5-Day Kangaroo Island Tour Report.
Sunday October 26:
Thanks to everyone turning up early, we left the Festival Theatre at 6.25 am with 43 passengers on board, 21 from our Club and 22 c/o Eureka tours. And several of those were also with us last year so they must have enjoyed our company. After an uneventful journey we arrived at Cape Jervis by 8.15 am. Boarding the ferry, the “SEALION 2000” was easy as the passengers walk on and the coach is stored empty downstairs. Left Cape Jervis precisely on time at 9.00 am and, after a choppy crossing, we arrived at Penneshaw by 9.45 am. Unloading is just as easy and we left the wharf by 10.05 am to go to “Frenchman’s rock” to have our morning cuppa. Then on to “Cape Willoughby lighthouse”, the oldest one in the state, erected in 1852, and now fully automated. At the same place is the “Devil’s kitchen”, a whirling pool of waves pounding in a crevice in the rocks. On to “American river” were we had a pick-nick lunch in the park. On to Kingscote for a tour of the township and a visit to “Reeve’s Point”, the first official settlement site in South Australia. A huge mulberry tree planted there by the Duke of York in 1836 is still bearing fruit every year and was flowering today. On to the “Island Resort Motel”, our home for the next four nights. Watched the feeding of the pelicans on the jetty at 5.00 pm. This happens every evening at the same time and is well worth the time. Dinner was served at the motel from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm. All were happy to retire after a long and exhausting day.
Monday October 27:
After a hearty cooked breakfast we left the motel by 9.00am and went to “Clifford’s Honey Farm”, famous for their pure strain Ligurian bees for a talk on the Ligurian bees, some honey tasting, and some shopping in the honey and souvenir shop. It looked like everyone took some of their delicious honey home. Left the honey farm by 11.00 am and went to the “Parndana Wildlife Park” to view their amazing collection of exotic birds, while Kevin and Elaine prepared the BBQ and cooked us a delicious meal in the park. Departed from the park by 2.00 pm and went to the “Island Pure Dairy” to watch the milking of sheep. This is done by a milking machine very similar to the cow’s milking machine. Had some tastings of their cheeses and yoghurts, which come in numerous varieties. On to “Duck’s Lagoon” to view the prolific and very varied wild birds in the lake. Also at the same place an ancient eucalyptus distillery, which had an old locomotive boiler as its steam generator. Arrived back to the motel by 4.30 pm to freshen up for our dinner, again at 6.00 pm.
Tuesday October 28:
After a violent overnight storm, which did a lot of damage and kept a lot of us awake we nevertheless departed at 9.00 am for “Emu Ridge”, South Australia’s only Eucalyptus Oil Distillery to see the process of oil extraction from eucalyptus leaves and the distilling and purification process. Morning cuppa was also had on the premises. The original Emu Ridge posst office, dating back to 1909, and then called “The Macgillivray Post office” is still standing and well preserved. Proceeded to “Seal Bay” and had a guided tour among the sea lions sunning on the beach. A lengthy boardwalk is also available and not as steep. Went to “Vivonne Bay” and viewed the wild coastline before going to the “Kiawarra Food Barn” and taking part in another BBQ, this time cooked by the barn. Viewed the white sandy beaches of “Emu Bay” before returning back to our base Motel to have time for refreshing and getting ready for our nights dinner with entertainment. The entertainment, consisting of “Ginny and Paul”, a duo on guitar and keyboard, played old favourite tunes and some requests. Several couples danced and made for a merry evening lasting until 9.00 pm.
Wednesday October 29:
Departing again at 9.00 am, we went to the “Flinders Chase National Park” arriving there at the Visitors Centre by 10.30 am. First thing was to have our morning cuppa, which is always welcome. We then visited the “Cape du Couedic” lighthouse, very simular to the Cape Willoughby one, then negotiated the steep boardwalk to the “Admiral’s Arch”, with its magnificent views. Then went to the “Remarkable Rock’s”, which are truly remarkable, both in their shape and size. I have not been able to work out how they got there but nature is as always remarkable. Back to the visitor centre for a pick-nick lunch served by the coach crew and supplied by our motel. Many wild koalas can be seen in the trees surrounding the visitor centre. And the kangaroos are so tame they allow you to tough them. On the way home we visited the “Kelly Caves”. Very simular to the Naracoorte Caves, they can only be reached after a steep climb uphill and an even steeper climb down a shaft. Almost straight down it has 37 steps. I know I counted them. This was put on by the company to fill in time before returning to our motel. Dinner again at 6.00 pm this time lasting until 9.00 pm as all the Thank You's were said. The two waitresses who have so willingly and cheerfully served us for the four nights, each was presented with an envelope care of the coach company. After dessert the same thing was done to the two cooks who were very embarrassed, as it had never happened to them before. The coach company also provided complementary drinks. It has indeed been a truly remarkable time as their dinners were superb, every night a different 3-course menu of excellent cuisine.
Thursday October 30:
Cases packed and loaded, we departed at 9.00 am for Penneshaw, the first leg of our journey home. Browsed through the Penneshaw Visitor’s centre before boarding the ferry in readiness for a 10.30 am departure. If the down journey was choppy, the return journey was almost like a roller coaster as the weather turned windier by the minute. However we made it across without any disasters arriving at Cape Jervis by 11.20 am. To late by then to have a morning cuppa we proceeded straight to the Yankalilla hotel for our final luncheon. A hot meal was served there for us and after departing from there at 1.30 pm we arrived in Adelaide by 3.00 pm, early enough for an easy ride home. A trip very much enjoyed by all despite the inclement weather. Kangaroo Island proved to be a very windy and cold place and I am glad we did not go any earlier in the season.
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