St Kilda, Melbourne

We landed in Melbourne on Saturday 10th at around 11.15am. After calling our hostel, Habitat HQ, and got a code so we could jump on a free shuttle bus. As Becky put it....the Bus from Hell! The air conditioning wasn't working but the driver didn't realise this (even though we were all telling him about it!) and it just pumped out hot air. There was a 97 year old woman at the back and she said she was going to be 98 in 3 months but, at this rate, wouldn't see it.

We finally got to St Kilda and got off the bus - I managed to leave my green hoodie on it...bad times.

Our hostel was nice - voted one of the top 4 in Australia. The Guys we shared our room with were rather messy but they kept it to their side.

We get our for a walk in the afternoon heading down towards the beach and to a theme park called Luna Park. This isn't all that great - nothing like what we have at home but the Ozzy's seem to love it.

In the evening we get invited out for the night by Tom Wade - who some of you may know from East Grinstead. He's lived in South Melbourne for almost 3 years so knew where to head out to. We jump on a tram to his place, then into the City Centre to a Jazz Night club. We also meet some of his friends from Lingfield - Sarah and Matt. Was a good night out - was nice to meet some new people and be able to have a drink. Coming home on the tram and it was absolutely chucking it down with rain - it was like a movie scene! The tram doors opened and there were rivers flowing down the streets and huge puddles. We had to walk for 20 minutes in the rain to get to the hostel. Wet!!

Sunday 11th December we head to Philip Island - the home of the Penguin Parade. Luckily we aren't picked up by Autopia Tours until 11.45am so we get the chance for a well needed lay in.

On the way to the island we stop at the Maru Koala and Wildlife Park. We bought a container of food each and fed the wallabees, Kangaroos, Emus, Sheep, Donkey, Horse and a Goat. Able to view Tassie Devils, Wombats and Koalas too.

Some of the wallabees and roos were holding our hands whilst eating out the pot - was cute.

We also stop at a lookout point where we see our first Little Penguins - they nest around the area and, if you look around carefully, you get to see their nests. We came across a couple of adults but also a baby chick.

In the evening we head to The Penguin Parade, along with a few hundred others. The National Park has built some concrete seating for everyone to view the penguins as they come in from the sea after dark. You're not allowed to take any photos as the flashes from cameras hurts the Little Penguins eyes.

The sun set at 20:35 and the first little fellas starting coming in about 15 minutes later. It was bloody freezing waiting for them so we got ourselves a hot chocolate to try and keep warm.

It was funny though - you'd get 10 or more coming in together, one would get scared and run back into the sea and all the others would follow him! Once they finally had the nerve to come in they were great to see! We had a couple of baby penguins near us, waiting for their Mum and Dad to come back with food - every time a new lot came in from the sea these little guys would run up to them hoping it would be their parents....but no luck.

At 21:45 we walk back to the coach, walking through the boardwalks where all the penguins are around us either in their burrows or setting out for them. We get the coach back to St Kilda and arrive back just before midnight.

Monday we have a chill out day and take a walk around St Kilda - we are out for 4 hours just chatting and walking.