Penguins sprint, koalas in day-long slumber on Australia's Phillip Island

Joel Guinto, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/08/17/20180817_penguin.jpg"/><figcaption>Penguins retire for the night on Phillip Island, Australia. <em>From Penguin Parade Phillip Island app</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia -- Waddles of penguins emerge from the freezing ocean at nightfall, retreating to their hillside boroughs after hunting for food during the day.</p><p>It&#x27;s one of many natural spectacles for tourists who come to this island off Melbourne for a flesh and bones experience of what they see on National Geographic channel. On dry land, the flightless birds rest, socialize and sometimes, mate. </p><p>During winter, the occasional drizzle and strong winds make the air feel a lot colder than the 12 degrees Celsius reading. Melbourne, after all, is just short of 6,000 kilometers from the nearest Australian outpost in Antarctica.</p><p>A single penguin jumping out of the water is a signal that the long and cold wait is over. It&#x27;s the head of the waddle that signals to the rest near that it&#x27;s safe to sprint from the beach to the hill.</p><p>Cameras of all kinds, including smartphones, are prohibited so as not to disturb the flightless birds&#x27; daily routine. It&#x27;s an experience unspoiled by the need to capture the perfect angle for a Facebook or Instagram post.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/08/17/20180817_koala.jpg"/><figcaption>A koala sleeps on a eucalyptus tree on Phillip Island, Australia. <em>Joel Guinto, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Wallabies, which look like kangaroos except they&#x27;re smaller, look on from the roadside as tour buses go down the hill to the penguin-watching boardwalk.</p><p>Further inland is a koala sanctuary, where tourists can watch the plump marsupials on eucalyptus trees, which are both their homes and food source.</p><p>Koalas sleep for up to 18 hours a day, owing to their monotonous diet of greens.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/08/17/20180817_gradients.jpg"/><figcaption>Red, blue-green and purple hues dominate the lakeshore on Phillip Island, Australia. <em>Joel Guinto, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>From the plane, some parts of the Australian landscape look orange, highlighting the continent&#x27;s unique landscape.</p><p>On Phillip Island the weather that shifts from sunny to drizzling gives the lake an almost gradient hue, from red on the beach to blue and purple waters.</p><p>Tourists can also immerse themselves in farm life with sheep-shearing, cow-milking and whip-cracking activities. Australia is one of the world&#x27;s largest exporters of milk, butter and cheese.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/08/17/20180817_farm.jpg"/><figcaption>Phillip Island in Australia gives tourists a taste of the farm life. <em>Joel Guinto, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Cebu Pacific, the Philippines&#x27; largest airline, launched its Manila to Melbourne route on Aug. 14, offering one-way fares for as low as P9,000. </p><p>Melbourne is Cebu Pacific&#x27;s second Australian destination after Sydney.</p>

<p>Waddles of penguins emerge from the freezing ocean at nightfall, retreating to their hillside boroughs after hunting for food during the day.</p>

Waddles of penguins emerge from the freezing ocean at nightfall, retreating to their hillside boroughs after hunting for food during the day.

Penguins sprint, koalas in day-long slumber on Australia's Phillip Island | ABS-CBN

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Penguins sprint, koalas in day-long slumber on Australia's Phillip Island

Penguins sprint, koalas in day-long slumber on Australia's Phillip Island

Joel Guinto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 17, 2018 02:18 PM PHT

Read More:

Australia

Melbourne

Cebu Pacific

travel

Phillip Island

penguin

koala

animals

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