L&L Archives: Melbourne, Day 3

Day three in Melbourne started with caffeine. I went to Higher Ground and got the best mocha latte I’ve ever had, plus a breakfast salad that made me feel like I was making responsible choices. Then it was onto the bus for a tour out to Philip Island.

First stop: Brighton Beach, which is less about the sand and surf and more about rich people weirdness. The hot commodity here is a “beach box,” basically a tiny private storage shed for your beach gear. You either inherit one or win one at auction every dozen years. The last auction sold a box for $680k. If you’re spending that much money, please spend it on me instead.

Next up: Moonlit Sanctuary, a rescue center for native Australian wildlife. I saw kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas. They’re adorable, but also eerily comfortable around humans. A little sad, a little fascinating.

Finally, we crossed over to Philip Island, birthplace of the Hemsworth brothers. I didn’t see any famous siblings, but I did catch the main attraction: the Penguin Parade. These “Little penguins, “ (the height of your stacked hands), make the mad dash from the ocean to their burrows everynight. No photos allowed because the flash disorients them, so I just watched, which was enough.

Long day. Lots of wildlife. Some rich people weirdness. That was day three in Melbourne.