Koala!

I saw my first wild koala today. It must have been some time after 7.00 p.m. I was travelling along the Great Ocean Road on my way to Apollo Bay, where I had booked a room at the YHA. The tourist brochure that I picked up at the car rental place said that the picnic area at Grey's River, near Kennett River, was a good place to see koalas, so I thought I'd give it a try. I eventually got to Kennett River and hadn't a clue where the Grey's River picnic area might be, there wasn't much in Kennett River itself, as far as I could see, apart from a campsite. I drove on through and after a couple of kilometers I came to another bridge (there are a lot of rivers and creeks on the Great Ocean Road, as you might expect) and a sign that said Grey's River. I carried on around the bend in the road and on up the hill. Just at the top of the hill was a small picnic area, complete with bush toilet (or 'dunny' as they say over here - before Mark corrects me). I parked the car and got out. I spent around 15 minutes waiting quietly to see if any koalas might materialise. Then I decided that I couldn't spare any more time as I needed to get on to Apollo Bay. I'd just reached the car when I happened to glance up and there, sitting on a branch of the eucalyptus tree that I'd parked under was a koala, munching contentedly. I was momentarily dumbfounded; I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. I got some great pictures, although the light was fading. The koala was maybe four feet above me and quite unperturbed. I'd post a picture, but this YHA computer won't let me.

I'm sure I could draw some profound insight from this experience, but I'm too tired to string the thoughts and words together. Something about looking for something that turns out to be right under your nose - or in this case, above your nose.

Anyway, a koala in the bush is definitely worth two in the wildlife park.

Tomorrow, I intend to carry on up the Great Ocean Road to Port Campbell, to see the Twelve Apostles (a bit different to the ones on Ilkley Moor) and London Bridge. I'd like to visit the Grampians after that, maybe staying overnight at Hall's Gap. This may be a bit unrealistic though, in view of the distance involved. I can probably do the distance, but would it leave me any time to see anything or do anything when I get there. I've rented the car until midday on Saturday, so I need to be back in Melbourne then.

If I stayed here in Apollo Bay I could kayak with seals ...

There's a place called 'Skipton' on the way to the Grampians I notice; I wonder if it calls itself the 'gateway to the Grampians' as the one in North Yorkshire, UK, is 'gateway to the Dales'?