2016 Travels
Cairns and Melbourne, Australia


November 4th to 21st, 2016

Bill's sister and brother-in-law met us in Australia and the four of us travelled together for ten days. In Cairns we snorkled on the Great Barrier Reef, went on glass-bottom boats, and walked on the sea floor with air helmets. What a beautiful place!

Cairns, Australia

Cairns, Australia

Below: It's strange to see hundreds of large bats hanging from trees in the day time. It's even more strange that they look like chihuahuas. This is the 'Spectacled Fruit Bat' (Pteropus conspicillatus).

Cairns, Australia

Below: We flew to Melbourne and had front row seats for the 'Penguin Parade' on Phillip Island. Every day at dusk, penguins come ashore to burrow in their nests and feed their young. Over 1,000 penguins waddled ashore right in front of us!

Melbourne, Australia
(To protect the penguins, photography is not permitted. This is a stock photo.)

Below: A koala posed for us at the Phillip Island Koala Conservation Centre.

Melbourne, Australia

Below: We saw several wallabies hopping around on the island.

Melbourne, Australia

We also went to the Melbourne Zoo, the Victoria Market, and found delicious food at local restaurants. We had a wonderful time together!

Below: After Bill's sister and brother-in-law flew to New Zealand, we continued west on the Great Ocean Road. It was a beautiful day and the coastline was spectacular.

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

Next stop: Kangaroo Island, Australia.