A couple of days ago we were at Young River. We set up the camp and we decided to go fishing. I was excited to use my new fishing rod. We 4X4’d to the river and we saw kangaroos everywhere.
We threw our fishing rods out and you get bites in 5 seconds and then I felt a big bite and I pulled it in and it was a big black bream. It was 28cm long and it broke my rod. I was really sad.
Adelaide was a very welcome change of pace. We spent some time on Glenelg beach with friends Amanda, Dan and their kids, and caught up with our new friends we met in Stokes Bay, James, Liz, and their kids. Xavier kept leaving items of clothing and hats behind (possibly intentional) so we kept returning to collect them giving the kids further time to catch up.
Kids at Stokes Bay, KI
We needed to give the Pajero a 150,000km service and our close friend, Deb, from Sydney insisted we stay with he parents Michelle and Ken for our last two days as it was near the garage, and we were very grateful once again for the hospitality.
Being close to the city we decided to visit some of the sights. Amanda was keen to revisit Central Markets so that was our first stop in the city. Tasting the produce was the order of the day and with our senses tantalised we then caught the tram to Rundle St Mall, watched some buskers, and headed to the museum.
Adelaide museum has to be one of the best we have ever visited ! Not only is it free entry but the exhibits are immaculately presented. The kids even managed to get on a holiday session on how to prepare butterfly and insect specimens. They got to pin their own butterflies and take them home. Whilst they were doing this I explored the Aboriginal, and Pacific galleries. The kids loved all the South Australian fauna sections and the information centre was quite hands on with items to place under microscopes, live creatures and some extremely enthusiastic staff who were very interested in Xavier’s fossilised whale tooth, that unfortunately we had neglected to bring with us. They did think from the photos though that it could be a sperm whale.
Before we knew it the car was serviced and it was time to move on again
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.
WIshing all our family,friends and loyal followers a wonderful Christmas and an amazing 2015!
Maybe some of you will visit us on our travels?? Hint hint!! Just having you all follow the blog and sending us messages and challenges brightens our days! So keep them coming… If you have troubles logging on or responding to a post let us know.
So… 8 weeks on the road – where has it gone? And what have we done? And what have we achieved and learnt??
Leaving Sydney, packing up our home and trying to decide what a family of 5 has to pack to travel for 12 months in a little camper trailer…. Hmmm tough job – I still remember the last day and squeezing the last of our belongings into our storage and other stuff into the car – 2 of our lovely friends C and S helping us close up the camper – because we had only taken delivery of our CT only a week earlier we were still learning – it took a while!! And I’m happy to say we have it down pat now!! Our first stop at green patch ( which is divine!! Sydneysiders – tip go outside of any holidays) where we stayed 4 nights just to get over the pure exhaustion!!
The kids are learning what their jobs are and are getting better at packing away their sleep bags and camp chairs, washing up😉,helping with tent pegs and ropes for the awnings, filling drink bottles etc,etc! They have barely seen tv, and are learning to find there fun elsewhere – climbing trees, finding beetles, bird watching, beach combing, looking for bones😁 of various animals ( even a whole seal at one beach!) do they still fight ?? Of course they do – especially in the car😠 but they are learning so much about life and nature etc! Distance education is amazing – I am happy to say we are on holidays though !! Yay !!
Four wheel driving is not one of my favourite things – in fact my stress levels go into overdrive – if any of you read about a track we did coming into the Huon valley called Jeffrey’s track 😖 I could barely watch and thank goodness for the 2 guys that helped us out I couldn’t do anything!! I was asked to take photos – but not being able to even watch made that quite hard!! We got stuck in sand recently which wasn’t as bad but still had the grey hairs emerging! We had to turn back to the road to go another way that time! But we finished the day with fish and chips ( a big treat) and Christmas carols in Robe SA.
Christmas for us is on Kangaroo island – I am hitting the shops tomorrow for some Christmas cheer – will try and sneak some home made rocky road in ( we are staying in a house! Yes a house for the first time in 8 weeks- thanks Hugh 👍) some Bon bons – J is hoping to catch us a crayfish for lunch???? I heard Oscar telling one of his classmates on the phone that no Santa won’t find us this year …. But grandma is sending a small parcel!! My heart melted- he was so ok with it!❤️
My my favourite places so far …. Hmmm Green Patch NSW is definitely up there, I loved the VIC countryside around Omeo, Boat harbour TAS, Narawntapu NP in TAS is gorgeous as was friendly beaches and bay of fires TAS , the Coorong is very pretty SA and I am sure lots more to come.
Animals – we have seen lots!!! Today we found 3 shingle back lizards which was cool! Tassie Devils, rare black carnivorous snails, seals, echidnas,wombats,kangaroos,wallabies and other hopping things of all shapes and sizes – I’m officially confused as to what wallaby is what and what is a pademelon or a bennets wallaby etc etc!!! We have seen only a couple of snakes,dolphins, koalas,emus, thousands of birds – John has turned into a serious twitcher!!
Cooking for a family of 5 on a 3 burner stove – sometimes I see the photos on Instagram that friends are posting of things like weetbix slice!!!! Thanks B!! Made my mouth water!!!! We do lots Like fried rice, fajitas,bbq, damper and toasting marshmallows has been fun – we still need to perfect our damper if anyone has any recipes – Hannah is our damper chef!!!! Hamburgers, Koftas,bacon and eggs and tuna pasta is a rough idea!! Any recipe ideas? Send them through!!!!
Anyway, enough from me! Have a wonderful wonderful Christmas – think of us – we think of you all, have an amazing holiday break and fabulous 2015,
lots of love from all the fifty toes! 🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁
Fifty Toes Walkabout 
Recent Comments