Today we drove to the nearby Airey's Inlet
And visited Split Point Lighthouse
Apparently the lighthouse was also used for external shots in the 1990's Australian kids TV show Round The Twist and many visitors come for that alone, expecting the inside to be just like they saw on television whereas it was filmed in a studio. The programme was also shown in the UK but of course I was way too old by then.
J had a voucher for two people and as none of the men have a head for heights, I was happy to accompany her to the top. The view rather reminded me of those along the Great Ocean Road which I guess isn't very surprising.
We got chatting to the guy at the top and he told us this flock of birds a long way out to sea were actually black swans, which is very unusual.
A stunning view.
And here's the reason the lighthouse is so vital to passing shipping.
Fairy wren f.
And a Welcome Swallow - a native bird with a very cute name!
Then down to the beach for a walk around.
In the afternoon Ian and I drove to Kennett River which is about an hour's drive further south and where we saw koalas in the wild 5 years ago. It was a lovely afternoon for the drive and we were lucky as there was a huge cycle race going on; there must have seen close to 1,000 riders but fortunately all going in the opposite direction.
We thought we'd have lunch in the lovely little café where we had breakfast 5 years ago but sadly it is now just a souvenir shop and so we had to settle for just a cuppa. The area was heaving with people, mostly Asian, who appeared to be gathering in large groups for picnics. We wandered along for a while and reminisced about the lady we chatted to before who had a tiger snake on her patio and blow me down there she was again just the other side of the fence chatting to someone. We waited until she was free and then spoke with her; she was very stressed about the number of visitors they get walking past now, several hundred each day, and how their privacy is zero. She says people photograph her and her house constantly and are always asking where to find the koalas and that the stress of living there now is such that they are looking to sell up and move. This will have a detrimental effect on the area as her husband is the local doctor and she does a lot of voluntary work with the vet. When there was a break in the passing visitors she pointed out a koala just above us in the trees - not the best of shots but I had to be quick otherwise I'd have given its location away.
On a branch overlooking the river was this most handsome Cormorant.
Each evening after dinner we go for a walk to the ice cream parlour and pass this butcher's shop on the way - I just love the name.
