Hangin’ at Hanging Rock (Melbourne) 🇦🇺

14 October, Wednesday

Finally met up with Ann again after parting ways in Cambodia – mountain biking about, seeing Angkor Wat, eating scorpions and balut – about 2+months back! Decided on taking a trip out of the city since we had the car + go somewhere Ann hasn’t explored.

We googled a few places and settled on Hanging Rock cause apparently it’s a 6,000,000 year old rock! More specifically, it was formed when a particularly stiff type of lava formed a rounded pile of layers on the surface as it was squeezed through a narrow vent in the earth.

6 MILLION YEARS! That’s insane and sounds majestic! It’s also one of the world’s best examples in the world of a volcanic feature known as a mamelon (French for nipple, hehehe).

Entrance fee: $10/ car

Started the day off with burgers at Huxtaburger in Fitzroy. Thanks, Ann, for the treat!

The Denise with jalapenos + sriracha mayo. My mouth was burning. That was the first time I ever ate jalapenos proper!

All fuelled up and ready to rumble, it took us ~40 minutes to reach the Hanging Rock. The drive in was really scenic and serene! I’m so glad to be surrounded by nature and people who appreciates it too.

Off to walk!

Constantly looking out for koala bears cause I read you can spot them. I really wanted to see one!!!

Ann and I.

XM and I.

Rocks rocks rocks.

Plopping ourselves up on the rocks to appreciate the view.

WIND.

Hello, watcha doin’.

THIS. Overheard ladies saying how there were kangaroos at the racecourse; XM and I hadn’t seen any yet!!! SO I TRIED MY BEST TO ZOOM IN AND SPOT THEM BUT NADA.

I think we were about 718m about sea level.

Climbin’ dangerously for photos’ sake.

Boy, were we high.

It’s hilarious cause XM and I are both scared of heights.

2/3 farm girls reunited!

XM doesn’t fancy the sun.

We spent close to four hours just walking and being in awe around such natural formations. We needed to leave soon before the reserve closed at 5pm or else we’d be locked in forever.

A bloody waterfall.

As we were about to drive out, I spotted something lying on the grass patch and it was a kangaroo!!!

ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM IT’S A KANGA. GET OUT THE CAR. LET’S GO GO GO.

We immediately dashed out with all our cameras and slowly approached it for pictures. City girls don’t get close to wildlife so often. The only “approachable wildlife” we have in Singapore are stray cats. Pigeons and crows do not count.

We were unsure of how close we could get. I know how you’re not supposed to touch marine life so I guess it applies the same to land? It’s okay for them to touch you but you can’t touch them?

MOMMA, IT’S A KANGA. (Photo: Ann)

“Watchu think you doin’? Get away from my space.”

“GET AWAY FROM ME BEFORE I TURN INTO A HYENA.”

Mr. Kanga be chillin’.

See a wild kangaroo: ✓
See a wild koala bear: x

Still on the search to have the “complete Aussie experience” of spotting their wildlife!

Was a good day spent! We ended it with a hugeass Korean meal at Han Guuk Guan, as recommended by Ann.

She definitely did NOT tell us the portions were so huge! The jajangmyeon was really good! I normal don’t eat it cause you’ll get sick of it after awhile but this was perfect. (Photo: XM)

It was $16.50 for the split bowl and I would say well worth the money. We couldn’t finish our own portions so we took away the remaining and it made up one part of our lunch the next day!

Next up: Great Ocean Road!

Read more about my exploration at Puffing Billy/ Mount Dandenong and my earlier days spent in Melbourne.

Till then!