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Just
Cruisin 6 day Kangaroo Island, Lake Eyre North and Coober
Pedy
DAY
1:
Depart Adelaide approximately 7:00AM for Kangaroo Island.
We travel along some of South Australia's magnificent coastline
to Cape Jervis where we board the Kangaroo Island Sealink
to Penneshaw. On arrival we take some time discovering Penneshaw
which is situated on the north-east coast of Kangaroo Island,
offering a commanding view of the mainland just 18 kilometres
away across Backstairs Passage. We now follow the coast
towards Kingscote stopping at Prospect Hill. The hill is
the highest point in the area and provides a marvellous
view of Pelican Lagoon, the rolling hills and the Southern
Ocean at Pennington Bay which is a wonderful surf beach.
On a clear day looking north you can see Mount Lofty in
the Adelaide Hills. We now head to the south coast of the
island. It is now onto Seal Bay , a large sandy beach and
dune area where Australian sea lions rest and nurse their
young. We see these rare sea lions under the guidance of
a National Parks Ranger. We walk on the beach within a few
metres of the resting sea lions, basking in the sun. We
now head to Little Sahara, an area of spectacular white
sand dunes surrounded by bush vegetation. Climbing over
the first ridge you are confronted by a second and much
higher dune, which when scaled reveals more dunes flanked
by bushland. Vivonne Bay is also visited and can only be
described as stunningly beautiful. Vivonne Bay is the only
safe harbour on the south coast of the island and is the
base cray fishing and game fishing boats. Overnight Flinders
Chase farmstay or Timber Creek Lodge.
DAY
2: Today we visit Flinders Chase National Park, one
of Australia's largest covering 74,000 hectares. Here you
will see many of the animals and birds you have come to
see. At Rocky River it is possible to view koalas in the
nearby trees. At Cape du Couedic we view the lighthouse
which was constructed in 1906 and considered to be the islands
finest structure. We then proceed down a walkway to Admirals
Arch, the home to a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals. We
travel east to Remarkable Rocks; a cluster of huge, weather
sculptured granite boulders perched on a granite dome that
swoops 75 metres to the sea. We now visit Parndana Wildlife
Park (optional tour) where we see Kangaroo Islands largest
privately owned collection of native animals and birds.
We now take in the sights around Kingscote including Cygnet
River and Duck Lagoon and Emu Bay. This long beach is one
of the most popular spots on the island with safe clear
water for swimming. We head to Penneshaw where we board
the Kangaroo Island Sealink for trip back to Cape Jervis.
We now head to McLaren Vale, arriving approximately 9:30PM.
DAY
3: Depart McLaren Vale approximately 7:00AM for the
opal mining town of Andamooka via Port Augusta, where we
explore the Flinders Ranges and Outback in the Wadlata Outback
Centres Tunnel of Time. Discover its origins, the Aboriginal
Dreaming, European settlement and much more. After morning
tea we visit Woomera. This outback town was established
in 1947 as a site for the launching of experimental rockets.
Attractions include Woomera Heritage Centre and Missile
Park displaying examples of rockets, aircraft and weapons
associated with the testing range. Overnight Andamooka or
Roxby Downs.
DAY
4: After breakfast we head to William Creek via the
Borefield Road and the Oodnadatta Track. At William Creek:
the worlds most isolated pub, you can indulge in a well-deserved
Australian beer. The most important claim to fame for William
Creek is that it is the smallest town in Australia and that
it is located on the worlds largest cattle station (Anna
Creek Station) which is 32,500 square kilometres. We can
walk along the old Ghan Railway Line to the bridge at Breakfast
Time Creek This is a land of contrasts. There's red gibber
plains stretching to the horizon, mound springs (we visit
Bubbler Springs and Blanche Cup Springs) which create bush
oases and wetlands, red gum lined creeks and vast areas
of grey salt bush and spiky spinifex. Remnants of the old
Ghan Railway are abundant along the Oodnadatta Track. An
optional flight over Lake Eyre North and South is available
(own expense). Lake Eyre North which covers 8430 square
kilometres, is 144 kilometres long and 77 kilometres wide
is by far the larger of the two lakes. The creek like Goyder
Channel joins Lake Eyre South to Lake Eyre North, which
at its narrowest is only 150 metres wide. At the lakes lowest
point it is 15.2 metres below sea level and drains more
than one sixth of the continent. Overnight William Creek
Hotel.
DAY
5: Today we head to Coober Pedy in the heart of South
Australia's vast outback; it is an opal wonderland. We spend
some time visiting mines and interpretive centres which
a great insight into the town and its mining operations.
There are more than 30 opal shops in Coober Pedy if you
like to purchase some opal. The town takes its name from
the Aboriginal word Kupa (uninitiated man or white man)
and Piti (hole). We also visit the Breakaway's Reserve and
Moon Plain before we head to underground accommodation for
our overnight stop.
DAY
6: We follow the Stuart Highway south revisiting Port
Augusta on our return to Adelaide. Arriving at your accommodation
approximately 6:00PM.
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