91. Kangaroo Island - Maslin Beach

RAPTOR BIRDS OF PREY


This was our last stop off on the island. Dano is seen here bravely holding a falcon.

We had enjoyed a great stay on KI. It is an island with a lot of history, an island that has retained its beauty & its native flora & fauna because of its isolation from the mainland, an island of characters & one that is well worth the visit.



MASLIN BEACH

After reconnecting with the mainland we headed north toward Port Augusta, which lies at the head of the Spencer Gulf. Just south of Adelaide we discovered a real gem; Maslin Beach. As the boys had missed their respective school swimming carnivals we decided to pace out 50 metres & complete the swim in the cool waters of the gulf.

90. Kangaroo Island 5

REMARKABLE ROCKS

The island is rich in beauty. Remarkable Rocks is a unique landform & is the result of large rocks that were spewed up in an eruption of a long ago volcano.




KELLY HILL CAVES

Fifteen metres below the ground are these limestone caves. They were formed after the sea levels subsided & rains slowly eroded the ground below the layer of limestone which left the caves as they are today.




SEAL BAY

This is a reserve for the Australian Fur Seal. We took a guided tour that allowed us to get a good deal of knowledge & understanding of this fragile species.

They were hunted close to extinction, but are slowly recovering. The problem these days are humans. Although the Great White Shark does like to eat them, it is mainly fishing nets, plastic bags & pollution that hamper their recovery of numbers.

89. Kangaroo Island 4

PAULS PECKOUT

Paul just grabs you, removes your sunnies & slams you against the steel fence. At this point you still have no idea what is to happen next. He then adjusts your height & instructs you not to move an inch. He then showers you with pellets which are strategically placed on your crotch & upon your scalp. It then becomes apparent that you have been well & truly set up for a hell of a peck-a-thon.





IRON MEN

Matt is simply getting too quick. Good on ya mate.

88. Kangaroo Island 3

SNELLING BEACH

Another pretty beach of the north shore.





HANSON BAY

We hooked up the van & headed down to Hanson Bay on the Islands south west coast. Hugh, a part time inhabitant allowed us to camp in his driveway (which is more like a sand dune) for the night.

 This place was magic.





HANSON BAY

87. Kangaroo Island 2

KINGSCOTE PELICANS

These birds congregate every day to be fed by some dedicated locals. It was a great show & well worth the small donation they request.





MATT THE MAGICIAN

Those who know Matt will know that he is a real performer. Just before we left Sydney he picked up a few new tricks from a friend of ours. Here he puts on a tremendous show for a group of new found followers.




PAULS WILDLIFE PARK

This is a great turnout. Paul who owns & runs the place is a real straight up, no nonsense kind of bloke. The boys sheared sheep, played with birds, snakes, emus, koalas & a host of other creatures. Check out the local brew; a Coopers Beer bottle is used to feed this Roo.

86. Kangaroo Island 1

EMU BAY

We arrived late evening onto the island & spent our first night free camping at Brown Beach. This place was real nice & we shared it with a few backpackers including a group of Japanese whom whose interest was tracking & observing the local species of goanna. After checking into the van park the following day we set off for a little exploration. There is basically the more secluded north side of the island & the south side which is exposed to the harsh movement of the Southern Ocean. Pictured is Emu Beach. One of several beautiful beaches on the north shore.



EMU LOCALS

KINGSCOTE BACK BEACH

Dano & I went for a spot of fishing; just the one flatty. No excuses , but the winds were up & not much fun on the open water.

(Behind Dane is a Yellow footed Booby)

85. Murray River, Kangaroo Island

THE RIVER MURRAY


The recent floods prevented us from travelling into southern Victoria. We headed south just before Mildura then west north of the flooded area then into SA. This photo shows us crossing the Murray River just a few kilometres from the point where the mighty river spills into the sea.

RAPID BAY

This area was originally mapped & surveyed by William Light in the 1800’s. It is a beautiful coastline with steep cliffs & rolling hills that reach down to the sea. We had only just reached the south east coastline of South Australia but were already falling for its beauty.



KI ; HERE WE COME

It was very exciting to get onto the Ferry to cross the waters to Kangaroo Island.

84. Gundagai, Wagga Wagga, Hay

GUNDAGAI

We are off again on phase two. All going well this voyage will see us travel to South Australia & in particular Kangaroo Island, then up through Adelaide to Port Augusta, down the Spencer Gulf to Port Lincoln then along the entirety of The Great Australian Bight, The Nullabour & into Western Australia. We then continue along the south eastern coast of WA across to Maragaret River, Perth and eventually Broome. Hopefully we will then cover a little of the vast Kimberley region, Arhnem Land then home via outback Queensland.

Our first stop was the historic township of Gundagai. The legend of the Dog On The Tuckerbox is varied, but basically he was a loyal dog that remained on his masters lunch box until he returned from his work on the bullock trails.



WAGGA WAGGA

Our first night was in Wagga Wagga. We camped on the banks of the river on what was a very hot evening. Upon arrival we took the opportunity to have a look at some of Australia’s Air Force history. The display was l great. The boys were able to get up close & have a good feel of all this aviation history.

HAY

Day two we travelled further westward through Hay. Talk about dry heat, about 45 degerees in the shade. At about 7.00pm we pulled off the road onto a wheat farm. The wind was quite stiff so I headed for the highest point on the farm hoping to catch a cooling breeze. The breeze was there but at 9.00 pm was still blowing hot air over us; still at least 38 degrees.

83. Treachery Cove

SEAL ROCKS This was another destination that I had always longed to visit. On arrival the winds were still howling from the north so we looked for a south facing alternative. After a little romp along a track we discovered Treachery Camp, located within Treachery Cove. This is a privately owned campsite located on 35 acres of virgin coastal bushland. A walk over a dune about 20 metres high exposes an absolutely spectacular beach & coastline. We stayed for our last two nights on the road and it was so good to have such an idyllic spot so close to Sydney.

LOOKOUT On our last morning we went for a bush walk & onto this coastal headland track. We headed home keen to catch up with family & friends but also with a little sadness that the adventure was now done. We would be home for the fundraiser that some of our close friends had arranged, Christmas, the new year & would then set off on part two; the coast of South Australia, the west Coast up to Broome & then possibly The Kimberley, Arnhem Land before travelling through outback Queensland  on our way home. Thanks to all our supporters that have made this trip possible.

82. South West Rocks, Hat Head, Forster

SOUTH WEST MAGIC No, we didn’t just fish here. This has got to be one of the best spots, bar none. The family had a great stay here. The caravan park, ‘The Big 4’ was the best van park that we stayed in. The locals were friendly, the restaurants & clubs great, the beaches long, clean & unspoilt & did I mention the fishing ? Can’t wait to get back to this part of Oz.

HAT HEAD Hat Head would have to be the most unchanged, quiet little spot in this region. I was last there about 30 years ago & remains virtually unchanged.

FORSTER We enjoyed a few night in Forster & the whole gang enjoyed the experience. Yes it was busy to what we had become accustomed too, but it is truly a pretty place a remains pristine despite the masses that come to this tourist hotspot annually. This is the area known as ‘The Great Lakes’. You could spend weeks exploring the rivers, lakes & creeks up here. We were fortunate to spend a great day on the river alongside the dolphins that inhabit these waters. Later that night we treated ourselves to  a Mexican dinner on the water’s edge. The food was great as was the live entertainment.

81. South West Rocks

SOUTHY WEST FLATTY Nice flatty Dano. Shimano gave the boys a couple of rod & reel packages for the tour. Thanks Shimano.

KING DANE Dane with his first ever Yellow Tail Kingfish. These fish give the angler & real workout & are often difficult to boat. These fish were caught in a very small tinny (52kgs) in rough conditions; well done Dane.

80. Red Rock

FARMER ROB Farmer Rob (as he affectionately called by the boys), helping out Matt with the quad bike.

NATIONAL PARK Once again, there is no knowledge like local knowledge. This is a top spot that the boys would appreciate that I do not reveal. Rob & Scotty often spearfish  here when the conditions are right. This day we just enjoyed the cool waters & the peace & quiet.

CHINGA It poured rain on our last night so we decided to head to the local Chinese Restaurant in Whoopi. When we returned home that evening Rob & I noticed that one of the cows was having trouble delivering her calf. After a little investigation & reading a cuple of calving books we worked out that the calf was breached & that definitely the calf & possibly the cow would die if we weren’t to intervene. We deliovered the calf in mud & rain later that night. It was so good to see a healthy young bull wandering alongside its mother the following morning. Well done Rob; it was a great experience & good to share it with such a good friend. Thanks  guys for a great stay & for looking after the boys & showing them so much.

79. Angourie - Red Rock

ANGOURIE PANDANUS Dane & Matt at the top of the boardwalk that takes you through the dunes to the lovely Angourie Beach.

CORINDI – RED ROCK Another group of old mates live just north of Woolgoolga on the mid north coast. Rob & Lisa & their young family live on 27 acres of prime coastal farmland. Rob has a passion for the land & is an up & coming beef farmer. It’s so good that the kids can roam free & also learn of the simpler things like removing ticks from cattle, growing veges etc.

MATES We arrived at Robs place on Kazza’s birthday, so it was time to party. Some more old friends; Scott & Lou, live up the road. It was so good to catch up & see how everyone’s families have grown & just to hang out with the guys.

78. Yamba - Angourie

SLITHERIN I just noticed this fella on the side of the road as we were passing. A beautiful  7ft long diamond python. As the snake passed under our van he really had a good sniff & at one point I thought  he was going to attach itself to the suspension. Many think that like the people on TV you can just pick these guys up & have a pat. If the snake has been hand reared you can do so, but the ones from the wild will not tolerate any rough hands & if they decide to strike can deliver a nasty wound with the seven rows of sharp teeth they possess.

YAMBA STREET SHOW Hundreds of Hot Rods had converged on the northern  NSW township of Yamba for a street show. Matt calls them ‘Hexies’, the tyre valve caps that are found on cars are normally just a black rubber cap. Some enthusiasts discard the standard rubber type & use varied types such as chrome domed, skulls, dice etc. He is always checking out cars for his beloved hexies & here at Yamba he was not let down.

ANGOURIE BEACH Just south of Yamba is Angourie, a small coastal town of a few houses & a shop. On this day the beach facing north was battered by the prevailing nor’ easter so we ventured to the south side. What a paradise; this would have to be one of the best beaches on New South Wales north coast.

77. Fraser Island - Peregian Beach

FAREWELL FRASER We were up early & onto the sand highway racing south to beat the rising tide. At the southern tip of the island some trees had fallen across the beach which meant that the higher part of the beach was not passable. As a result we had to go around the trees through the rising surf. I  knew that from  when we passed this area on our arrival that it would not be possible at the peak of the tide so we were flat chat for the seventy kilometres that we had to cover. As it turned out we just made it. Only one other truck, a Landcruiser Troopy got through, when I spoke to the driver he told us that he water up to the pedals. As we waited for the barge to take us off the island we noticed this eagle. It was as if he had come to see us off – Such a majestic bird.

EUMUNDI  MARKETS It was great to see some old friends. These were our first friends (other than new found travelling friends) that we had seen since leaving Sydney. Loretta (seen standing with Kaz) are mates from school days & lives with her family on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. We headed to Eumundi markets for the morning. These are markets with a bit of a herbal feel. The people are generally very friendly & the atmosphere is layback. We enjoyed listening to a local band that had a distinct flavour then headed back to Perigian Beach. Thanks To Mick & Loretta & girls. Always fun to catch up with you guys.