F is for Ferry: Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula to Queenscliff

We got into Melbourne last night and settled into Lee's lovely home.

Our first Melbourne experience was a sunset outing to St Kilda's to see the march of the Little Penguins as they come in to roost along the rocks of the pier.

So dear!

Our early morning walk and flat white was in Lee's local patch, Jells Park, fortunately before it got too hot; my energy level is definitely affected by this sapping heat, so I walked measuredly and rather doggedly too and was very happy when Claire fetched us and cut the walk a little shorter.

We took a drive along the length of the Mornington Peninsula, a good strategy to keep out the heat in the air-conditioned car.

Fred and Lee did take a quick dip in the gorgeous sea at Safety Beach. As Fred said, fresh and refreshing. At times it reminded us of the colours of the seas of the Bahamas. Unexpected.

The highlight of our day was the Searoad Ferry between Sorrento and Queenscliff.  A 40 minute ride across the narrow mouth of Port Phillip, Melbourne looked so far away in the heat haze.

Gannets were active and so were the flocks of Silver Gulls.

The hot wind was blowing a gale on the way out, we were in the red zone, over 40 degrees but then on the way back it rained and there was a moment when Lee and I giggled about having goosebumps!

Melbourne gets you talking weather.

lld

Wind, heat and loads of pleasure to be on the sea!

Y is for Yarra Valley: visit to Healesville Sanctuary

A hot sleepy koala.

Fred seeing his first Koala! 

The wildlife here in Australia is not easy to see, except for the kangaroo. So we spent a few hours at the Healesville Sanctuary in the Yarra Valley on our way to Melbourne, even though it was very hot to be outdoors. 

Fred loved the slothfulness of the koalas; the quirky platypus entertained us with its own show; the wombat was inert in a cool spot in its cage; even the dingo was flat on its back. But still, it was special to see them all, the bird show went ahead too and was a treat - wedge-tailed eagle, rainbow lorikeets, owls, kestrel, cockatoos and gorgeous parrots.

Rather than wine tasting we headed for an Ice-cream spot which is legendary here in the Yarra Valley and my choice of salted caramel was a win.

I was blown away by the beauty of the Yarra Ranges and the Dandenongs with their towering Mountain Ashes, these trees dominate, tall and perfectly straight, the understory are magnificent tree ferns. The gardens and forest access points were closed because of the fire threat given the 40 degree temperatures but we did do a very short trail from Sassafras in the Dandenongs to get a feel for the forest.