Melbourne.. with Megumi-chan

14 MAY Up early... at nine.. we get ready... breakfast and off we go... for today we've booked a tour to Phillip Island... and three spots at the Penguin Parade. This is a famous island in Victoria because it's the "home" of thousands of little penguins.. typical of Southern Australia. We could have gone on our own but it would have cost us a fortune so, thanks to our Japanese Friend... we booked on a Japanese website... and at a cost of 80 dollars each (59 euros) we spent an unforgettable day. Included in the tour: transport by minibus (there were 21 of us) - lunch - visit to a wildlife park - penguin parade - tour of Phillip Island - dinner If we'd done it all ourselves... we would definitely have spent much more!!! Well done Megumi!!!! It takes us an hour and thirty from the city centre... but first a stop at a zoo where we saw typical Australian animals and fed kangaroos and emus...

We get back on the road and crossing a little bridge we arrive on this splendid island... Passing near the Moto GP circuit we reach the "end" of the island.. a place called Nobbies Centre and we take a nice walk, there are established paths, and you could also see the seals.. but they were too far away from us, damn it!!!! On the route from the Nobbies to the penguin parade car park we take a secondary road.. and... my goodness.. the wild kangaroos!!!! beautiful... so many of them!!! I recommend you take this road!!!! lots of lovely photos and off towards the penguins!!!! The penguin visitor centre is very big, inside there are shops, refreshment points and a large door... from here you go out and head towards the stand to see the penguins... there are very strict rules and woe betide anyone who breaks them...

for example, filming and photos are strictly forbidden!!!! The day isn't one of the best, in fact it's drizzling and a bit chilly... oh well... never mind... Our driver tells us that the best spots are to sit down at the bottom left... and he was right!!! As soon as they opened the doors we rushed to grab a place.. ahaha you have to "fight" with loads of Asians.. but we made it!!! Our driver.. who is great, also gave us cushions... because the concrete is hard... and cold... and how we thanked him!!!! the others were suffering and we were nice and peaceful enjoying the show on our cushions!!!! The expected arrival time was around 17.30 17.40...

and indeed the first one was seen at 17.32!!!! when I saw it I felt like saying hoorayyyyyyyyy a penguinnnnnnnnn but of course I held back because otherwise I would have scared it!!!! after it a whole load arrived!!!! then they told us there were 5,000!!!! can you imagine??? beautiful!!! tiny!!!! Anyway... after they arrived.. we followed the path to go back to the pavilion and, since it's a raised walkway above the ground, below us the penguins were also walking towards their little homes!!! what wonderful emotions.. indescribable!!!! I'll leave you the web site We then all met up.. and headed to the restaurant for pizza

16 MAY Today another busy day!!!! Up at 9... we meet up with a friend who lives in Melbourne and go to pick up the rental car... my first time driving "on the wrong side"... I must say I thought it would be worse.. ahaha but everything went fine!!! safe and sound. Today our destination is the Great Ocean Road... which speaks for itself... super fabulously beautiful... perhaps the most beautiful scenic road in Australia... if not in the world!!!! There are breathtaking stretches.. that run alongside the ocean.. and stretches that seem to have got lost among the eucalyptus trees... wowww We stop to get a map of the area.. the girl tells me that if we want to see wild koalas we have to stop at Kennet River... I look at her like O_O wild koalas?? how lovely, so first stop.. Kennet River.. but how right the girl was??? we saw 13 koalas.. lazing blissfully in the trees..

my goodness what an emotion.. super beautiful.. some awake, others not... and you can even go by car... beautiful!!! A super recommended must-do!!!! Then we head towards the 12 Apostles... my goodness, here too.. you could cry with emotion... truly beautiful and enormous!!!!! in photos they don't look that big but when you get there... you're left open-mouthed!!! truly!!!! By now it's late... the sun is setting so we head back towards the hotel... Parking in Melbourne is practically impossible.. you have to pay loads of money.. oh well.. we split it by 4 and off we go...

17 MAY Since we still haven't seen the real Melbourne.. today's the day to do it... We say goodbye to our friend Megumi who's going back to Japan.. T_T and we visit the city. We take a walk towards Federation Square.. a truly strange square.. then there's the tourist point so we ask what we can do... They suggest taking the free tram... and indeed that's what we did!!! This free tram goes all around the city.. and if you don't have much time it's perfect... There are lots of buildings and sometimes they obscure the city... they create a certain atmosphere... sometimes it feels like being in Germany... We get off the tram and venture into the narrow little streets, obviously pedestrian areas, of the centre.. shops... restaurants... bars... I must say Yes.... there's a European feel in Melbourne!!