Our last full day in Victoria and we're headed for Healsville, via a very pleasant drive through the Yarra Valley vineyards.
We stopped for the all-important coffee break at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery in Yarra Glen and inevitably coffee made way for some cake and ice cream! Delicious, and with the added bonus of free samples (Steve was in heaven) and some beautiful scenery.
Healsville Animal Sanctuary:
It may have been the last place we visited, but this was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the week. Louise had sung its praises, and had bought us entrance tickets for our Christmas present, and we were so glad that we went.
Formerly part of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve, the Institute of Anatomical Research was established in 1920, specialising in native Australian animals.
On site is also the Australian Wildlife Health Centre, a working veterinary hospital treating over 1500 orphaned, ill or injured wildlife each year.
We all bought Animal Experiences. Nic and Lin chose the Emus and were fortunate to be the only ones feeding them that day .....
Steve and Sue bought a Koala Experience. Koalas, unlike emus, can't be touched or fed but you do get very close to them. More people on this Experience but we were in luck that the koala was awake (a rare event apparently) and very keen to be photographed and made a fuss of for 10 minutes .....
..... until he decided he'd had enough and just turned his back on all of us!
There are so many animals here.
Kangaroos:
Unfortunately the kangaroos seemed a little disappointing in captivity after seeing so many of them in the wild in the past week.
Wombats:
Sue was determined to see one of these reclusive animals.
Platypus:
Memories of childhood colouring books! Never thought we'd actually see one in the flesh.
Birds - small .....
.......gloriously colourful .....
...... and large:
Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did x
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