Day 3: Itinery - Lakes Entrance to Kilsyth (Melbourne), Victoria

The couple in Narooma were right!!! FREEZING!!! I couldn't believe it! We arrived in shorts and left in winter clothes! Damon was still begging to go for a swim until he saw Ninety Mile Beach at Lakes Entrance!!

It wasn't only cold but also blowing a gale! But we decided to brave it because we wanted to see the beach before we left. Everyone was happy about this apart from Avril. As soon as we started to cross the walking bridge, she freaked out because the wind was so strong! I had to straighten Josefs path a few times because the wind was pushing him sideways!

A man crossing the bridge warned us that we might get blown away on the beach, but you know what when we got there it wasn't that bad :) Thankfully!! But Avril still wasn't happy! It was freezing!

So we had a quick explore and then headed back towards the car.

We decided to head to Bairnsdale, then turn off to Paynesville. The lady from heyfields had informed us of a koala sanctuary on Raymond Island which can be accessed from Paynesville. So off we went.

When we arrived we decided that we would go on the ferry as foot passengers and not take the car. So we parked and walked back to the ferry. The ferry across to Raymond Island was free for foot passengers and $10 for cars return.

I am so glad that we decided to stop here. Damons dream had always been to see koalas in their natural habitat, and we definately did that this day.

We stopped for morning tea in the park. The girls and Josef played on the equipment whilst Damon took photos of Swans and their cygnats, and ducks and their ducklings.

We then headed off on a koala walk and we found heaps. They were in trees in backyards and in the reserves. They were everywhere! Even Josef joined in announcing his discoveries :)

After a wonderful wak around Raymond Island we headed back to Paynesville wher we picked up some postcards. Whilst I was buying postcards I discovered whistling lolly pops, like the kind I used to play with when I was young. So we all had a lollypop and enjoyed whistling with them. the kids were thrilled and made the connection with 'toot sweets' in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

We then headed off after a lovely stop over. We didn't really stop over again. We took a scenic drive out to Moe as Damon felt that it would be interesting to go there because it had a cool name! But we basically headed for Kilsyth. The GPS guided us through some beautiful hills and scenery on our way to accommodation at IBLP Lilydale.