Today has been very exciting.  After going into town, fetching a yearly fishing license and a quick lunch, my host family took me on a very nice trip south of Bairnsdale.  We followed the Mitchell River to Eagle Point, a small town with many holiday homes overlooking Lake King.  After a quick stop and a few photos, we headed farther south where we came to Paynesville.  The small town and beautiful lake views reminded me of Northern Michigan but the temperature surely didn't.

After walking on the beach and sticking our toes into the water, it was time to take the quick ferry over to Raymond Island.  I didn't know it at first but we were about to embark on a safari along the island's dirt roads in search for Koalas!  No not Koala Bears...Koalas; they aren't bears at all.  We didn't just find one of them but we found at least 10.  Raymond Island is so infested with these cute creatures that they've started to import them off the island to keep the gum trees from dying off.

After some driving around on the island spotting magpies, kookaburras, and even a few parrots, we came across the wallaby.  What a timid animal.  I got out of the car to take its picture up close and without hesitation it hopped back into the ferns of the island.  At least the koalas posed for me to take their picture!  Thankfully we found another just up the road so I could take a picture. This was an incredible experience and I will never forget spotting koalas in the wild.  Even for many Australians this is rare.

It isn't fair to say that I didn't see ALL the stereotypical animals of the outback.  When you think of Australia, what do you most associate as Australian? No, I'm not talking about didgeridoos and boomerangs, but the animal most identified with Australia.  Thats right the kangaroo!  Yea, well I never got to see any in the wild today but there was certainly plenty of kangaroo in the supermarket!  And let me tell you, it made a mighty fine steak too!