Gippsland: Chocolate, Koalas, Wine, Cheese and Penguins

We spend some time away from the city today, in Gippsland.  We drove through very fertile land that was very productive but is slowly turning over into suburbs as the population near Melbourne grows.  Our bus tour stopped for lunch in farming town of Kooweerup.  This area was swampland, drained by canals over a hundred years ago, leaving very dark fertile soil that is supportive of asparagus farming.  The earliest farmers here were Dutch and Italian. 

Our next stop was Panny's Chocolate, which mostly supplies to restaurants.  They had a nice, friendly factory display with some novel attractions like Michelangelo's David done in chocolate (except for the addition of a sugared, green, strategically placed fig leaf) and "the world's largest chocolate waterfall."

We stopped at a Koala Sanctuary and walked around the boardwalk trying to spot koalas sleeping in the forks of the trees.  Once we spotted them, we all aimed our cameras.  The photos mostly look like gray blobs since it was cool and the animals heads were tucked in.  It was rather peaceful looking for them, quietly, in the eucalyptus trees.

After crossing to lovely Phillips Island, we had a wine tasting at the Phillips Island Winery, and also sampled five local cheeses.  The landscape was so unusual to my eye.  It is lush and green, as you would expect from a vine bearing region.  There were cattle grazing on the land.  And, the Pacific was on the horizon!  It just didn't feel like we were near the ocean, but we certainly were.

The view from the winery.  That is the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

We left the winery and drove to photograph and view "The Nobbies," and "Seal Rock." 

The highlight of the trip, though, I have no photos of.  Our final and best destination was to see the"Little Penguins,"  come out the ocean at nightfall, and make their way up to the areas where they nest.  Their dark blue feathers and while breasts don't conceal them on the stretch of sand they have to traverse before the sheltering grassy areas.  So, they are adapted to venture out of the sea under cover of dark and in groups.  We sat on bleachers, rather chilled, and peered into the darkness.  We could make out shadows, and then a wave would crest and suddenly a few penguins would appear as the foam receded.  They seemed to get slowly organized, summon their courage, and flock up the beach as hastily as possible.  In my head I was scolding myself not to be so anthropomorphic.  "These birds are wild animals....these birds are wild animals...."  But, they were so darned cute!

Once we left the bleachers and returned to the boardwalk, we could see them up close.  Many have nested under the boardwalk so they are quite accesible for viewing.  Cameras apparently frighten them, so all photography is forbidden and the rangers watch the crowds as closely as the TSA personnel at JFK.  The birds are only 33cm high-- less than 18 inches.  They used to be called "Faerie Penguins,"  but this is now politically incorrect, so "Little Penguin," is the proper common name.  This is the third time I have seen penguins in the wild:  The first was at Punta Tombo in Argentina, last summer I saw them in Ecuador, and now here.  Mark can add South Africa to that list.  And, no snow at any of these locations!

We are tired and content.  The wine and cheese didn't do much to fill up John Roy and Alan. Here is Alan filling up on chicken schnitzel and chips on the way home.  Why don't we call is schnitzel?