Weekend Getaway in Philip Island

Day 4: 3rd Sept 2011, Saturday

We woke up quite early today and headed off to a 2D1N weekend getaway to Philip Island, about 90 minutes away from Mei yiyi's house. As the 7 of us (plus a few cartons of foodstuff) were unable to squeeze into one car, we went in two cars. We stayed in a very cosy vacation home that Mei yiyi had earlier booked from her colleague.

The vacation home in Sunderland Bay... the 3-bedroom house was absolutely clean, new, beautiful, spacious and very well-kept. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here!

Nathan, Alyssa and I "mismanaging some money" from the Monopoly board game (there was a big stack of board games provided in the house plus a cabinet-ful of movie DVDs)

We bought a 3-park family pass (it was more economical this way) for entrances to the Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Island as well as the world-famous, must-go Penguin Parade.

1st stop... the Koala Conservation Centre

At the Koala Boardwalk (elevated platform for closer view of the koalas)

Too lazy to greet its visitors... all the koalas there were sound asleep so we did not manage to catch a glimpse of their faces... we could not touch them either as they were all sitting high up on the trees and out of our reach

Next stop... we had fish and chips for lunch. Mummy had whiting (bottom, left pic) while daddy had the local flake (shark meat) and both of them opted for "grilled" rather than deep-fried. We also shared some deep-fried fresh oysters, shrimps and a large box of chips! 

Playing "watch out for the pirates" with Nathan at a playground by the sea, near the restaurant where we had our lunch.

Chasing seagulls at the beach

Seagulls, seagulls everywhere!

Bumblebees, bumblebees everywhere too!

Next stop, Churchill Island... a working heritage farm with lovely gardens

Beautiful countryside scenery

Two beautiful peacocks greeted us at the farm... 

We watched a couple of "shows" too... this was the Working Dog

Sheep-shearing... I grimaced and asked mummy "Is the sheep in pain?" 

Getting the feel of a clump of "freshly sheared" wool. Yucky, mummy. It's sticky and oily (contains lanolin)...

Whip cracking and boomerang throwing (we missed the boomerang throwing as we had "strayed" elsewhere)

More animals... I touched a piglet, a duck (daddy chased after it and caught it for me) and a black lamb

Some of the many pretty blooms in the lovely garden

Posing with a pygmy horse statue

Final stop... The Penguin Parade. Too bad, photography was strictly prohibited here so we did not take a single photo of the cute fairy penguins.

According to the weather forecast, it was going to be a very cold evening so mummy put on 6 layers of clothing for me! The weather turned out to be very tolerable and it was not as cold as expected.

We sat in the open, stadium-like seats and waited for the penguins to return from the sea. Soon after they have emerged in groups at the beach, we followed and walked (on platforms) alongside the cute and tiny little penguins as they waddled and marched their way back to their burrows. It was truly a wonderful experience. Our only regret was that photography was not permitted so mummy bought me something from the souvenir shop as a token of remembrance.

The only penguin photos we were allowed to take... the replicas!

One last pic before leaving... (holding a bag of souvenirs) 

Mei yiyi took the trouble to cook us dinner again in the house. We just can't thank her enough for being such a wonderful host, guide and cook!

Homecooked seafood marinara spaghetti (cooked with fresh prawns, baby octopus, squid, mussels, fish fillet and salmon chunks), garlic bread and fresh garden salad

My new travelling companions... Squeak the penguin (cos it squeaks when squeezed). The two smaller ones were given by Mei yiyi (one for me and the other one for cousin Leanne back in KL). Mummy also bought me a story book and a snow-globe-like fridge magnet for herself