Today we got up and headed out for a bit of a drive so we could be at our appointment to interact with Koalas! Oh my goodness, the excitement was palpable! We arrived there and were a little surprised that we were half an hour early to when the sanctuary opened. Aw well, that just means we were first in line to check in LOL We got to see the orchard they have to help feed their koala herd.
I'd be lying if I said just my kids were in heaven - we were ALL in heaven! So many creatures to see that we don't normally get a glimpse of in the USA.
The animals in their cages (like the wombats) would pace the fence lines because they knew there was a chance they'd get fed. They allow you to purchase a small cup of food for the ducks, kangaroos, and wallabies that you encounter along the way. Every so often, food gets dropped into the pens and they love it (even though it's not necessarily what their diet includes lol they still love the treat).
We came to the koala habitat and, oh my goodness, we just upped the excitement about 10 notches! We have a BUNCH of koala lovers among us, so there was a bit of squealing and pointing and jumping and clapping HAHA I'm sure we were a sight to behold LOL We got in our queue for our appointment to hang out and pet the koalas. We were hoping to be able to hold them, but they have had to be strict with not overwhelming the sweet creatures, so we most definitely settled with petting them! One person at a time was allowed in to pet them, and then at the end, we were able to gather for a group photo, so long as no one touched her during that time. Meet Mally - she was so thrilled being in there with us, mainly because of the treats she got (you'll see here looking off to the side for more snacks in a couple photos).
This was the best part of the trip so far for us! Looking at koalas, we almost thought they'd be a little wiry feeling, but oh no! They are so so soft! Fluffy and soft, they reminded us of sherpa blankets (the ones that haven't been through the wash yet). These are very sweet animals that we were so glad to have interacted with.
After that appointment, we proceeded to walk through the sanctuary and found some wallabies and kangaroos. They loved the foods that we offered them, and they are also soft (not quite as fluffy soft as koalas, but still soft to the touch). They have a fence line that prevents people from going into their trees where they like to take breaks from the crowds, but the roos and wallabies are still able to hop on out for a visit if they wish to.
Here are a few more fun finds from the sanctuary - along with a fun little picture opportunity for the kids...and adults LOL
Off we went from there to another food court and shopping strip. We didn't converge to eat together this time, so I didn't get to see what everyone else chose but Terra and I enjoyed our lunch of fried chicken and chips!
When we were finished with lunch and a small shopping trip, we decided to head home. Chris noticed a sign on our first night here and decided to ask me on a date - a river cruise on the Yarra river! It was so fun and it was nice to not have to have eyes on everyone for a minute. This is very different than our trip a year and a half ago, when it was just us two. While it's still so much fun, and I wouldn't change anything about this trip, it's much more exhausting trying to keep track of everyone! So this was a nice break from that part.
While we were on the cruise, however, we received notice that the deep sea fishing excursion was cancelled due to bad weather forecast. So, a "kid counsel" was called and the kids got to choose what the replacement experience would be. Tomorrow, we're off to a gold mine village, where they dress for the time period of the Australian gold rush and we get to pan for gold! So much fun! Can't wait!
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