3/3–Bairnsdale and Raymond Island

Off we go on our great Koala adventure!  It takes about 20 minutes to drive down to Paynesville where we will get the Ferry over to Raymond island.  The drive is lovely, through low lying marshlands and then into the cute little town of Paynesville.  It’s Sunday night, so there’s not much going on here – a little sleepy, the wine bar isn’t even open.   Fine by us, less traffic and less people. 

We find a parking spot right next to the ferry dock. You can take your car to Raymond Island for $10, but we figured we’d just walk around sop we can see the Koalas better.  The ferry isn’t but a 3 minute ride across about 200 metres of water.

The ferry runs every half an hour, and we hit it just right – walking aboard within in minutes of pulling away from the dock.  Once on the island, there is a large park with informational signs showing us the Koala “trail”.  Fun!  Also, Lesley, the owner of the Bairnsdale Motel, told us that there is normally a koala in the 2nd tree to the right of the ferry dock and once we see that we’ll know how to spot the rest. Sure enough – there it is!  All cuddled up in the crook of some branches.

We’re a little early on the island – it’s not really sunset yet, and since koalas are nocturnal, they’re not really all that active. Not that koalas are ever all that active, but still – most are sleeping away in the trees.  We follow the path markers, past houses and little lanes and end up in a large park where there are tons of the cute little furry creatures in the trees.

They are everywhere! This is so cool.  We just keep walking along, staring up into the trees and spotting them all over the place.  Awesome!!!

We make the loop and start to head back toward the ferry, through little neighborhoods with koalas perched in trees in people’s front yards.  Fantastic!  None of them are too active, until, as we are watching a koala in someone’s yard, and a dog comes out of a house.  Oh boy! That woke the koala up.  Talk about being on the dog watch!

The koala eyed the dog, then shot up to the top of the tree!  Wow!

In addition to koalas, there were birds everywhere – a whole flock of cockatoos were hanging around a fence in a backyard….

…there was what we think was a magpie…

…and these funky little things we never did figure out…cute…but who knows what they are!

We wandered back to the ferry landing along the marsh boardwalk by the water, marveling about the wildlife, everywhere you go there is something different and amazing here. 

Now it’s time for dinner!  Back out through Paynesville and into Bairnsdale proper, we are going to the Grand Terminus Hotel – another Lesley suggestion! Bairnsdale is the typical Australian town – all laid out in grids, old buildings, very 50’s US western.  It’s also very sleepy this evening – just like Paynesville.  That’s good for us, because it makes it much easier to find the Grand Terminus Hotel, established 1889,  and then to park in the median parking spots!

Again – typical Australian hotel architecture – must be a rule that all hotels are 2 stories, have wrought iron balustrades on the 2nd floor and separate entrances for the hotel and the bar!

Oh and beer signs – always beer signs!

Inside, is the traditional entrance hall then the bar and restaurant.  We are seated and served – which is unusual here – we’re used to the pub-style now!  The menu is a great mix of seafood, beef and pasta – and there is ricotta gnocchi!  You know I’m done!  Ed has the seafood platter – which comes chock full of local delicacies….

…Balmain bug tartlet (that’s crawfish, btw!), oysters Kilpatrick, king prawns, calamari and beer battered flathead fish.  It’s all accompanied by these great sauces – one remoulade and one lemon mango pepper dressing that was fantastic.  I of course have the gnocchi…   ….which are huge little pillows of goodness!  Served in an oven baked tomato, basil and cream sauce, there’s also little bits of proscuitto scattered around.  Yummy to the max!

We roll our little stuffed bodies out the door and back through the sleepy streets to our awesome hotel – there’s a jacuzzi bath in our future!  And then tomorrow….the end of the road trip and Melbourne!