Benjamin and Tiffany spent two weeks touring Australia. In the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, we rode the historic Puffing Billy Steam Train east from Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park. This is one of the only trains in the world where you can (and are encouraged to) sit in the windows with your feet dangling outside the train. It was a unique experience, and we enjoyed our excursion being pulled by historic steam engines 6A and 7A. During our layover at Emerald Lake, we hiked the Lake Nobelius Loop and saw several Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and very colorful Crimson Rosellas.
In the towering Mountain Ash forests of Dandenong Ranges National Park, we hiked to the small Sherbrook Falls, watched a Lyrebird digging for food along the trail, and shared some time with a Kookaburra that was snacking on insects. Also in the park, we hiked the famous 1,000 Steps Trail. This trail, also called the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, was a difficult hike but was worth the effort. Being one of the most popular hikes in the Melbourne area, we were fortunate to visit at a time when there was hardly anyone else around and we were able to enjoy the peaceful serenity of the rainforest.
Both nights that we stayed in the Dandenong region we enjoyed dinner at Archie's Farm Restaurant where we had a great experience. We also had a nice lunch at The Blacksmith in Belgrave.
Next, we drove to Phillip Island to spend a few days encountering some of Australia's most unique wildlife. On the way, we made a stop at the Maru Wildlife Park where we saw a Tasmanian Devil, Water Dragons, Dingoes, Quokka, a Cassowary, Wallabies, Emu, and so many Koalas. We even had the opportunity to participate in a private feeding session with an Echidna, and Tiffany fed several Kangaroos. Arriving on Phillip Island, we first took in the views from The Nobbies and drove the scenic coastal drive along the Southern Ocean. We saw several of the Cape Barren Geese and a wild Echidna.
The highlight of our time on Phillip Island was watching the nightly Penguin Parade. During this event, over 300 Little Penguins came ashore and marched across the beach to their burrows. This was such a unique experience, and we loved spending the evening watching the playful penguins waddle their way past us (we also saw a Bandicoot).
The next morning, we visited the Koala Conservation Reserve where we saw several koalas up-close on the elevated boardwalks. We also saw some Curlew and a few Galah Cockatoos. After lunch we headed to Cowes and boarded a Wildlife Coast Cruise to Seal Rocks to observe the largest colony of Australian Fur Seals in the world. About a quarter of the entire population of these seals lives on these rocks just off the coast of Phillip Island. After returning from our cruise, we explored the town of Cowes and the beach before returning to our lodging in Rhyll.