2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Mon, 17th Nov, 2014 Phillip Island V8s Campground to Pyramid Rock Lookout Carpark

Woke to rain and wind. We are supposed to be out by 9am but a lot of campers don’t seem to be moving too fast. The rain stopped by 8 so we got ready to leave. As we headed out passed this interesting camper/truck.

Headed to Penguin Parade – we came here 30 years ago and saw the penguins. It wasn’t open of course as they come in at night but we thought we could walk on the beach but that is all blocked off too. A Cape Barren goose greeted us – (writing this on 19^th after chatting with a chap at Shallow Inlet Campground so decided to put the names in instead “those birds”.

Further down the point to Nobbies Centre and The Nobbies and Seal Rock.

Parked next to a mound that was covered in Silver Gulls and their chicks – what a smell.

More Cape Barren geese, amazing there is no information about them anywhere yet they can stop a V8 Supercar race when they wander on the track!! Heaps about seagulls, seals and penguins though through the window of the Nobby Centre. Didn’t open till 11am.

Two Silver Gull chicks calling for their supper. So cute.

Grass covered in more Silver Gulls.

The Nobbies and Seal Rock

I zoomed in and found all the seals laying all over the beach. Around 30,000 Australian fur seals live 1.5km off shore on Seal Rocks. This healthy seal colony was nearly hunted to extinction. During the 1800s a boom industry of harvesting the seals for their skins saw the number reduced from 20,000 to roughly 100. Seals are a protected species now.

There are little nesting boxes everywhere for the Fairy Penguins and plenty of holes they make themselves.

Good boardwalks to get around. But the wind was freezing and strong.

The gulls made nests on the steep sides too.

Amazing where how the fairy penguins climb up these steep cliffs and make their burrows.

A Silver Gull has used the box for her chicks.

Waterfall off the outcrops as the waves splash over and fill the channels on top.

Continued walking around the boardwalk to the Blow Hole. The sky was grey but starting to clear.

The Blow Hole is a sidewards one – 12 meters into the cliff side.

The wave flows in and hits the back wall then sprays back out the mouth.

Pacific Gull all alone on this tall pinnacle.

Info plaques on the boardwalk.

South-west winds and southern ocean swells have sculptured this coastline.

1. Cliff Climbers - Despite their short legs some penguins manage to waddle up these steep cliffs each night to reach burrows on the slopes and cliff tops.

2. Pebble Beach – wave action has tumbled and smoothed rough basalt rocks into large round pebbles to create an unusual beach.

3. Volcanic Rocks – The dark rocks of the southern coastline are basalt, formed when lava from nearby volcanos cooled about 50 million years ago.

4. Seagull Rock – Silver Gulls used to nest here during spring and summer. The gulls have moved to the Nobbies to nest since the building of the boardwalks. (I wonder why!!)

5. Pyramid Rock – A pyramid-shaped rock stack about half way along the Phillips Island south coast.

6. Rock Platform – Wave action erodes the cliffs over time. Rock platforms are left as the cliffs wear away.

7. Cape Woolamai – A granite headland at the eastern end of Phillip Island. The island’s highest point offers numerous walks.

Look for Black birds with red legs and beaks on the rock platforms as they are Sooty Oyster Catchers.

Silver Gull egg shell

Most excited to find a penguin in the nesting box. With his seagull guardian!!!

They look so cute. Headed back to the van for a cuppa.

The Cape Barren geese with two chicks settled down next to the carpark. They don’t seem to worry about people at all as you can get quite close to them and then they just waddle off.

Steve spotted this penguin hiding in the grass next to the car park – so cute. He quickly hid.

We popped back and got some great shots.

Hopped in the car and headed off down the dirt track to follow the coastline back to the Penguin Parade Beach.

Amazing coastline and rock pools. This one has its own waterfalls and when a big wave crashes over you can have a spa!!

Looking over Penguin Parade from Summerland Beach Lookout.

More penguin burrows and nesting boxes. This land has been purchased back off farmers etc over the years to make a sanctuary for the fairy penguins. They used to nest at other beaches but now it seems they only come along this peninsula.

Stopped at Shelley Beach.

As we were walking down to the beach I peered in a hole right beside the track and there were two little chicks hiding in it. Had to get on the ground for a photo. They sign did say “little penguins live here”.

Mr Goose wanted the path but he wandered off as I walked towards him.

Down onto Shelley Beach.

Yes there were lots of shells and smelly seaweed and kelp but the water was so clear.

Not cold considering we are freezing.

Found a green piece of seaweed attached to a rock – looks like the fake ones you get for fish tanks.

Put it back in the water to grow.

Into another area called Flynns Beach with its historical jetty – but no info why it is historic (will have to look into it). Short-tailed Shearwaters and Hooded Plovers nest here.

Nearly back to the GP Circuit to check out Pyramid Rock that we saw in the distance when we were at The Nobbies. Great views over the coastline and Bass Strait.

Pretty flowers survive in this cold wind.

Kept walking out onto the point to see the Pyramid Rock.

Penguin Parade in the distance.

Back across Phillip Island to Cowes – roads are straight and go from one side to the other.

Lovely tree lined streets.

Stopped for a cuppa at Red Rocks and found some rabbits.

Shame these are weeds – the flowers are so pretty.

Down to the beach with the wind howling to check out Penguin Rocks and Red Rocks Point. The penguins used to come and nest here but they now only go to the Summerlands Peninsula.

This water is called “Western Port” which goes around Phillip Island and French Island. Not sure where I am taking a photo of as it could be the mainland on the other side of Mornington Peninsula or French Island. It’s a bit confusing.

George Bass Heritage trail marker No. 4 – need to find more of these.

In the park was a information board.

Back across the island – you can see the other side – the high pines in the distance are this side of the GP Circuit.

As the sun won’t set till 8pm we decided to go round to Cape Woolamai, the home of half a million short-tailed shearwaters or mutton birds. We headed off down the beach to walk to the Pinnacles we could see in the distance – the sign said it was 4.4km (2hr return).

Good surfing beach but no one is surfing!!

Looking back to the Pyramid Rock where we are going to stay the night – bit of a naughty but there were no “no camping” signs!!

Found a huge cuttlefish – should post it home to Charlie.

Then amazingly an echidna walked down the beach. He was heading for water leaking out of the sand. Had a drink then climbed back up the steep sandy cliff. Got a video of him climbing up.

Passed a marked off area where the shearwaters nest. Climbed the stairs onto the top and followed the trail along. We were in jumpers and big coats and this girl jogged past us with singlet and shorts on. Mind you we did start to warm up as we trudged along.

Zoomed in on the Pinnacles then out – still a long way to go.

Found holes which I thought were old penguin holes (but the chap said they were the shearwaters (or mutton birds) nests. We haven’t seen any birds but they apparently come back at night to nest.

Great view back along the beach. Getting closer.

Looking across the channel to San Remo on the mainland.

Face to face with a wallaby. Got one photo before he bounded off.

At last at the Pinnacles – they even have a seat for us and info.

There was an old walking track down onto the Pinnacles. We went so far but the wind was so strong we didn’t want to chance it.

View back to the beach.

We can see the bridge back to the mainland.

Back down the stairs to the beach. Hope the tide hasn’t come in too far.

At last some surfers. Watched them for a bit as they rode the waves.

Phew the tide was ok. Headed back along the beach as the sun starts to descend.

Great colours in the cliff faces.

Back in the car and we headed back to catch the sunset at Pyramid Rock and stay the night there if we can. I was busy downloading all my photos and sorting them as I started dinner then Steve took over – worth a photo!!

Our sneaky camp – one lady came for a walk and took some photos then left. We really stopped because we wanted to watch the sunset then it got to late to drive anywhere!!!

Rugged up ready for a drink as we watch the sunset from one of the lookouts.

Double selfie – do we look cold or what!! I even had leggings under my jeans and my gloves on. I tied my hoddie on as the wind was whipping my hair everywhere and freezing my ears!! I look like I have joined some clan!