Travel to Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, Australia

Provided by: Ron Williams

Imagine your self, standing there as the call goes out that the first penguin hits the beach and starts its amazing walk towards the dunes. Then more individuals and small groups join in the storming of the beach. Finally they are coming at you in waves as they return to their nests in underground burrows up in the sand dunes.

This nightly ritual of the world's smallest Penguins emerging from the sea happens every evening on Summerland Beach. Which is part of Phillip Island Nature Park. The area is a reserve designed to protect and promote awareness of the Little Penguins, (previously called Fairy Penguins).

Small groups of people are also allowed to view the little penguins return to the ocean at sunrise. But numbers are strictly limited on these early morning viewing sessions.

The penguins' swim from 15 to 50km a day to hunt for the food required to feed themselves and their young, these birds swim in packs known as 'rafts'.

People and penguins are kept separate via a series of observation boardwalks and viewing stands so that we humans do not disturb or interrupt their twice-daily migration.

Penguin Parade is located on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia that is only 140 kilometres southeast of Melbourne. This is an easy two-hour drive by car. Phillip Island is connected to the mainland via a bridge at The Narrows from San Remo to Newhaven, on the mainland. There are also a number of guided bus tours available out of Melbourne. As well as a variety of boat cruises around the area.

It is often best to book beforehand at a Melbourne visitor centre, through your hotel receptionist, or by contacting the Penguin Reserve on 5956 8300.

Accommodation is available in many of the small towns around the Island. Bed and Breakfast establishments abound in any of the small communities. There are also a variety of hotels and motels to choose from.

There are a number of other attractions on this Island, including a World famous Motor Sports Track for cars and motorbikes. So timing is everything to either catch or avoid the motor oil fumes and extra crowds of petrol heads there.

The state of Victoria's biggest privately owned Wildlife reserve is also on Phillip Island, where you can feed much of the local wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies and emus. They also have tree top boardwalks for the viewing of the sleepy koalas.

Phillip Island is also well renown for its surfing and fishing. There are also wineries and great seafood to check out.

Australia's largest colony of fur seals also calls the area home and there are viewing areas and cruises available to get a closer look at these as well.

However the large amounts of seals and penguins, means that the island is also well renown for its resident sharks as well.

It's ease of access to the major city of Melbourne and its many and varied attractions have meant that Phillip Island has become one of the major tourist destinations of Australia, and no trip down under would be complete without at least a daytrip to this wonderful part of the country.

About the Author:

Ron Williams, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia - impatients63@hotmail.com - http://www.geocities.com/impatients63/

Ron Williams is a Freelance writer as well as being a Horticulturist and a Rehabilitation Therapy Aid at a Psychiatric Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He writes ezines for wz.com. He runs his own Website called Bare Bones Gardening. He also owns a discussion group about Australian Gardening, called Austgardens at www.groups.yahoo.com