Kangaroo Cuddles

On Thursday I went on an optional Orientation excursion to Mount Lofty and Cleland Wildlife Park. Mount Lofty is nicknamed the Adelaide Hills because it gives you a beautiful view of the city of Adelaide.

 Though it is not that clear in this image, there are several unique features about Adelaide. The center core of the city is built on 1 square mile and is surrounded by four terraces or green belts. If you look closely at the image you can see this. As a result, there are four major roads surrounding the city's core appropriately named North Terrace, South Terrace, East Terrace, and West Terrace. I live just off of North Terrace. This Square mile core is built on a grid system and is laid out very orderly, largely because it was a deliberate settlement in that the land was properly surveyed prior to anyone being allowed to settle it. Very unusual. The transit Tram is also free to ride within this city core. Another major street is King William Street named after King William IV (4th) who was on the throne during the time that Adelaide was founded. There is also Victoria Square located at the center of the core with a statue of Victoria (who later became Queen Victoria) at the exact center of the square which happens to be in the middle of the street. That's also where the central market of Adelaide is located which is a big farmers market. I plan to go there on Saturday.

After we left Mount Lofty, we headed to Cleland Wildlife Park and I'll let pictures do the rest of the talking.

Can you read the sign? Wombats and Kangaroos to the left!

Gerald (Italy) and Bertine (Holland) inch closer to set up a photo with a kangaroo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Momma Kangaroo and baby Kangaroo hanging out of the pouch

 They kangaroos were very friendly. They came right up close and sniffed my hands and let me pet them. They seemed to just like being close and put their little front paws in your hands. There were truly so sweet and really won over our hearts, especially the babies. It was so special!

This is what a wombat looks like

My friend Hank the Koala- did you know that when I baby koala is born its no more that the size of a jelly bean? It crawls into its momma's pouch and continues to grow in there for 4-5 months.

 I also got to see Tasmanian Devils which are real animals! They are the largest of the marsupials and come out at night. They have very bad eye sight but very good smell and find their food with their nose. They are one of few animals who can digest bits of bone and so they leave nothing behind of the food they scavenge- fur, meat and bone all get eaten. Talk about using every bit of your food!

It was a great day and I got to meet lots of new people from all over. I have been hanging out with a new friend from Holland and with her, we met two guys from Italy, a guy from China and two girls from Germany. I also met a guy from St. Kitts and a few more fellow Canadians.

It was a great day!