AmyHuang
Visit Australia: Phllip Island
A small holiday isle, 125km south east of Melbourne, Phillip Island is well known to day trippers looking for a glimpse of the precious Little Penguins of Australia.
Little Penguins are the smallest penguin species of the world, towering at a whole 45cm tall and weighing around 1kg. Each evening, male penguins that have gone out to sea to hunt emerge from the sea, brave the walk across the beach to return to their families. Not all the penguins return, some can stay out for more than a week before they start to miss their families and decides to come back.
The Penguin Parade is a man made raised platform over the penguin nests. Visitors are invited to sit on the platforms and watch the little penguins as their stubby feet drags them along the beach. This way, you are not disturbing their natural habitat, yet still close enough to observe their clumsy little acts.
However, please be respectful of nature. Little Penguins can get stressed easily and having humans around poking our noses into their lives is already hard enough. No photography is allowed on the Penguin Parade and no loud talking. You'd think that these warnings tells you the obvious - no disturbing the penguins! However sadly, I have been at the Penguin Parade where international visitors disobey these rules and goes as far as spitting into the penguin nests or try to climb over the railings to get closer to the penguins.
We humans really can be disappointingly rude!
Besides the Penguin Parade, Phillip Island is also a big nature park with other fascinating wildlife. Seal Rocks and the Nobbies, at the very southwest of the island, is home to Australia's largest colony of fur seals. The best times to go is between October to December, when they are all out of the water soaking up the warm summer sun.
And then, of course, there is the Wildlife Park. Where drop bears can be spotted snoozing on thin branches of eucalyptus, round and cuddly. Perhaps not the most exciting thing for us, but for international visitors, this is a great delight.
Further information:
Phillip Island Nature Park
Official Phillip Island Tourism website
Little Penguins are the smallest penguin species of the world, towering at a whole 45cm tall and weighing around 1kg. Each evening, male penguins that have gone out to sea to hunt emerge from the sea, brave the walk across the beach to return to their families. Not all the penguins return, some can stay out for more than a week before they start to miss their families and decides to come back.
A distance shot of the Penguin Parade on Summerland Beach
The Penguin Parade is a man made raised platform over the penguin nests. Visitors are invited to sit on the platforms and watch the little penguins as their stubby feet drags them along the beach. This way, you are not disturbing their natural habitat, yet still close enough to observe their clumsy little acts.
A warning sign at the car park of the Penguin Parade - watch out for lost penguins!
However, please be respectful of nature. Little Penguins can get stressed easily and having humans around poking our noses into their lives is already hard enough. No photography is allowed on the Penguin Parade and no loud talking. You'd think that these warnings tells you the obvious - no disturbing the penguins! However sadly, I have been at the Penguin Parade where international visitors disobey these rules and goes as far as spitting into the penguin nests or try to climb over the railings to get closer to the penguins.
We humans really can be disappointingly rude!
Besides the Penguin Parade, Phillip Island is also a big nature park with other fascinating wildlife. Seal Rocks and the Nobbies, at the very southwest of the island, is home to Australia's largest colony of fur seals. The best times to go is between October to December, when they are all out of the water soaking up the warm summer sun.
Look out for drop bears!
And then, of course, there is the Wildlife Park. Where drop bears can be spotted snoozing on thin branches of eucalyptus, round and cuddly. Perhaps not the most exciting thing for us, but for international visitors, this is a great delight.
Further information:
Phillip Island Nature Park
Official Phillip Island Tourism website
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Michaelie
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Thanks Katyzzz
Michaelie - I try to use my own photos as much as I can unless in posts like Shimla where I haven't been yet, I do source photos else where. In this case, I would state the source.
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Indeed it is crucial to double check for wild animals when we park and drive. I always remembered all the kangaroo signs around in Southern Queensland. ^_^
Great post Amy! I shall look forward to more of your adventures!
Have a blessed day
Jessicca
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Sounds like a wonderful place.
Pity there's no such thing as an idiotometer that will identify the morons and not let them in.
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Rosemary - I know. Sometimes you just wish they could be 'evicted' like they do in Big Brother!
Hope you are well!
Chris