Today’s drive was down the coast of Eyre Peninsula and the Great Australian Bight to Port Lincoln. I was most surprised to find that Boston Bay, where Port Lincoln is situated, is one of the largest protected harbours in the world and is three times the size of Sydney Harbour.
As we drove down the coast this morning and stood on the cliffs, looking towards the ocean, we realized just how spectacular the coast is all along the Great Australian Bight yet we go and marvel at the cliffs in Ireland. The beaches here are also beautiful and are a surfers and a fisherman’s delight.
We stopped at the Colton Bakery for some wood-fired bread. It is a road-side self-serve and the bread is delicious – very crusty. Look at the photo!
The caravan park is on the shore of Boston Bay so we have a great view. Will be here for a couple of days as we want to visit Coffin Bay and Lincoln National Park before we head north.
Monday 31 October 2011
Sunday 30 October 2011
Streaky Bay – Murphys Haystacks – Pt Labatt 30th October
Sunny morning this morning. Drove another of the tourist loops. First stop was Murphy’s Haystacks. It is supposedly the most visited tourist spot in the Eyre Peninsula. The rocks are actually “Inselbergs” that are 100 000 years old. They were buried by calcareous dune sand about 30 000 years ago and subsequent erosion has gradually revealed the granite rocks that we can see.
We drove down to Port Kenny which is on Venus Bay. The bay is huge as are most of the bays we have seen. Great fishing spots all along this coast. Back then to Pt Labatt Conservation Park where the only permanent colony of Australian Sea Lions in Australia reside. At first we did not think there were any there but we located a couple then we could see them everywhere.
Then it was off to Sceale Bay. To get there we drove around the headwaters of Baird Bay while on our left were huge sand dunes. Had lunch there as we sat looking over the bay. There was a public loo built near the beach. It was built out of rocks and had a window looking out to sea. It was called “Camelot”. Just love the Aussie humour! By the time we arrived back in Streaky Bay, cloud cover had moved in and again it is quite cool. A really strong wind has been blowing all day – What’s new? We have hardly had a day since we left home where the wind was not blowing strongly!!!
While there are some beautiful coastal spots here, I don’t think it can compare with the SW corner of WA.
We drove down to Port Kenny which is on Venus Bay. The bay is huge as are most of the bays we have seen. Great fishing spots all along this coast. Back then to Pt Labatt Conservation Park where the only permanent colony of Australian Sea Lions in Australia reside. At first we did not think there were any there but we located a couple then we could see them everywhere.
Then it was off to Sceale Bay. To get there we drove around the headwaters of Baird Bay while on our left were huge sand dunes. Had lunch there as we sat looking over the bay. There was a public loo built near the beach. It was built out of rocks and had a window looking out to sea. It was called “Camelot”. Just love the Aussie humour! By the time we arrived back in Streaky Bay, cloud cover had moved in and again it is quite cool. A really strong wind has been blowing all day – What’s new? We have hardly had a day since we left home where the wind was not blowing strongly!!!
While there are some beautiful coastal spots here, I don’t think it can compare with the SW corner of WA.
Saturday 29 October 2011
Ceduna – Streaky Bay 29th October
After the long drive yesterday, we had a sleep in this morning. It was only 107km to Streaky Bay and as soon as we arrived, we booked in to the Foreshore Tourist Park. It is right on Doctors Beach and our room is only 50 m from the beach.
Once we settled in, we did two of the tourist circuit drives. The first – Westall Way Loop Drive took us to Tractor Beach, then the Granites, Salmon Pool and Yarrerbie Sandhills. The cliffs down to Tractor Beach were limestone and very rough. On the way up, I caught my shoe under a rock and fell over. The camera went one way, me another and Jo trying to reach me to see that I was okay. Would have been quite funny to watch I think. Luckily, we all escaped without too much damage.
Our next drive was the Cape Bauer Loop Drive. The trouble with cliffs is that you have to go down to reach the beach and then climb the steps to return. Think we probably did about 600 steps. On this loop we saw Hallys Beach, the Blowholes and Cape Bauer.
This morning was quite cloudy but the clouds cleared away this afternoon to be a sunny day.
Once we settled in, we did two of the tourist circuit drives. The first – Westall Way Loop Drive took us to Tractor Beach, then the Granites, Salmon Pool and Yarrerbie Sandhills. The cliffs down to Tractor Beach were limestone and very rough. On the way up, I caught my shoe under a rock and fell over. The camera went one way, me another and Jo trying to reach me to see that I was okay. Would have been quite funny to watch I think. Luckily, we all escaped without too much damage.
Our next drive was the Cape Bauer Loop Drive. The trouble with cliffs is that you have to go down to reach the beach and then climb the steps to return. Think we probably did about 600 steps. On this loop we saw Hallys Beach, the Blowholes and Cape Bauer.
This morning was quite cloudy but the clouds cleared away this afternoon to be a sunny day.
Friday 28 October 2011
Madura – Eucla – Fowlers Bay – Ceduna 28th October
Had an early start this morning as we wanted to get to Eucla early so that I could take some photos of the Eucla Ruins in the early morning light. We covered the 200 km by 8 AM so drove down to the ruins then did the 1 Km walk to the beach and the old jetty over the sand dunes.
On the way back, at the old telegraph station, there was a huge tree. It had a number of galahs and sulphur crested cockatoos in it. Managed to get a few photos that I hope are sharp. Then back to the Eucla Roadhouse for a coffee. They have a fantastic garden at the back so we sat there to have coffee. The pond was full of frogs. Could not believe it!!! Birds and frogs!!!! all in the same morning.
Just before Nullarbor Roadhouse a dingo crossed the road. The golf hole at Nullarbor is called the Dingo’s Den. There were no whales sighted at the Head of Bight today. We drove down to Fowlers Bay where we hoped to stay the night but “No room at the Inn”! We visited the jetty, beach and the huge white sand-dunes. I partially climbed one of the big dunes but time was marching on so returned to the car and drove to Ceduna where we found accommodation in the caravan park that faces the bay.
On the way back, at the old telegraph station, there was a huge tree. It had a number of galahs and sulphur crested cockatoos in it. Managed to get a few photos that I hope are sharp. Then back to the Eucla Roadhouse for a coffee. They have a fantastic garden at the back so we sat there to have coffee. The pond was full of frogs. Could not believe it!!! Birds and frogs!!!! all in the same morning.
Just before Nullarbor Roadhouse a dingo crossed the road. The golf hole at Nullarbor is called the Dingo’s Den. There were no whales sighted at the Head of Bight today. We drove down to Fowlers Bay where we hoped to stay the night but “No room at the Inn”! We visited the jetty, beach and the huge white sand-dunes. I partially climbed one of the big dunes but time was marching on so returned to the car and drove to Ceduna where we found accommodation in the caravan park that faces the bay.
Esperance – Norseman – Madura 27th October
Still overcast when we awoke. Drove to north to Norseman before turning east on the Eyre Highway. Clouds were hanging around all day. Jo drove the Straightest Stretch of road in Australia on the way over so I drove it on the way back. Diesel at Balladonia was almost $2 per litre!! Just before we got to the Caiguna we saw our first Wedge Tailed Eagle. The golf hole at Caiguna is called the Eagle’s Nest!! Had to change times just east of Caiguna and we were not sure where we were with time!!!
Stayed the night at Madura Roadhouse. It was really stormy and while we were having dinner, it really came down!!! It was hot in our room and we both had difficulty sleeping.
Stayed the night at Madura Roadhouse. It was really stormy and while we were having dinner, it really came down!!! It was hot in our room and we both had difficulty sleeping.
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