Since I last posted, Australia has been such an amazing experience full of city exploration, gorgeous beaches, ocean views, and encounters with tons of wildlife. In this post, we will explore Phillip Island, just one of the countless incredible experiences I’ve had in Australia so far.

So, where to start? Phillip Island, a small island about an hour and a half south of Melbourne, is home to a lot of wildlife and stunning views, making it one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Imagine Missouri farmland, but a little greener and next to the ocean. It almost felt like a little piece of home that was brought to me after being in the concrete jungle of Melbourne for so long.

After a short ride on a tour bus from Melbourne, we arrived on the island, and our first stop: KOALAS! We visited a koala reserve tucked away in the bush of the island where I got to see koalas in person for the first time! They were super adorable and I wanted nothing more than to reach out and hug the cuddly creatures. Most of them were sleeping, but there were a few that were awake and eating eucalyptus leaves, which is how they spend most of their few waking hours.

After the koalas, we went to a lookout where I saw the open ocean for the first time in my life and was so impressed by its beauty. It’s one of those moments where you think, “Oh my gosh, how am I here right now?” We couldn’t stay long, though, because we HAD to see the little blue penguins that Phillip Island is famous for! The little blue penguins are the smallest penguin species in the world, growing up to only 30 centimeters tall, which automatically makes them the cutest of all penguins (in my opinion, of course).

With that little factoid out of the way, let’s talk about Australia’s famous Penguin Parade! When we arrived at the beach, it was super packed with people from all over the world, all gathering to get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the penguins come ashore after their long days swimming at sea. Luckily, we got right up front, beating the crowds that were on their way down with us. Aside from the penguins, the beach was stunning and marked the first time that I had ever been on the beach. Even though it was a chilly Melbourne winter night, the penguins made my first beach experience super memorable!

After waiting about an hour, the penguins came ashore in little packs. They all seemed so confused at first when they arrived, but I soon realized that they were waiting for all the members of their group to arrive before they started walking to their nests. One by one, the groups came pouring in, and we watched as thousands of penguins slowly made their way to their nests for the night. As someone who absolutely loves animals, I am super happy that I got the opportunity to see such an incredible event in nature.

Overall, Phillip Island is one of the top highlights of my Melbourne trip so far! I’ll continue to update you all with new blog posts! Hint: The next post will focus A LOT on the gorgeous oceans during my time here in Australia! Here’s to more adventures!

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Monash University