cowes where our motel was. Instead we made a hike to the Swan Lake. As the name tells, you can observe swans there. But not white ones, as we know them. In Australia the swans are black. We could observe them and other water birds from two observing stands. On the way to the lake ww met an echinda. Konrad explained it as a egg-laying cross-bread between a hedgehog and a anteater. Can you imagine that? In the evening we went to the Penguin Parade. First we educated ourselves at the visitor center about penguins. OK, Konrad knew already quite a lot about them. The we went over the boardwalk to the tribune. As we were there very early, a ranger gave us the hint to go to the bottom. The seagulls made the opening act and entertained the visitors with their behaviour. It got colder and colder as we wore only short trousers and a jacket. Slowly the sun set, now it could not last long until the penguins arrive. But first we saw their enemy. There was a seal swimming in the waves and was waiting for dinner. Hopefully it did not eat too much! At 21:04 it started. The first of 652 Penguins plash at the shore. It sounds like many, but in the spring here there are many more. About 120 of the little animals passed beside us. Cheerful is their behaviour. They arrive with the waves. Then they wait until their group is big enough. Finally they walk in zigzag through the gulls, so they are not seen by the enemies. After the gulls they run as fast as possible over the beach and then up the hill to their nests. Some will walk up to a kilometer. As it started to rain after a while, we went back to the visitor center over the boardwalk. Beside we there many penguins in front of their nests or we could listen them chatting to each other. After we made sure that there is no penguin hidden below our car, we went back to the motel with many impressions.

Sunday 29^th January, 2012

I sit on the veranda of our hostel and enjoy the cool breeze from the sea. But one after the other.

As we yesterday went to bed quite early, we today stood up also a bit earlier. After we got all our stuff packed, we went again hiking. We drove until the car park of the Mackenzie Falls. A bit before and at the car park we saw again cangaroos. But those were smaller as the other ones we saw before. First we walked to the nearby Broken Fall, then to the Mackenzie Fall. To our surprise it had a lot of water, at least for local circumstances. It is very beautiful. First we went many steps to the base of the fall, after we went up again to another lookout at the top. From there we could see the complete waterfall and it was very nice. Konrad wanted to do another mountain hike, but we were not allowed to drive on gravel road with the rented car. As a replacement we visited another fall. So we hiked to the Beehive Fall. On the way we saw a wild beehive, parrots and also a cockatoo. We continued by car and stopped in Ararat. We just arrived as at least 200 motorcycles passed in a kind of parade. After lunch we went on towards the sea. We passed Geelong and came then to Queenscliff. There we were looking for the Youth Hostel. In the tourist information they said it is the house just beside. From the outside it looks like an old hotel. After booking a room we went to the beach and explored a bit the town. The evening ended with a nice dinner. As we did not know from which animal an eye fillet is taken, the friendly waiter explained that it is something like a steak. Then it must be beef. The fillet was made with mushrooms in the center and wrapped in bacon. As it was Sunday we granted us the culinary delight.

Saturday 28^th January, 2012

In the early morning we started with litres of water, food and my walking sticks. We drove to the Wonderland Carpark. There we started the hike to the Pinnacles. There were many lizards taking a sunbath. Our way led through a small gorge with the name Grand Canyon, then passed the Bridal Veil Fall. Only we saw neither a bridal veil nor a waterfall. Higher up we passed the Silent Street, where you only should hear your own steps. I agree with the travel guide: you hear only yourself and no animal sounds. At the top we had a beautiful view over Halls Gap, the surrounding mountain range and into the plain. There were many other people on that track. But the shoes of some of them were shocking: flip-flops are definitively not the right choice for a rocky hike. When going back we chose another route, but somehow with Konrad as guide we short-cut it through a gap in the rocks to the original track. Back at the carpark we took another track to a waterfall. I think except of us nobody was interested in that fall, because we were alone on that track. Finally we found a nice fall, but unfortunately with very little water. But no wonder, it is summer and then water is rare in Australia. Sometimes we also heard and saw parrots on that track. Next stop was Boroka Lookout. Here you see over Halls Gap and its surrounding from another side. As it now was about noon, we continued to the Reed Lookout. From here you see to the west into the Victoria Vally. The temperature was nice 32° C and we still had some energy left, so we walked to the Balconies. This is the most famous motif for taking pictures in the Grampians National Park. It is forbidden to stand on these rock noses as they could break, but there are always some who cannot resist, just to get the ultimate picture. We could resist, but had to wait until I could make a picture which was free of people. With tired legs we made a stroll through Halls Gap to finish the afternoon. The town is very long, but the main part is very small. It is similar to Davos, but much smaller. Also here they are living mainly from tourism.

Friday 27^th January, 2012

When preparing breakfast we realized that the lactose free milk of Petra in reality is cream. After the breakfast we continued the Great Ocean Road. We visited the natural rock bridges Arch, London Bridge and Grotto. We made a few photo stops until Warrnambool and enjoyed the last views to the coast. In Warrnambool we bought SIM cards for the mobile phone and Internet. Then we crossed the country towards the Grampians National Park. It was interesting how dry the country is and there is still livestock. We knew that the National Park is not far as suddenly two forest covered peaks appeared. Inside the park we had first to drive about 50 km straight, sometimes up and sometimes down. Then we made an stop for the Silverband Falls. We had to walk for a kilometer to the fall. A flood two years ago left remarkable marks, there was much wood lying around the river bed. Suddenly I saw a kangaroo drinking water. It was not shy and I could take my first kangaroo picture. During my last stay in Australia I never saw one so close. The fall itself was very nice and the walk was worth it. On the way back the kangaroo was still near the river. Now we drove to Halls Gap, where we stayed over night. From our window we could observe parrots. We closed the evening with a small walk. A hint from the hostel staff led us to a nearby sports ground were many kangaroos were grazing. They did not show fear from humans and we could take pictures from very close.