Saturday, July 20, 2013

Australian Adventure (Tuesday, July 02, 2013)

40 Days Down Under (Day 19)

Tuesday, July 02, 2013
We started off the day to the musical stylings of birds. The acoustics in the park were just wonderful. As the park is surrounded by Eucalyptus, we walked through blue mist to get to the amenities in the morning. I felt a bit transported into another world.

Before heading off, we stopped at the local Woolworth's to pick up some much needed groceries. We stopped at the bakery across the parking lot and my tastebuds jumped for joy while indulging in an amazing apple fritter from The Conventional Bakery in Blackwood. It was brimming with apple goodness.

Our drive toward Jervis Bay in South Australia was a feast for the eyes. The hills and valleys were gorgeous and included glimpses of the ocean. Grapevines and olive trees dominated the roadside. If I've failed to mention it so far, South Australia is beautiful.

What isn't so beautiful is the obvious flavor deficiency from which the local bananas suffer. We picked up a few as we were craving some fruit. They were fibrous and odd.

The owners of the caravan park had recommended a stop at Yankalilla and Second Valley. We drove through Yankalilla and stopped at the tourist information center before stopping at Second Valley for a whipping view of the ocean.


Before we knew it, it was time to meet our ferry in Cape Jervis.






Poor Kris had to back the JUCY Condo up into the ferry. He said it smelled like livestock poo in the parking dock. (Probably from the sheep truck that had just vacated. Those poor sheep at the bottom.)


After the roughest 45 minute ferry crossing imaginable (I slept to avoid seasickness as Kris wandered on deck), we were finally on Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island and one of the world's most pristine nature-based destinations. Sea lions, seals, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, penguins, echidnas, pelicans, goannas, possums, etc. call this island home.

The island is 155 kilometres long (takes 2.5 hours to drive from one side to the other) and has 4600 residents. They've even developed their own "Kangaroo Island Wave" - a friendly gesture of lifting your index finger to acknowledge passing cars. (This really stressed Kris out. He felt rude if he missed someone.)

I find it strange that most Australians don't know about Kangaroo Island. It's been featured as one of the world's best islands by National Geographic Magazine.

Our first KI (Kangaroo Island) stop was Prospect Hill overlooking Pennington Bay and Pelican Lagoon. We climbed to the top of this very tall sand mountain for a leisurely lunch taking in the expansive blue breathtaking view. I'm pretty sure we were at the tallest point of the island.








On our drive to the other end of the island, Kris managed to dodge an echidna and stopped to let me get some photos! Wild echidna!


We were hoping to see an echidna mating train. Apparently, during mating season you can see up to eight male echidnas following around a female echidna for one to six weeks before she chooses a lucky fellow to mate with. Crazy! This one as just hiding behind some scrub.


We also had to dodge several kangaroos, wallabies, a bushy-tailed possum, and some not so intelligent geese.

We finally made it to the Remarkable Rocks with some sunlight to spare. These rocks have all sorts of faces in them if you have some imagination.








Kris got up close and personal with the rocks and even helped to hold a section up. Good thing he was there.


With very little sunlight left, we headed to Cape du Couedic to the lighthouse and Admirals Arch.


It got too dark to photograph much other than the awesome sunset.


We headed back, in the dusk, to our caravan park, the Western KI Caravan Park, for the evening. Kris made sure to avoid some cute marsupials as we drove back in the dark.



1 comment:

Unknown said...

Cape du Couedic is definitely breathtaking! I went there once. Me and my friends rented a camper van. I must say that it was one of the best times of my life! (Katelyn Williams)