the bays and peninsular

it was a sunny sunday - perfect day for outing! (erm... actually, perfect for angmohs but not-so-perfect for the gals!)

we went to mornington peninsular, yes, i know we've been there for four times(twice with will's mum, once with mum and once with kento and friends) already =p

planned to visit the cherry and strawberry farm again (been there twice!) but it turned out that the season is not right yet! So we 1st drived up to Arthur Seat - found out that there was a local event, Authur Seat Challenge where they ran up hill to sea view garden.

Look out in Arthur Seat


Can't really see the bays in the picture but it was very clear and blue!










i guess this is why it's called arthur seat =p

We then headed off for a 1km walk in TC McKellar Loop to look out for wildlife!

Ducklings




Spooky...

and we spotted a koala! and it's sitting on the floor!! and it's walking towards us!!! but then it ran away, up to the eucalyptus tree...

i supposed this is part of the fun! eating in national park =p

we walked part of the two bays walk - it's freaking 23km okay! it is meant to be broken up to few parts to walk for few days.

we're really here!!


a very sweet scented flower tree


my tree house =D


Wild ducks again...

we passed by the indigeneous garden and decided to check out if there's any interesting stuff. and look what we found:
Hedgehog!!

it is so cute!! it was afraid of us in the beginning and decided to stuck its face in a hole, pretending we dont exist. it then found out that we are really KIND and walked approach us! okay we love it but no one would like to hug or touch it unlike what we dreamt to do to the koalas =p

Heading off to the farms

Mock Orchard:
Not much apples yet but we found Garfield!!!

Sunny ridge strawberries farm:

Not much strawberries yet...


these look like plastic flowers








fresh strawberry sorbet!

following the signs, we reached the apple farm!!
cheap and super-delicious apples:
note: i never eat ANY apples from the stores. the only apples i would ever eat are those from Vic's apple trees - fresh and crunchy. Also, i dont eat apples if it is skinless - but the farm's apples are really great! (aud2.50 per kg)

Oh, and there's simply no one guarding the apples so it means the owner really trusted us for putting that five dollars note into the slot!

off to ripe and ready cherry farm:
note: it says it's in arkwell lane but the entrance is in white hill.

The cherries are not really ripe yet - peak season would be around Dec! Now I wonder whether I should plant a cherry tree at home, or should I plant the sakura type of cherry tree? hmm flower more important or fruit? =p kk have to stop dreaming - sweet cherry tree need mix pollination which is too complicated to me, and i have no idea where to buy a sakura tree though i saw some of them in some dandenong gardens before...

btw, some info:
cherry farm entrance: aud5 pp - but if u buy one bucket, u get aud5 off from the total price
strawberry farm - aud8 pp and you get 200g of strawberries (pick yr own) if not mistaken - umm around 8-10 strawberries.

=p but u can eat *for free* in the farm... umm but better bring some water to wash off the pesticide/fertilizer before you eat!

some info:

Ripe 'N' Ready Cherry Farm
Location: Arkwells Lane Red Hill VIC 3937
Map Reference: Melway 190J3
Telephone: (03) 5989 2578 Phone/FAX 0419 561 806 Mobile
Contacts: Manager
Services: * Cherry and Berry Farm
* Enjoy the experience of picking cherries,
* Buy ready picked raspberries, silvan berries ,blueberries and cherries
* Bus groups welcome by appointment
* Pick your own sweet cherries
* Door sales
Hours: Open 9am to 5pm during the season Closed Christmas Day Cherries November to End of January

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm
http://www.sunnyridge.com.au/visitUs.html
Nov to Apr (strawberry season)
7 days 9am-5.30pm
May to October weekends 11am-4pm
CLOSED - Good Friday & Christmas Day
Cnr Shands Rd & Mornington-Flinders
Main Ridge, Victoria, Australia 3928
Phone: +613 5989 4500

Totally Pure Fruits and Mock Orchards, 1095 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Red Hill, tel: (03) 5989 2242.
Raelene and Nev Mock's organic orchard has a dozen apple varieties, as well as cherries, pears and citrus. Their quirky farm shop sells whatever's in season, plus their own freeze-dried 'Snap' fruit products; a good dry cider made from their apples; and a cider-vinegar.
(We didn't see any farm cater for self-picking though)

More info:
There are a range of farm-gate and pick-your-own options on the Peninsula, with berries and nectarines running until January, sour cherries, peaches and blueberries until February and pears, apples and quinces from March. Names to note include Farnsworth's Apple & Cherry Orchard (26 Paringa Rd, Red Hill South, tel: (03) 5989 2196) and Flinders Farm (Boneo Rd, Flinders, tel: (03) 5989 0047) for hydroponic tomatoes year-round.
from: http://www.taste.com.au/news+features/articles/381/mornington+peninsula