Saturday, February 11, 2012

Kangaroo Island & Barossa Trip - Apr 2011 - Days 7-10

The remainder of the trip was spent in the Barrossa Valley.

After a morning ferry trip and a visit to to some family in Adelaide we arrived that evening in Tanunda which was our base for the next 3 full days.

Tununda Township
We stayed at the Tununda Caravan and Tourist Park which was a nice bit of luxury compared to Kangaroo Island and obviously with less privacy.

We spent some of the time visiting a few of the local wineries including Grant Burge, Two Hands
Kellermeister, Langmeil and Jacobs Creek.


The Barrossa Valley
 We also visited the Lyndoch Lavender Farm

And took a ride in a hot air balloon which was a real treat.


We loved the Barrossa and will most likely go back for another visit. Great place to relax and unwind.

Kangaroo Island & Barossa Trip - Apr 2011 - Day 6

I need to finish the posts for this trip. I've been carried away planning for next year's trip.

So back on the last trip.

Day 6 was our last full day on the island so we cramped a few things in, including:

Clifford's Honey Farm, Eucalyptus Distillery and Prospect Hill (below):



Then went via Charing Cross Road



To see Cape Willoughby Lighthouse and Lashmar Lagoon:



Staying the night at Antechamber Bay - We went to the south side of the river where it was a very quiet, secluded camping spot. (albeit with no facilities).

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

2013 Trip Dates and Map

Slight change of plans.

We've decide to only include the top section of the CSR in the trip and to join the track from the east via Gary Jct Road. The plan is to get there in time for the May 10, 2013 Solar Eclipse.

Here is the trip map.


View LSL Trip Plan in a larger map

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Kangaroo Island & Barossa Trip - Apr 2011 - Day 5

Day 5 was a trip back to Vivonne Bay to hire some sand boards for some fun at Little Sahara.


As it turns out there is a right way and a wrong way to surf these dunes.

This is the wrong way.

And this is the right way.

You need to be fit because there is no "ski" lift so its a trudge to the top of the dune for you 10 secs of thrills.

After returning the boards we travelled on to Kingscote to set up the van before a trip out to the Bay Of Shoals winery. They produce a nice local drop.

The winery over looks a bay which is a stark contrast to the south side of KI where the seas are rough and the wind fierce. The Bay of Shoals was calm and serene.



 A beautiful part of the world.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Kangaroo Island & Barossa Trip - Apr 2011 - Day 4

Vivonne Bay Camping Ground is really well set up with showers and toilets and the camp ground itself is well secluded and only a short walk to the beach.

Vivonne Bay is probably the most spectacular beach on Kangaroo Island and although the weather was not that great for us - on a nice day would rival the best beaches in the world.



So after a morning walk we left for the western part of Kangaroo Island.

First stop was Kelly Hill Caves a spectacular example of various types of cave formations. The guides are very knowledgeable and unless you are very claustrophobic this is a very accessible cave experience. Note the stairs at the entrance are very steep.


From Kelly Hill Caves we drove to Flinders Chase National Park Visitors center to plan the rest of the day. The Visitors Center is an informative and welcoming place. Its a nice café and the staff are very helpful in giving you he various options.

We decided to go to the remarkable rocks first.




See why they are called the Remarkable Rocks? A really interesting location.

From there it was a short drive to the Lighthouse and Admiral's Arch.

Before the road was put through the Lighthouse community was supplied via this Jetty and the supplies were winched up this slope.


Admirals arch houses another seal community - so it kinda smells. But another very interesting location.




Then it was back to the visitors center to book a camping spot. We had chosen West Bay a beautiful secluded bay on the western end of the island. (Oh that's why they call it "West" Bay).


Camping spots a few but we managed to choose a night where we were the only ones. It was this night we found out the Kimberley Karavan is not mozzie proof. Plenty of itching the next day.

But it was a small price to pay to have such a beautiful location all to ourselves.


Kangaroo Island & Barossa Trip - Apr 2011 - Day 3

Day 3

So after our morning walk to view the beach at Stokes Bay we drove south to Parndana. Nothing there at all except a local pub. It was wet so we kept going south to Vivonne Bay where we set up camp.

We then set off for Seal Bay to see the seals.


The weather was very windy with intermittent showers so there wasn't as many people around as might otherwise have been. We were fortunate enough to be the only ones wanting a guided tour at the time we chose so we were able to experience an intimate tour of the beach to get up close and personal for some great photos.




Then it was back to the Karavan after a quick coffee and apple strudel at the Seal Bay Café.

On the way back we went for a look at Vivonne Bay from the western point. The sea was rough and it was blowing a gale.


A week later someone was killed at this very spot - taken by a freak wave.


Friday, November 11, 2011

Kangaroo Island & Barossa Trip - Apr 2011 - Day 2

The weather wasn't great a bit drizzly in the morning when we were packing up so we really appreciated the Kimberley Karavan. One of my pet hates is packing up wet canvas - no canvas on the KK.

We drove to American river where we found our first Pelicans.


Then in to the metropolis of Kingscote. Nice little town with very friendly people.

Kangaroo Island is typical of many island communities there is a strong local cohesion but a welcoming of visitors on whom the local economy relies for much of their income. We had a similar experience on Norfolk Island 5 years ago.

We went to Stokes Bay via Sheps Studio. We liked Shep's artwork. Certainly worth a look. Find him on Flickr.

The trip to Stokes Bay was via Emu bay but Emu Bay camping ground was a bit too open for our liking. Whereas the camping ground at Stokes Bay was more secluded and the place more interesting.



Stokes Bay

Sunset at Stokes Bay


We had a coffee at the Rock Pool Café not bad at all for off the beaten track.

In the morning we went for the very short walk to the beach. To get there you have to walk through this narrow gap in the rocks.


But the beach is beautiful on the other side




Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Kangaroo Island & Barossa Trip - Apr 2011 - Day 1

Its about time I wrote about our South Australian Trip back in April.

We had a fanastic trip - the 1st multi day trip in our Kimberley Karavan.

Day 1. Travel from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island.

Straight down the main street (Western Hwy). Tried to out smart the GPS by turning off too early and ended up wasting time getting back on track but made the ferry in heaps of time.

Lunch at Bordertown
Nice break at Yankalilla Bay



This is thought to be the most expensive ferry in the world measured on a $ p/Km basis.
Nice sunset on the ferry ride over to the Island.
It was dark when we reached the Island. So we took the short trip to Browns Beach and stayed the night there.

Stay tuned more detail to follow.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Time to get serious about the next BIG trip.

May 2013 still sounds like a long way off but it will come soon enough.

Currently looking at at least 14,000ks if we do the following:

Across the Nullabor then up to Wiluna.
Do the Canning Stock Route from south to north. (15 Days?)
Up to Wyndham then across to Derby via the Gibb River Track
Over to Broome then down the west coast.
Do the south west corner then across to Esperance then home.

Its a pretty quick trip in 53 days so will probably slow it down and pad it out to 10-12 weeks.

Looking more closely at places to stop and see along the way.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Off to Kangaroo Island

Well past due time to get this new Kimberley Karavan out for an extended trip.

We are off to Kangaroo Island this week coming back via the Barossa Valley.

Friday, March 12, 2010

New Offroad Accomodation on the way.

Well we've taken the plunge and ordered a new mobile B&B.

The requirement this time was to find something as versatile as the Aussie Swag Trailer in terms of its off road capability yet more comfortable in a greater range of weather conditions.

We really dislike packing up wet canvas and not being able to find respite in hot weather. Yet most of the "off road" caravans available seem nothing more than a conventional van bolted to a heavier chassis and higher suspension. And a motor home while being very comfortable is less practical for getting around once you have made camp.

So the list of possibilities was down to a very small group of new breed solutions that are best described as a cross between a caravan and a camper trailer.

We've settled on a Kimberley Karavan - Series 3 LTD. Its built on Kimberley's camper trailer chassis and suspension but has no canvas except an awning and comes with aircon, vaccuum toilet and internal shower. The LTD has a 315 amp/hr battery pack and we have ordered the 140w solar panels.

The new rig should be ready in June.

Can't wait!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Camper Trailer - SOLD

Thanks heaps to campertrailers.org.au

I got some excellent enquiries and finally a buyer.

Now for a replacement.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Camper Trailer For Sale

Yes we have finally decided to upgrade the Trailer.

Click Here for all the details of the sale.


Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Apologies

Apologies to those who made comments that I didn't publish - all fixed now.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Heres a YouTube Video of track conditions on the cape.