On more than one trip I’ve taken, there have been after dark excursions. This makes perfect sense…much wildlife sleeps during the day and lives a very full life between sunset and sunrise. It was no different in Australia. One night, we all climbed into the utility vehicle with our cameras to capture those elusive shots.

Our driver negotiated dirt roads with one hand on the steering wheel and one hand operating a high-powered searchlight, looking for a photo op. I don’t think his eyes were on the road, it was as if the vehicle knew the route and all he had to do was control the speed.

It was almost surreal.  There they were…wombats, possums and wallabies. They froze when the spotlight singled them out. 

As nocturnal creatures, they often have very large eyes, so startled looks were the norm. I found myself thinking, “How intrusive we are! It would be like seeing a face peering in my window.”