by Elizabeth Coughlan

Created on: August 29, 2010

With a day to spare in Adelaide, we signed up for a tour to Kangaroo Island. We were so glad we did, as the trip was amazing. There was so much to see, that it was days before we could assimilate all the sights and sounds that had assailed our senses. Kangaroo Island is seven times the size of Singapore, with natural, untamed beaches, native bushland, and an abundance of wildlife. It really is extraordinarily beautiful.

We boarded our coach in Adelaide at 6.15am, for the two-hour journey to Cape Jarvis, where we were to catch the ferry to Penneshaw. The crossing was rather rough, and there was the occasional scream as the boat rocked and rolled on the ocean waves. We were rewarded for our pain, however, as we spotted a school of dolphins, leaping in and out of the water. Not before time, we landed on Kangaroo Island, where we joined our tour bus, and met the driver, who was also our guide for the day.

Our first stop was Seal Bay, although it really should be called Sea-lion Bay, as it was populated by Australian Sea-lions. We were taken to Seal Bay's visitor center, where we had a short talk about the dangers involved when getting close to these animals. We were told to be very quiet, not make any sudden moves, and to listen to the tour guide's instructions. Fortunately we were all well behaved, especially when we saw the size of some of those beasts. No one wanted to risk becoming entangled with one of them, especially as they outnumbered us. There must have been at least 200 of them lying on the beach and among the rocks. We stayed at Seal Bay for about 30 minutes, and got some great photos, particularly of a baby seal that was lying beside our path.

By then it was lunchtime, which was at Vivonne Bay Eco Adventures. The lunch was OK, but the beach was amazing, just like a dream Caribbean beach. After lunch, we took to the road again, heading for Raptor Domain, and the Bird of Prey show. This was quite extraordinary. We watched eagles, owls, falcons and kookaburra's, among others, flying and landing on gloved hands, and even on the laps of the audience. The wedge-tailed eagles were especially beautiful, but I was glad they were kept at a distance, as they were rather scary.

By now, we needed to eat again, so our driver took us to the Visitor Centre in the Flinders Chase National Park, our next port of call. This is the jewel in the crown of Kangaroo Island, and I have vowed to return one day to spend longer there. After we had eaten our fill, we piled back into the bus for a tour of the main features of the park. The first was the Remarkable Rocks, so called because of their weird and wonderful shapes, formed by hundreds of years of weathering. The rocks are quite big, but it wasn't difficult to climb them. At the top, we were rewarded by a magnificent view of Hanson Bay and Admirals Arch, our next destination.

Admirals Arch is a result of weathering and sea erosion. The arch is quite dramatic, and fringed with jagged spikes of rock. There is a colony of fur seals there, which makes the place rather smelly, but they are lovely to watch as they slither into the water for a swim, and then climb out onto the rocks again. All too soon, we were whisked back to the Visitor Center to purchase a few mementos, before being driven back to the ferry.

We had a fabulous day, but one day is really not enough to explore the whole of Kangaroo Island, it needs at least 3 or 4 days. We will return, but hopefully for a much longer time. My camera trigger finger is already itching.

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