What is That Hiding in the Bushes - Echidna (and Point Napean National Park)

Hey all,

I hope you all had a great weekend. I have been making the most of the remaining warm weather in Melbourne. Today I went on a day trip with friends to the Mornington Peninsula to see Point Napean National Park. The park is at the very tip of the peninsula at the narrowest point and entry into Port Phillip Bay. We saw a cool Australian native, and we explored some forts and tunnels. The views were spectacular, and the weather - well, it did clear up in the end.

I am having very good luck with seeing Australian wildlife recently. The other day I got to pet some tame kangaroos up near the Grampians, and today?! I got up close and personal with an echidna! They are a very cute Australian egg-laying mammal - one of THOSE. It was very cute, and rather large, about 50 cm long, bustling about its business, digging up insects under the brush. The setting? point Napean National Park, the tip of the Mornington Peninsula.

In the national park, we visited the fort at the tip, which created an excellent backdrop for some photos. The forts are carved out as underground tunnels, which are mysterious and a touch eerie. They would be an excellently creepy place to play hide and seek in in the dark. The bricks of the fort retain some of the original paint, which is chipping and faded, and, well, beautiful.

The national park also gave a lot of historic information. For example, there were diagrams of the hydraulics system used for raising and lowering their cannons. You are able to explore the wells in which the cannons sat, and clamber up on a cannon and snap a photo. Some of the locations of historic interest have audio recordings that play as you walk into the area. If you keep an eye and an ear out, you will pick up a bit of Ozzie history from this scenic spot.

The Mornington Peninsula is a beautiful weekend getaway especially if the weather holds up. The combination of the ocean, the echidna, and the convoluted tunnels led to a pleasant afternoon such a short drive from the city.