Beth's Oz Adventure

Am back in Melbourne now and job hunting. Not much excitement there yet, although I have succeeded in finding accommodation and mastering the public transport system. Am living in Mitcham about 30 mins by train from the city, not far from the Yarra Valley. My journey on Connex trains takes me through Surrey, Chatham, Canterbury, Camberwell and Richmond, in fact the only major difference is that i'm not allowed to take my surfboard during peak hours!! oh yes they seem to run on time too!

In the last few days have also met lots more Australian wildlife of the 8 legged variety - i met my first few hunstman spiders (think big and hairy) and 2 white tail spiders which give you a nice flesh eating disease if you're really lucky. Didn't hang around long enough to get any pics tho!

Still in Hepburn Springs, now wwoofing on permaculture farm, feet are now permanently soil coated! Been doing a bit of harvesting furit and veg and now hold the title of supreme carrot picker! And then sold them at sunday market. Also lots of making jams and chutneys and cakes! Location is v idylic, trees as far as you can see and fab weather mostly. Next to a golf course too so lots of kanga sightings too!

Departed Melbourne on Sunday and now in Hepburn Springs for some wwoofing. Is the spa centre of Victoria with spring water on tap & surrounded by eucalyptus trees (but no koalas here!). Not staying on a farm this time but helping with an organic garden and a few things around the house. Is only 4 hours of work a day and in return we get free accommodation, food and yoga classes every evening, so no complaints here! The people are lovely too and is v relaxed. So far have been doing a bit of weeding, planting fruit trees, painting and cleaning in between eating peaches & nectarines off the trees in the garden! Here til Thursday then off to learn all about permaculture at a farm nearby. pic is of the house i'm staying at.

Spent the weekend seeing the Great Ocean Road - approx 100 miles of amazing coastal scenery along the south coast of Victoria. Hired a car too so had my first Oz driving experience! Unfortunately resulted in one fatality - a misplaced snake on the road that I thought was a stick until it was too late! Saw lots of wildlife too inclulding multiple kangaroos and parrots on golf course (apparently kangaroos love golf courses!) and wild koalas too. The pic is of a lone koala we saw at the side of the road munching on some eucalyptus. Lots of little seaside towns & ice creams later we got to the 12 apostles (rock formations in the sea) for sunset - v picturesque. Then did it all in reverse the next day!

Visited Philip Island just south of Melbourne and most famously home to the little penguins! The tour started with a quick visit to a vinyard and some wine tasting. Then onto wildlife park where we saw lots of native animals, including wombats, tasmanian devils, wallabies, koalas (the largest in Oz apparently), emus, and the best bit got to hand feed the kangaroos! Did get ambushed a bit but they were friendly so was ok! One even had a joey in its pouch which was v cute! Also saw some talking cockatoos which were highly amusing.

Next stop was Point Grant where we got our first view of the penguins (though was v windy so they all stayed near their burrows and didn't want to play!). From here we also saw the seal rocks where the largest colony of fur seals live (could only see the seals with binoculars though as was quite a distance).

Then on to the main event - the penguin parade! At sunset all the little penguins came out from the sea in groups of up to about 10 and waddled up the beach to their nests. They were pretty hesitant and did a lot of diving back into the sea but then finally plucked up the courage to make the walk up the sand dunes, pretty amazing to watch tho sadly no pics allowed because of the camera flashes. Finally a visit to the gift shop where luckily I managed to restrain myself from spending all my money on penguin merchandise!

Overall today was the highlight of my trip so far! (sorry Harold!)

Off to the Great Ocean Road tomorrow for 2 days and then am going to Hepburn Springs (spa town about 2 hours north of Melbourne) on Sunday to do some wwoofing!

Yes today spent most of the morning behind bars, but don't worry I was not arrested for stalking the Neighbours cast or any seed related offences! It was the old mebourne gaol, most famous for the hanging of Ned Kelly. Lots of realistic (!) looking prisoners (more london dungeons than madame tussauds!) and stories about those who resided there etc, quite interesting. Pics have come out sideways but you get the idea! the one with the door in is where Ned himself was hanged.

V hot today too - 33c and not a cloud in the sky!

Well have just about recovered from jet lag and have been fully immersing myself in Aussie culture - yes yesterday I took part in the official neighbours tour, including visit to
Ramsay St itself, accompanied by viewings of classic episodes such as Scott and Charlene's wedding, as well as music from neighbours actors turned pop stars. It was indeed an experience not to be forgotten.

And as if the tour itself was not enough excitement for one day, it was followed by the neighbours trivia evening where I got to meet the stars of the show, including none other than Harold Bishop!!! Luckily I did not explode with excitement although I fear that the rest of my life may now be an anticlimax...

Well made it safely to Oz! Have nearly completed my first 24 hours and loving it! Journey pretty good although my sunflower seeds were seized at customs which was very distressing. Today I slept til mid afternoon, followed by a stroll in the 25c sunshine and then feasted on watermelon. So very taxing so far as you can see!!