On our way along the coast, we spent New Years Eve in the resort town of Lakes Entrance. We saw an impressive fireworks show out over the waterfront, along with the sounds of an 80's cover band known as 'Rockin Chair'. We then hiked around Wilson's Promontory National Park for a few days, taking in its natural beauty and trying unsuccessfully to spot a wombat in the wild. However, we did see an echidna, and are pretty sure that we heard a wombat or two nosing around outside the tent one night.
The hikes included a few short dayhikes as well as a 36 km overnighter that took us to the far side of the peninsula and back. On the far side we were in awe to find pristine white sand beaches and turquiose waters with not another soul in sight.
Had a stop in Warragul to stay with some of Jodi's family from her Dad's side, who are mostly known of but still unfamiliar to her due purely to distance. From there, down to Philip Island where the big tourist draw is the Penguin Parade. At dusk, hundreds of tiny fairy penguins return from the sea, cross the beach and find their homes, and sometimes offspring, in the grassy fields. We joined the crowds in the bleachers set up for this occasion, and marvelled at their beauty and laughed as the announcer said to be on the watch for "the fat chicks."
On to Melbourne where we've been subjected to 43 degree heat in a hostel with neither air conditioning nor room fan. Other than that, it's been great with lots of walking around the city, delicious meals in very large ethnic neighbourhoods, more free art galleries and various exhibits. Hopped a tram to St. Kilda on our first night, and saw a surprisingly good Japanese funk band, 'Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro', at a well known hotel bar, the Espy.
Onward now to New Zealand!
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