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Thursday, January 15, 2004
The Victoria Countryside
By Nelia G. Neri
It was an early Sunday morning when our Philippine Airlines flight landed in Melbourne, Victoria. The very pleasant night flight of PAL took about 8 hours, giving us just enough time to catch a few winks before breakfast onboard. Our PAL escort Chris Lebumfacil (manager of Passenger Sales-Visayas) was attentiveness personified, as were the gracious cabin attendants.
Time Travel of Australia arranged for our hotel and transfers, while Australian Pacific Tours took care of getting us acquainted with Melbourne and its environs. So efficient were they that things happened with clockwork precision, and so punctual was our energetic leader Zenaida Chua that we couldn’t help but follow her example. Melbourne time is 3 hours ahead of ours at this season of the year.
Getting a look-see at Melbourne’s famous landmarks (mentioned in our first article) was the first agenda on our Worldwide Travel/PAL Familiarization Tour. A trip to the countryside came next, passing through rainforests, beautiful gardens, and quaint towns, all the way to the blue-hued Dandenong Ranges. The picturesque mountainside covered with towering Eucalyptus trees and fern-filled gullies was a sight to behold!
The Dandenongs lie just beyond the suburbs of Melbourne. We found the trip absolutely relaxing and refreshing, more so when we stopped at Sherbrooke Forest, breathed the freshest of fresh air, and came face to face with colorful crimson rosellas, bell birds and king parrots. Also catching our attention were the kookaburras with their peculiar laugh. How we loved being in the midst of all that natural beauty!
A full day of adventure was on sked for the next day. First stop was at the Puffing Billy station where we caught sight of the restored steam train chug-chugging its way through the lush forests of the Dandenong mountains. We had no time to “sample” the ride because an Aussie homestead lunch awaited us at the Warroock Cattle Farm.
The Warrook Cattle Farm is a well-preserved turn-of-the-century homestead gloriously surrounded by a riot of flowers, most impressive of which were the lovely rose bushes in full bloom.
A working sheep and cattle farm, Warrook gave us first hand experience in milking a cow, feeding kangaroos, observing a kelpie dog round up sheep, watching a whip cracking demo by a cowgirl, looking at a cowboy shearing sheep, taking a peek at a sleepy wombat, and gazing in amazement at that huge (as in really huge!) prize-winning bull. And not to forget... that fun hay ride which reminded us of our “joy-riding/barn dance” days.
Mid-afternoon came and it was time to cross the road bridge over to Phillip Island where our main objective was to watch the Penguin Parade at nightfall. Meanwhile we spent time at the Koala Conservation Centre to take a look at the cuddly creatures in their natural environment. To spot them, we had to go around on a treetop boardwalk. The koalas were all blissfully asleep...not surprising because koalas sleep at least 18 hours a day.
An an early dinner at the scenic seaside town of Cowes was agreed upon so that by dusk we were at the Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre to observe the seal colony. We also spotted the Nobbies rock formations overlooking Bass Strait which is known as one of the most treacherous oceans in the world.
It was getting colder and darkness was setting in when we arrived at Summerland Beach to watch the Penguin Parade. The sight of the little penguins surfing on the waves and waddling to the beach in groups is a marvel! These creatures of habit go to sea at dawn every single day in quest for food and then come back when night falls to go back to their burrows, unmindful of the hundreds of people watching them. Though it was my second time to see this world-famous ritual in Phillipp Island, I was awed all over again.
Our trips to the Victoria countryside gave us glimpses of life outside Australia’s big cities. The visit to the Dandenongs brought to mind the “forest primeval” of Robinhood, while the Warrook Cattle Farm opened our eyes to life in an Australian bush. As for Phillip Island, the place created in us a new awareness of the beauty of God’s creatures - in the cuddly koalas hugging the gum trees, in the frolicsome seals at play, and in the little penguins with the fascinating nightly ritual.
The Victoria countryside showed us different facets of Australia and we loved the adventure it afforded us. We knew there was more to see but then we had to leave it for another trip because it was time to move on to Sydney.
(January 15, 2004 issue)
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