Werribee Zoo Wild Nights 2015 {Photo Journal}

Wild Nights Zoo After Dark 2015

One of the things I have enjoyed doing is creating traditions with Nathaniel.  One of our favourites is attending the Werribee Open Range Zoo winter Wild Nights.  For two weeks each year the zoo is open at night for you to explore with a torch. This year we enjoyed it so much that we went twice!

Werribee Open Range Zoo Entry 2015

Jess one of the Fire Bugs meeting guests at the entrance

Sam the Fire Man at the zoo entry

A Fire Bug Catching fire

Moat in front of the Gorilla island with the evening star

Glow Zone interactive play area

Playing in the glow zone play area

Beads for Africa in the Tourist Hut

Two planets converging over the Hippo Pools

Sam the Fire Man with a fire safety message

Jess the Fire Bug arrives

Fire Bugs arrive

Fire Bug play time

Meet the Fire Bugs

Fighting Fire Bugs

Meeting a Fire Bug

Laser Light Show

Laser Light Show

Laser Light Show

Laser Light Show

Laser Light Show

Laser Light Show

Laser Light Show

If you are ever in Melbourne during winter be sure to visit Werribee Open Range Zoo and enjoy Wild Nights with your family.

Blessings
Chareen

PS What are some of your family winter traditions ?

Bandicoot Adventure

Am I allowed to take a moment to boast about my zoo keeper husband ?  Here in Australia we have a special little animal called a Bandicoot.

WORZ Bandicoot Breeding Program

This little animal is extinct in the wild and the zoo is working towards having a sustainable population.  As part of this project the zoo has created a little spot for them to live.

In December we were invited to the official opening of the Bandicoot Breeding Area.  Tonight this release featured on The 7.30 Report. You can watch the entire report on the ABC website.

Paul and Sir N released number four of the Bandicoots.

We met some amazing people

Left - It was really cold so we borrowed a blanket, The sun set was stunning and a perfect way to end the evening, Paul and Sir N preparing to release the Bandicoot.

Middle - Victoria Minister of Environment The Hon. Ryan Smith, MP, Sir N touching a Bandicoot with one of the Zoo Keepers from WORZ

Right - Sally Lewis Director Werribee Open Range Zoo, Victoria Minister of Environment The Hon. Ryan Smith, MP,  Jenny Gray CEO Zoo's Victoria

It was a wonderful evening and I'm so very proud of my other half and my son :)

Blessings

Healsville Sanctuary

This past year has been an amazing experience for us as a family.  We have been blessed with tickets to return home to South Africa for a 50th wedding anniversary family reunion, a trip to Queensland and family from South Africa visiting.

With all these wonderful adventures I've got a little behind in recording my memories and so have decided to set aside Saturday mornings to share some of the beautiful places we have had the privilege of experiencing.
 
We had the most delightful week last week.  Aunt T and Uncle G came for a flying visit from South Africa.  Their daughter plays water polo and was chosen to represent South Africa in the first World Youth Water Polo Championships and since they were in Australia they decided to come and see where we live!  It was an amazing time of catching up and showing them our beautiful city and the unique diverse wild life that Australia has. We spent a day looking around Healesville Sanctuary and here are some of our moments.

One of my favourite aspects of this zoo are all the sculptures and braille notices of the animals on display.

Top: Healesville Sanctuary Entrance

Bottom: Aunty T with Koala sculpture, Sir N with an Emu sculpture

 Top: Koala, Wedge-Tailed Eagle Sculpture

Bottom: Tasmanian Devil, Echidna

We took a walk up to the Australian Wildlife Center where we met a baby Tasmanian Devil up close and personal, later in the day we hoped to see Spirits of the Sky but due to renovations (enclosure upgrades) the show had been changed.  It was still great to see Wedge Tailed eagles, baby Kangaroo's and wombats.

 Top: Baby Tasmanian Devil (male)

Bottom: Baby Wombat, Kangaroo, Wedgetailed Eagle

Directly across from the arena is the new Land of parrots display where you have the opportunity to hold and feed a number of Australian parrots.

 Clockwise from top left: Sir N with a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Sunbird, Cockatiel, Cockatoo,

After lunch we explored the Animals of the Night display and Woodlands track.

Top: Echidna, Bilby

Middle:

Bottom: Tasmanian Devil, Flying Foxes

Gouldian Finch, Female Gangang Cockatoo, Wonga Pigeon, White eared Honeyeater

Having grown up in Africa (South Africa and Namibia) and lived in New Zealand I am amazed at the diversity of wildlife here in Australia. The colours, sounds and variety are astounding.  Australia may not have 'The Big Five' but they certainly make up for it with the colour and variety of fauna and flora.

What is your favourite part of where you live ?

Blessings


This post is linking with: Look What We Did

Koala Cuddles

A quick note to let you know that we are enjoying our holiday.  We had an amazing experience yesterday with Koala cuddles over at Kuranda Koala Gardens in Cairns Queensland.

Koala are interesting animals.

• Koala is an Aboriginal word meaning "no drink" 
• Receives over 90% of its hydration from the Eucalyptus leaves
• Arms and legs are nearly equal in length
• thick ash grey fur acts like a rain coat
• Is a marsupial
• Is the only mammal able to survive on eucalyptus leaves
• They are not bears
• They have two thumbs
• Koala babies are called joeys

On the web

• The Koala
• Australian Koala Foundation
• Wikipedia
• Zoos Victoria 
• Australia Zoo

Blessings
Charee

Carnival of the Animals at Melbourne Zoo

Just arrived and find a spot to sit.

The main reason for our trip to the Melbourne Zoo on Monday was to to watch the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra perform Carnival of the Animals.

This member from the MSO sat on the floor and chatted with the kids.
He explained to Sir N which instrament he plays and let him look and touch the mallets he uses to play. 

The 11 member performing arrived tuned their instruments. Once they were ready the conductor came out and introduced the instruments and Noni Hazlehurst who was our host and read an adaptation of Ogden Nash's Poem between each section of music.  It was a wonderful introduction to the Orchestra.

Members of the MSO tuning up and preparing for the conductor and performance.

On the WWW

• A Musical Carnival of the Animals! over at Squidoo.com
• Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals Coloring Book and Other Resources
• Carnival of the Animals interactive site 
• 15+ Fantastic Free Carnival of the Animals Resources.\

On YouTube

• Bugs and Daffy's Carnival of the Animals.
• Camille Saint-Saëns - The Carnival Of Animals - Complete & LiVe. The complete music score without the poem.
• Camille Saint-Saëns - Le Carnaval Des Animaux [complete recording]Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra - Bystrick Rezucha

Did you know that the MSO performs Free concerts ?  The next one will be at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in February 2013. Coming up in November is the MSO Classic Kids! Maximus Musicus.

Blessings
Chareen

Carnival of the Animals 

Performed with Ogden Nash's Poem

Narrated by Noel Coward for this 1949 recording.

A Tall Order Encounter

We are still using the Expedition Earth curriculum although at a much slower pace than before we left on our trip to South Africa.

We are studying South Africa at the moment. As part of our studies I asked Paul if we could please come to the zoo and meet the rhino (Open Vehicle Adventure) and giraffe (Tall Order Giraffe Encounter). On Saturday Lance graciously took us on an open Ute safari to meet his charges up close and personal.  I will let the photo's do the talking on this one.

Paul, Sir N Chareen and the six male giraffe at WORZ

Rhino skin feels very ruff like sand paper.

Words fail to express the amazing experience we had together as a family.

Blessings
Chareen