Phillip Island, Victoria

28/9/2018

Our amazing tent, 'Rex' protected us from a blistering rain and windswept night.

Forrest Caves

A short beach stroll lead us to a mass of exploded volcanic red rock that has eroded over time to form sea caves. The caves were inaccessible due to the tide, but the rock formations and colour contrasts were worth battling the wind, rain, oh and not forgetting the hail...

Cape Woolamai Walk

This 8 kilometre walk lead us on an adventure around Cape Woolamai that was referred to looking like a 'Snapper's Head' in a journal by George Bass in 1798 and is the highest point on Phillip Island. The circuit took us to various points of interest along the way including 'the pinnacles' and 'the beacon.' The coastline, folding outwards to Bass Strait is absolutely stunning, with rugged cliff edges blanketed in a dense rich-green ground covering, perfect for the Short-Tailed Shearwater migration birds that inhabit the Island from October to April each year. The walk continued to an old pink granite quarry that ceased operating in 1898. Remnants of mining activity are still visible. Boulders that remain on the beach, which looks across to San Remo contain feather and wedge markings, the method used to remove the rock. When looked upon closely it is easy to see why this unique pink crystallised stone was a desired building material, but the shear enormity of its removable and the subsequent damage to natural surrounds would have resulted in the quarry's short life span of only 7 years.

Pyramid Rock

The Nobbies

At the western end of Phillip Island, The Nobbies offers specular views of seal rock and the blowhole. The boardwalk takes you on a journey over the rugged coast where Little Penguins and Cape Barren Goose nest.

The Little Penguins

Under the cover of darkness a 'waddle' of little penguins shuffle towards the edge of the shoreline and wait. With their white bellies glistening like faint torch lights in the newly darkened sky, something alerts them to danger and they retreat back into the receding waves. Within moments the penguins reemerge from the lapping waves, the air is fresh with a cool bite and the breeze still. This time the group charges forward onto the beach and don't stop until they reach the protection of dense ground cover. One penguin who we believe to be a messenger, turns away from the 'waddle' and heads back into the surf. More groups continue to descend upon the beach. There is so much joy, laced with nervous tension watching these beautiful creatures undertake a perilous journey towards their bunkers. We make our way from the grand stand to the boardwalks, to listen and stare in ore as the penguins pair off. It's mating season. Generally it's the male that 'owns' a bunker who invites a female to be his mate. Divorce rates between penguins can be high, but unlike other flightless birds, such as the cassowary, both male and female raise their young that stay in the bunker until they are approx. 18 months. Fascinating to note little penguins, more commonly referred to as fairy penguins spend 80% of their lives in the sea, yet they are birds and have lungs. Therefore, they hold their breathe for approx. 1-2 minutes whilst they dive down to retrieve food and have to keep resurfacing for air. In the water a group of penguins is called a 'raft' and Phillip island is home to the largest colony of little penguins.