A short overseas adventure (well sort of)

[Matt_01]

So not quite overseas (international) more like a ferry ride to Kangaroo Island. I realised the other week that MissM had a couple of pupil free days so rather than a 4 day weekend at home it was time for a short break. The plan was simple drive and get on the ferry but due to the late planning the only option was a 6am ferry which was to early for Mrs and MissM so they are flying. The flying option also ensures MrsM takes her one flight and gets her status extended. This trip has some of the standard hallmarks of our normal overseas travel e.g. travelling separately to the same location and then to make it seem like the days of old I was able to make last minute changes and ‘pull forward’ my 6am ferry tomorrow to 8:30 this evening and it became a made dash to get out of the house and head to Cape Jervis. We are going to be staying at the Mercure in American River.

My bus that floats

Locked up and ready to go, my wagon is one of those white tradie trucks

Arrival at Penneshaw

On the way to Cape Jervis I remembered I did not have a booking for this evening so had to arrange that on the drive so as not to spent the night in the wagon. The room.

 

[craven morehead]

Good to see you breaking the shackles

 

[Matt_01]

So now it is the AM the room overlooks the bay. A call out to @TonyHancock should you every have a need to stay on KI you will not be disappointed with the view, a carpark is included .

The breakfast offering was quite good and I suspect that everything is cooked to order due to covid as there was trays out for hot food but everything had to be ordered.

Next stop KGC to collect Mrs and Miss M. It actually seemed quite odd having to go to an airport to pick someone up, normally is was myself been dropped off or collected.

 

[Matt_01]

We have not been to KI and have 4 full days here, there is no plan and a just ‘winging it’. As we knew KI was a combination of sealed and many unsealed roads I brought the tradie tuck and will come back to driving later. Today we just decided to start in the Kingscote area and then travel through the north coast.
The main street

A local pub but it was to early for opening

This is one of the signs detailing the location of wrecks between KI and the mainland. I have not looked into any details however I am of the understanding that the Investigator Strait can get a bit choppy

The strait

The original courthouse and police station

And the cells behind

We also found some seals relaxing

And one swimming

 

[Buzzard]

Enjoy KI.
+1 and I are thinking of doing a day trip to the island by coach.
We were last there during April last year as part of a cruise.

 

[Matt_01]

So after about an hour in Kingscote time to move on we saw a sign to the museum so of we go, the museum does not open until 1pm however on the way we had seen a sign to a winery time to go there and see if that is open. We arrive at 11:05 so it has been open for 5 minutes, time for a visit, we took a quick look around.

Not a bad view from a place of work.

Time to go in

After looking at the offerings we went for mixed tasting, it was meant to be 6 and I suspect that the lady running the show figured if a few others were thrown in a sale would be secured.

She was correct and bringing the tradie truck was now paying off

We had realised that the local wineries were open next stop KI spirits, we got lost on the way and ended up in a bee shop.

Found KI spirits in the end and then headed off to the beach.

Not before finding another brewery

 

[Matt_01]

So we made it to the beach. This one was Emu bay, it was not really a beach or a bay but a pretty site.

It was time for lunch and one thing I realised on KI is that there is not that many places to eat at tourist attractions. We found this Lavender farm on the why out. The food was simple but tasted great.

I did not expect pumpkin soup with mustard to work or taste good but it did

MrsM just had a ham and cheese toastie

MissM went with lavender scone

When ordering drinks they were out of the rose, The owner then opened this for MrsM

 

[Matt_01]

Next place to visit was Stokes Bay but on the way we found a very weird open garden. MrsM was worried that she had been drawn into the set of ‘the hills have eyes’ and was waiting for the mad owner to come out of hiding and capture us, never to be seen again. MissM was absorbed in documenting her final moments on Instagram
.

 

[Matt_01]

On arrival at Stokes Bay it did not look like the pictures

I figured there must be something more to this and then noticed a couple making their way back to the car park. I guessed if they are coming back there must be something, but I have been wrong in the past.
The entrance

I was keen to see what was through this gap
The other side

Then Snellings beach - not much to report, you can take your vehicle on the beach

The place is starting to recover from the fires

 

[Matt_01]

Dinner was in the hotel, the bar area with history of the property on the walls

And food which was very good, MissM went for roast cashew butter chicken

MrsM had the roast wattleseed and lemon myrtle cauliflower

I had the sheoak smoked kangaroo fillet

Some local wine

MissM had a dessert being a walnut and pear cake and when she did not finish it the remainder was shared between MrsM and myself.

 

[Matt_01]

Today we headed to the western side of the KI however along the way stoped at the Eucalyptus Distillery. They also had locally grown cider and after a quick check of the watch the sun was over the yard arm in AKL so that was close enough for us.

I have no photos of this but thought I would make a comment. It was time to put fuel in the wagon which is available at Parndana to my surprise the bowser was padlocked. When I went inside to as if they had forgotten to take the padlock off or if they were out of fuel the lady advised that she would need to come out and put the fuel in for me.

 

[Matt_01]

An hour and a bit later we arrived on the western side of KI, few snaps of the Cape Borda Lighthouse complex.

About 3km is the Lighthouse Keepers Cemetery

This side of KI is pretty spectacular.

 

[Matt_01]

Next on the agenda was the SW area of the National Park, the unsealed road was still closed (winter) so a few extra KMs to get back onto the bitumen was required. After checking in again off to Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and surrounds, Admirals Arch and the Remarkable Rocks.

View from Bunker Hill

The Lighthouse and surrounds including some wildlife

 

[Matt_01]

Admirals Arch and some ruins
The Arch

Ruins

The next location

 

[Matt_01]

Final visit for today before heading home. The Remarkable Rocks.

 

[Matt_01]

We arrived back at the hotel later than planned and could not be bothered heading out again for dinner. The restaurant was fully booked but with some timing flexibility and table reshuffles dinner as now sorted.

MissM had the same as last night, butter chicken

MrsM went for the smoked paprika and tarragon prawns and mixed seasonal greens

I opted for the pan-fried king George whiting with pickled veg, chips, pea puree and tartare

Drinks started with a glass of Dudley Bubbly Sparkling White and another local white this time the Islander ‘The White’ Chardonnay.

Desserts was salted caramel chocolate tart (with 3 spoons)

 

[ALH]

The last time I hired a car (4x4) to take to KI, Avis excluded, so went with Hertz. No limit on kms. The biggest challenge are the kangaroos jumping out in front of the car. Especially on dusk.
Great trip report. I spent many school holidays camping there, and just love the place.
Pity the NZ Fur seals have eaten most of the penguins. They used to be an absolute joy to watch, sitting down from the cave at Admirals Arch

 

[Matt_01]

The last time I hired a car (4x4) to take to KI, Avis excluded, so went with Hertz. No limit on kms. The biggest challenge are the kangaroos jumping out in front of the car. Especially on dusk.

We did consider flying both ways and hiring a vehicle, what you posted it has answered a question that was one of the reason I brought my own. At the moment car hire prices seem to be at the upper end and also comes limited to 100 KM per day. I did not bother to check the excess KM rate, KI is not large but we knew everything is spread out and a car is a must. So far I am yet to see taxi or an Uber sign on any vehicle I am wondering if there are taxis on KI. While discussing cars a 4x4 is not essential however I am happy that we have my old work truck/wagon which is a 4x4 rather than MrsM sedan. As most of KI roads are unsealed and depending on location some of these are hard, semi soft, or slippery over the past couple of days I was comfortable to travel at 100 KM/H on most of the unsealed roads however there are also roads that are are quite chopped up and need to be graded.

 

[Matt_01]

So today we headed south. Along the way we stopped at a bee place, not much here the girls did what they do best and purchased stuff and then decided to help themselves to my honey ice cream. I did let them know that the store had plenty but apparently they did not want a whole one so a taste of mine would do.

We just headed as far SE that we could in D’Estrees Bay and the road eventually ran out here.

Next stop was seal bay.

 

[Matt_01]

After leaving seal bay we stopped in at the Raptor Domain, the timing did not work as the reptile show was already underway and it was about 1.5 hours to the next birds of prey show so we gave it a miss.

Next stop along the journey was Little Sahara, initially MissM thought this was a ‘good idea’ as she could toboggan and board (no skis) on sand rather than snow. Then reality hit when she realised there were no chair lifts and when asked how does she get to the top and the answer was walk that ‘good idea’ was no more.

As we continued we had planned to stop at an art gallery and Kelly Hill Caves I did not notice these places on route and when we arrived at Hanson Bay I began to question myself how I missed these.

On the way back I found or seemed to be in the correct location for both. The road to the Kelly Hill Caves was shut with a note on it about a baiting program in the area, the art gallery had the gates closed.

As we headed back we noticed a sign to another winery and this was enough reason to return via a different route. On arrival it is a great set up but seems to have changed from being a winery to a marron farm. The guide showed us through some of the facility and what was on the farm then took use to the cafe. It was a lovely place however MrsM though that she would be able to order a few tasting glasses and maybe some sample bites. This was not available, wine was by the bottle and food was per person maybe another covid change so in the end we just started to make our way back to hotel. The guide wanted to show us a blue marron