Sunday, April 26, 2015

Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne


We stopped off for our first visit, en route to Phillip Island - not knowing such a fantastic place existed just off the highway.
Walking trails and 6km of cycling paths cover a huge section of the park's 363 hectares and allow access to areas of open grassland, bushland, woodland, wetlands and gardens.
Keep an eye out for birdlife, bandicoots, echidnas, wallabies, frogs and reptiles.
Royal Botanic Gardens, CranbourneClimb to the top of Trig Point Lookout, for 360 degree views of the 2 bays, the city, Mt Macedon and the Dandenongs.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Royal Botanic Gardens, CranbourneThe Australian Garden is set on 15 hectares and tells a story of desert life in the Australian outback, of dry creek beds and rivers flowing to the sea.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Along the way, the vivid colours of native flowers light up the arid ground and there are bees on just about every plant.The Garden was first established in 2006 and the final stages completed in 2012. It has won many awards, both here and overseas.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne 
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne

Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne 

Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Giant Bottle Trees and rock formations resembling The Pinnacles, have you thinking you've teleported to Western Australia. The temperature is just a bit cooler here...
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
You can't walk on the red desert area, but that's probably a good thing. I've been to the Desert and that red stuff gets in to every nook and cranny of your belongings. 
It is sensational to look at though...
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne

Plenty of picnic areas around the place, to enjoy lunch while you're exploring the place.
The Garden Explorer shuttle operates on certain days. It stops at 6 locations around the gardens and costs $7.50
Where: Cnr Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne
When: Daily 9am – 5pm
Why: native gardens, flora, fauna, wildlife
How Much: FREE entry to Gardens

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Prahran Market, Prahran

The Prahran Market has an excellent range of fresh produce, meats and fish, deli goods, artisan breads and chocolates, flowers and assorted specialty products and services, all in undercover comfort.
Prahran Market
Australia's oldest continually running market has a photographic exhibition detailing the market's history from its beginning in 1891, through World Wars, the Great Depression, fires and renovations.
Prahran MarketI was happy to discover 53 Degrees East and their fab range of herbs, spices, dried fruit and nuts and other global ingredients. The fragrance of the spices had me loitering for longer than I had planned. Szechuan peppers were the only things on my shopping list, but somehow I ended up purchasing a lot more. The dried organic mango slices are delicious!
Prahran Market 

These pretty laser cut pop-up cards from Linmark Cards, were perfect for a couple of occasions I have coming up.

Prahran Market
Flawless Flowers have beautiful blooms, with lovely gift wrapping and a good range of carved Huon Pine chopping/ paddle boards and coasters. 
I think I'll be back for a Mother's Day shopping visit....

Prahran Market

Prahran Market 























 


What: Prahran Market
Where: 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
When: Mon and Wed - Closed. Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 7am - 5pm. Sun 10 -3.
Why: fresh produce, organics, artisan foods, specialty stalls
How Much: FREE entry
Nearby: Rush Escape Game, South Yarra






































Sunday, April 19, 2015

Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island

We'd visited The Nobbies at Phillip Island before and had looked through the viewing binoculars for a glimpse of the seals out on the rocks, but when the chance to get up close to the seals on Wildlife Coast Cruises Seal Watching Tour landed in my inbox via a coupon deal - we jumped at it.
Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island

I have to admit, I'm becoming a bit of a coupon fan - they are proving to be a great way to get out and about at a discounted rate. I get emails from a few different groups, so I'll share relevant travel/experience deals on my FB page.

We boarded the Kasey Lee at 2pm, for a two hour cruise to Seal Rocks, which lies about 2km from shore just past the Nobbies. 
Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island

It was smooth sailing as the boat hugged the coast of Phillip Island, past the Nobbies, to Seal Rocks -  but around that point where Bass Strait meets Westernport Bay...it was a little less...smooth. The swell was quite big, but the boat and crew were great at keeping us 'on an even keel' when the water around us looked like a washing machine cycle. We felt safe and relaxed on the boat and not at all seasick.
Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island

Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island

Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island

Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip IslandIndoor seating on both decks allowed us to keep warm on the chilly afternoon, but it was good to stand on the outer decks and breathe in the fresh salty air.
Once at Seal Rocks, the boat sat between two large sections of rock so that passengers on both sides could see the seals. The boat would turn around every now and then so everyone could see the view from the other side as well.
Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island


Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip IslandThe water was full of seals (about 5,000 live here) - mostly big pups playing close to the safety of the rocks. They were very inquisitive and would come up close to the boat to check us out. 
I imagine if they had cameras, they would have been snapping away more than we were...
We saw one lying on his back, clapping his hands (hands? fins? flippers?) together - I always thought that was something they were taught at sea parks or zoos, so it was fantastic to see it happen naturally in the wild.

The young seals were zooming through the water, leaping into the air, tumbling and rolling right next to the boat for the whole time we were there.
It felt like a school playground, filled with young pups playing, supervised by a few adult seals around the place. 
Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island


The boat stayed at Seal Rocks for about an hour, then began the cruise back to the jetty. Complimentary afternoon tea was available on the return voyage. The late afternoon sun shining on the water on the trip back was nice enough, but when a lone seal followed us back to Cowes, swimming and jumping out of the water alongside us - that made the whole experience even more special.
Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island

Seal Watching Cruise, Phillip Island




Where: Cowes Jetty, Phillip Island





When: Daily at 2pm













Why: seals, boat cruise, nature


How Much: $78
Nearby: For the Peli-fans, San Remo


Saturday, April 18, 2015

For the Peli-fans, San Remo

Like most people who read Storm Boy and fell in love with Mr Percival and his Peli-pals, I love seeing these beautiful big birds in the wild. 
Pelicans San Remo
We planned our visit to Phillip Island to coincide with the pelican feeding at San Remo.
The San Remo Fishermans Co-Op feed the pelicans each day at midday, with around 30 of the birds stopping by for lunch. The feeding lasts about 45 mins, with the fisherman giving a talk about the pelicans during the feed. (The pelicans are wild and are not to be touched.)
Pelicans San Remo
This guy had fun flapping that fish around in his bill until he finally managed to get it into position to swallow it - much to the envy of his friend.
Pelicans San RemoPelicans San Remo

Once the fish bucket is empty, the pelicans start to head back out into the water. As they reach the water's edge, their wings lift - like when you get into the cold water and you lift your arms up in the air, because the water is too cold. 
I imagine the others are saying "the water's beautiful, once you're in"...
Pelicans San Remo

This guy didn't look convinced...
Pelicans San RemoPelicans San Remo
 Once the pelicans are gone, it's time for some fish'n'chips for the humans. 
* the seagulls do not sail off gracefully into the sea - mind your chips.
Pelicans San Remo
Where: San Remo Fishermans Co-Op
When: Daily at midday.
Why: pelicans
How Much: FREE to watch the pelicans (donations welcome)

Friday, April 17, 2015

Rockpools of Kilcunda

Driving back to Melbourne from Phillip Island, we decided to take a short detour first and headed for Kilcunda, just 4km down the road.
A pub and a general store on the left and the ocean on the right pretty much sums up this part of town - but that's really all you need right there.
Rockpools of Kilcunda

This bird of prey (maybe a Kestrel? - but I really have no idea) was hovering above us as we walked down the steps to the beach. You could see his little eyes watching all over the dunes for the slightest movement - and then BAM! He suddenly dive bombed to the ground and then rose just as quickly - with what looked like a lizard in his mouth.
If only I could prepare a meal that fast...
Rockpools of Kilcunda
The section of beach (near the trestle bridge) stretches across to the rocky point on the left and is a great spot for surfing and surf fishing.
We chose to spend an hour exploring the rock pools at the right hand side of the beach. The tide was well out at 10am and there was a huge area to investigate. The ground looked like we were walking on the moon. Some of the pools were quite deep - the water would have been up to my waist in one of them. Not that I actually got in and measured it or anything. But you know what I mean...right?
Rockpools of Kilcunda
At the end of the rocks, the cliff has been eroded to reveal a large hole with views through to Bass Strait.  Some intrepid fisherman were trying their luck off the rocks. I hope the fish were biting, those waves were intense.
Rockpools of Kilcunda
The rockpools were filled with shells of all shapes and sizes, kelp and this brightly coloured seastar.
Rockpools of KilcundaRockpools of Kilcunda
Rockpools of Kilcunda
Rockpools of Kilcunda
Walking tracks, a cycling path on the Rail Trail and a picnic area next to the carpark make this a good spot for a day trip from Melbourne. 
Rockpools of Kilcunda

Where: Bass Highway, Kilcunda
When: Daily
Why:  beach, rockpools, surfing, fishing
How Much: FREE


Thursday, April 16, 2015

Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island


Churchill Island was once the home of a former Mayor of Melbourne, who built the home and many of the buildings in the 1870's.
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
The kitchen garden was a highlight, with fruit and vegetables growing all year round. A large tamarillo tree caught my eye, the fruit so shiny and bright they looked like they were masquerading as Easter Eggs.
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
The resident pig was also a fan and was fed a couple of them while we patted her.  The lovely lady tending the garden kindly gave us two tamarillos to take home and try. All the staff were very friendly and informative both times we have visited the farm.
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island

















Many farming activities are carried out during the afternoon, such as Wagon Rides, Sheep Shearing, Working Dog trials and Whip Cracking.
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
The peacock, (I think his name is Gregory) had moulted most of his beautiful plumes this time, so here's a pic of him from our last visit - looking fabulous.
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip IslandThe farm is also home to a herd of West Highland Cattle - I'm sure their thick shaggy coats will be the envy of many during Winter.
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
The Cape Barren Goose can be found all over Phillip Island. Its ability to drink salt water makes island life a little easier for these big grey birds.
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island

Walking tracks around the bushland and wetlands are great for bird and wildlife spotting. 
Churchill Island Farm, Phillip Island
Where: 246 Samuel Amess Drive, Churchill Island, Newhaven
When: Daily 10am - 5pm. Farm activities from 2pm.
Why:  historical buildings, working farm, wildlife
How Much: Ticket prices vary

*also nearby  Koala Conservation Centre, Penguin Parade