Bats, Koalas and Dolphins

On our way to Port Macquarie, we stop off at Wingham Brush Nature Reserve. We have been travelling on the scenic tourist route and this was a place recommended to stop at. It looked pretty ordinary at first glance, but there was quite a noise coming from the wood. Then we looked up and, high in the branches, we saw them; in fact, we saw hundreds of them. Bats. Big bats. Very big bats. But we later found out that they were called flying foxes, but they looked like bloody big bats to us. We walked through the wood and spied the bats, mostly motionless hanging upside down, but others flying about and making this incredible din. And the smell was something else as well!

We then found a Koala hospital just outside our next park, Breakwall. The hospital gave us a little tour and explained everything you ever wanted to know about Koalas, such as they will do about 200 poos a day, only feed on eucalyptus leaves and are the only species other than humans to have individual fingerprints. In the evening we have a nice (but expensive) meal at The Stunned Mullet and make our way back to our NRMA campsite.

In the morning, we walk along the shore where the rocks bordering the walkway have each been painted over the years with personal messages or some form of family tribute. Was very touching in places, particularly in respect of loved ones who had passed on. We have a nice breakfast at a beach shack (called Little Shack) and strolled along the seafront into the main town. It was very therapeutic, with the warm sun and blue sky. Then, we spot a fin in the bay and suddenly a dolphin leaps out of the water. Then another. In fact, there were 5 dolphins having fun in the water and we watched them for a while, until they decided to go back out to sea. What a great experience!