A very belated Happy New Year to all. Here’s hoping 2015 brings you all good health, happiness, and plenty of adventure!
Flinders Chase National Park occupies a large proportion the western end of Kangaroo Island, and when I visited Rocky River many years ago it was abundant with the stocky Kangaroo Island kangaroos, echidnas, koalas, Tammar wallabies, snakes and much more. In 2007 a bushfire swept through the park devastating two thirds of the bush, so things had changed and I think Rocky River, the centre of the park has been rebuilt.
Wildlife still abounds, though not quite as intrusively as previously. The animals are still there though it seemed in smaller numbers. Birdlife proliferates around the centre at Rocky River and a number of short walks around the centre provides the visitor with opportunities to see the crimson rosellas, cape barren geese, scarlet robins and lots more. The visitors centre kept the kids busy for several hours with their touch tables of local animal skins, information about the megafauna that used inhabit the area tens of thousand years ago. The centre also provides a kit bag of tools for the kids to explore the sandpit. They got to experience the thrills of archaeologists, digging up/exposing megafauna bones in a 5 x 3m pit, a great learning experience.
We had to visit Remarkable Rocks which look like a giant has scattered unusually sculptured rocks on a solid granite base. The forces of erosion together with orange lichen growth make it a imposing site perched above the southern ocean backdrop.
Nearby, Admirals Arch hosts a colony of Long Nosed Fur Seals (previously NZ fur seals) which can be smelt long before you see them (very fishy and stinky), basking in and around the significant rock arch formation it was the season for spotting pups and some very cute ones at that.
For Christmas we headed to the most western point of the island, West Bay. The campsite was barely big enough for the trailer and awning but a lovely quiet spot perched just above a clean sandy surf beach. The kids didn’t hesitate their wildlife search and within a few stone turns we had new pets – Scorpions! Yes, scorpions in all colours and sizes. The kids took great pleasure feeding them ants and showing them off to our neighbours and their kids. Santa did find us there though his reindeer appeared to have a serious scuffle with the local possums judging by the commotion during the night in the campsite.
Fifty Toes Walkabout 
Happy New Year Sears!
Your adventures & photos keep getting better! Loving the updates.
Cheers to you all! xxxxx
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Once again beautiful and amazing pictures. Happy new year to you and your family. Your journal is so great to read and we cant wait until the book comes out. Love JTFM and family
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Hi John
Great to hear from you and glad to see you have survived another season of festivities. Two months in and we’re already running out of time. We’re back in Adelaide with my cave diving buddy Hugh – trying to work out where to go next – heat of the north or stick to the original plan and follow the coast.
Love to you all
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Sorry mate. Also love the beard very Robinson Caruso. Xxx
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Ha ha the beard has just been shaved 15 mins ago – before I read the comment. I gave Oscar a number 3 all over too – it was either that or a mullet or rattail!
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Happy New Year! That baby fur seal was so cute, bit the kids wanted to keep it. All good here xo
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Hi Judy
The kids want to keep everything they find, but currently have a macabre interest in animal bones they keep finding! Great to hear all is well with you.
Love from us all
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Hi Sears one and all.
Happy New Year !!!
We have just got back from our 2 week camping trip which sort of pales in comparison…..Sounds like you’re all having lots of fun and the kids are learning lots too.
Back to work for me tomorrow, and Jeanette on Wed – enjoy the extended break and keep the posts coming !!
All the best for 2015
The Hell Yeahs !!
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Happy NY to the Hell Yeahs!
Good to hear you got out camping too. Come and join us somewhere in the next ten months. I’ve already started planning the second lap to see all the bits we have already missed, or know we won’t have time to see.
Good luck back at work – luckily kids don’t start school for another few weeks.
Take care
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