Kangaroo Island – Australia’s Wild Life Park Island

It was my second and last tour in South Australia, I knew that one of the hardest thing to decide when traveling is choosing which tour or adventure to select and which one is to give up. When I’m planning my holiday in this state, I wished that I had a longer days of holiday but I don’t have. After spending some thoughts about it, I chose Grand Adelaide and Kangaroo Island tour. I already published the stories happened to me on my first day in Adelaide in my previous posts and this time I am focused in my Kangaroo Island experience.

Every time I travel, I tried my best to see the national park around the area or nearby area because I have this thoughts that there is something special in such kind of place, something considered as natural treasure that humanity must protect. Kangaroo Island has Flinders Chase National Park and conservation parks wherein Seal Bay Conservation Park is one of them. The name of the Kangaroo Island was made because the early explorer of the island was came from the group of Matthew Flinders and at that time they haven’t eaten meat for so long until they saw small Kangaroo which the group hunted. That kind of story behind the names of places sometimes quite fascinating to learn.

Kangaroo Island Sealink Ferry Terminal - Cape Jervis

— Kangaroo Island Sealink Ferry Terminal – Cape Jervis Port

— Kangaroo Island from Kangaroo Island Sealink Ferry Terminal – Cape Jervis Port

From my hotel, the tour bus picked me up and we traveled to Cape Jervis for more than 1.5 hours where the Kangaroo Island Sealink ferry terminal is located. We jumped off the bus and transferred to the ferry that will bring us to the island which gave us a chance to cruise Backstairs Passage. In less than an hour we arrived at Penneshaw which is the ferry terminal of Sealink in Kangaroo Island. We left the ferry and transferred to the tour bus that’s waiting for us.

At Penneshaw Kangaroo Island - Kangaroo Island Sealink Ferry Terminal

— Kangaroo Island Penneshaw Port – Bay Terrace

From Penneshaw, we took Bay Terrace and North Terrace. We turned left to Thomas Wilson St to Howard Drive, then straight to Hog Bay Road. I enjoyed the ride as my eyes wandering in sceneries that I saw in the island such as Penneshaw Hotel near the port and Sea Dragon Lodge where a yacht station for island residences and visitors. The island is said to be the third largest island in Australia which means that one day may not enough to see all of the island. While inside the bus, one of my self entertainment was capturing photos as much as I can to remember all the places that I had been.

— Some window view snapshots from the bus along North Terrace road.

— Snapshots along Howard Drive

— Snapshots from Hog Bay Road

After passing Howard Drive, we stayed in Hog Bay Road in a while. Along the road, we saw American River which looks like a lake at first while inside the bus just to realised it is a river where it ends in Easter Cove of the island. Next thing happened that I noticed, we turned left on the way to Seal Bay Conservation Park. I can’t remember which road we took but one thing that I remembered, we passed the nearby island airport. We reached the Seal Bay Conservation Park. The park is located in the nearby coastal area or beach area called as Seal Bay Aquatic Reserve which is the access to many seals towards the bay. The park has boardwalk where visitors can walk through without disturbing the seals around the park. During our visits, most of the seals that I saw were sleeping or lets say they were resting. When I saw the seals, it actually confused me because they look like a sea-lion to me. But I noticed there’s difference between Seal and sea-lion. I found out that seal has small flipper, wriggle on their bellies on land and lack visible ear flaps while sea-lion has large flipper, walk on land using flipper and have visible ear flaps.

American River from Hog Bay Rd

—  American River from Hog Bay Rd

DSC05232

DSC05231

— Seal Bay Visitor Information Centre

— Seal Bay Conservation Park

DSC05230

DSC05207

— Sleepyhead Seals

I enjoyed my walk around the Seal Bay, with the help of our tour guide, we got a chance to walk in the nearby seashore area where we saw other seals in the sand, some were just came from the sea and some were sleepyhead seals. While looking and watching the seals, I can say they are one of the cutest sea-lion family that I saw. Seal Bay is in the southern part of the island where I experienced cold wind from the south because I visited the place during the end of month of Autumn season.

DSC05219

DSC05213

DSC05211

— Sleepyhead Seals with some group of birds flocked together

— Seal Bay Aquatic Reserve

After enjoying Seals, we move to one of the wild life park in the island called Kangaroo Island Wild Park. Before it was called as Parndana Wildlife Park. Here we got a chance to see other animals aside from seals wherein the park collaborates with the island as they also protects and takes care of the animal being by providing conducive environment for them. After the wild life park, next area of the island we visited was Remarkable Rocks. Before we reached the magnificent rock formation, we stopped at the Remarkable Lookout to see the rock formation from a distance.

— Some animals at Kangaroo Island Wild Park (Parndana Wildlife Park)

— Kangaroo Island Wild Park (Parndana Wildlife Park)

Flinders Chase National Park

IMG_1069

IMG_1067

— At Boxer Drive near Remarkable Rocks Lookout

Along Boxer Drive we appreciated exquisite sceneries along the edges of the island or the coastline. The bay is what they call Great Australian Bight. Within the area, where ever I turned my eyes into, I saw calmness and beauty of the place admiring the island and felt good knowing it is being protected as many generations will  be able to visit the place.

DSC05255

IMG_1124

IMG_1130

IMG_1111

— At Remarkable Rocks (Surrounding Area)

IMG_1096

IMG_1126

IMG_1121

IMG_1106

— Remarkable Rocks

Remarkable Rocks is one of the popular tourist site in the island. When I saw the rocks, I was surprised because of its unique shapes and the location where the rocks stands. Because the rocks standout, it is noticeable whether you are in the island or you are in the sea. The name remarkable is probably appropriate as the name of the rocks because it is distinguishable among other rocks known to the world.

Next thing happened was were driving to Cape Du Couedic Road where we saw Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse. The area is part of Flinders Chase National Park, like the Remarkable Rocks, the place has amazing sceneries to enjoy. Based on history, the coastline off Flinders Chase became the final resting place of 14 ships which came to grief on the rocky shores which led to push the building of the tower in the area though even there some contingency lights used before.

It is the same place where to find the Admirals Arch and the New Zealand sea-lion fur. Before we end our tour in the island, we had a short visit in Flinders Chase National Park Visitor Centre.

— At Cape Du Couedic Road on the way to Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse looking towards Great Australian Bight

IMG_1181

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

— Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse

IMG_1167

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

— Admirals Arch

IMG_1147

— At Admirals Arch Boardwalk looking towards Great Australian Bight with Casuarina Islets

DSC05262

— At Admirals Arch Boardwalk looking towards Great Australian Bight

When I was following the boardwalk in placed in the area, I never expected another tourist spot, I was actually looking for seal or sea-lion when I found out the Admirals Arch. It was a unique landmark because of it was made naturally by nature with time passed by.

The final place we went into before leaving the island park was Flinders Chase National Park Visitor Centre where more information displayed about the island, souvenir stores and cafe to indulge with.

Within the tourist group I had, there were visitors who need to go the island airport, because they were in a hurry to fly back to their country. I forgot which country it was, these travellers can afford to see places in short period of time while they can still able to catch their international flight, well I honestly admired them for taking chances to see more as much with a little time left.

DSC05272

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

— Flinders Chase National Park Visitor Centre

Hahndorf – Australia’s Oldest Surviving German Settlement Town

After coming from Mount Lofty Summit, we drove straight to Hahndorf, the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia. The town is located at Adelaide Hills which part of Mount Lofty Ranges. After I heard that Handorf is a German Town, I was really curious, as myself coming from an asian country such as mine, wondering what it looks like and what it feels like to be in a German Town. In less than half an hour after we left “The Summit”, we arrived in Hanhdorf.

First thing to noticed before we parked our tour bus were the trees along the Main St. The atmosphere that struck me was like a classic town with the touch of being a farm village. We got off the bus and I joined other tourists which I guessed the age gap was probably not that big compare to mine. They were three whom traveling solo, but in Hahndorf, we looked like friends that traveled together. As of this writing I can’t remember their names anymore. But I had a great time being with them. One of them was German, that was why she’s quite familiar in the ambiance of the place. She’s the one who mentioned to us that German Sausage is typical in a German town.

— Hahndorf Inn

We walked along the Main Street, from the parking area, we started our experience in one of the restaurants where we tasted their cakes. When we entered in the restaurant named Hahndorf Inn, I had this impression that its like a cowboy cafe because of the interior design of the restaurant, some parts seems made from wood and the other parts were concrete. Hahndorf Inn has a long history in the place and I guessed that the inn had been witnessed to a lot of people’s live in the area and even the lives of the visitors that happened there.

— Hahndorf Inn

After we finished our cakes we left Hahndorf Inn. We tried to explore most of the shops and stores along the Main Street. We stopped a little bit in Hahndorf Candle Barn where we found different kinds of candles, scented and crafted candles with additional artistic accessories. Then, it followed by German Village Shop where we saw traditional clocks which famous in old days such as cuckoo clocks and complimented by other hand-made crafts.

— Hahndorf Candle Barn

— German Village Shop

After reading stuff (from the official site of Hahhdorf) about this German town, I came to learn that the place is one of the historical place not only in Australia but also in Germany. Hahndorf name was came from the name of the ship’s captain that brought the German people in South Australia named Dirk Hahn, a Danes. These German immigrants were Lutherans who experienced great persecution in their faith from the King of Prussia whom got a chance to migrate in this part of Adelaide Hills.

Other places or establishments we passed were Leathersmith and Bush Gallery which we saw displaying leather made good products, Cafe 1839 (which closed that time), Hahndorf Academy which is one of historical building in the town as it used in different purposes from the time it was built last 1857, The German Arms Hotel which marked as historical, significant hotel in the town and serves local German beers, The Hahndorf Old Mill Hotel, The Stables Inn and Pioneer Memorial Gardens.

— Leathersmith and Bush Gallery

— Cafe 1839

— Hahndorf Academy

— The German Arms Hotel

— The Hahndorf Old Mill Hotel

— The Stables Inn

— Pioneer Memorial Gardens

Mount Lofty Summit – South Australia’s Majestic Summit

Morning day tour was over and our bus returned to the coach terminal where we came from that day in the morning. And because of that, I got a chance to stroll in the nearby market for lunch, the market is called Adelaide Central Market. After a quick walk, I select Chinese restaurant and ate comfortably with Asian menu. As I observed the place, the market was jam pack with people who common in such kind of place. Caucasian, asian and other races were flocked together in one place.

When the time was up, I returned to the terminal for my afternoon tour and in just few minutes, we were ready to go. The afternoon adventure focused on highland areas near Adelaide. Our first stop was Mount Lofty Summit which considered as the highest point in southern Mount Lofty Ranges. We passed city centre as we drove towards Adelaide Hills. I can’t remember which road we took to the summit but we drove almost half an hour before we reached the place.

DSC05176 DSC05175 DSC05177

DSC05178

–Mount Lofty Summit Lookout Area with Flinders Column

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

–Some information to be found and worth reading it

When we arrived at the location, I was really excited because highlands or lets say mountains or hills is my most favourite place to visit whether it’s an adventure climb or a simple tour. From the bus, we walked a little until we reached the lookout area. Mount Lofty Summit is also called as “The Summit” which considered as majestic peak in South Australia, I’m not sure what does it mean but for my own opinion maybe because of the panoramic views that will be witness in the place like Adelaide City Centre and Adelaide Airport which all within the vicinity of vast and wide Adelaide Plains.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

–Adelaide Plains

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

–Adelaide Plains

When we were in the lookout area, I grabbed all my chances to take photos of the scenery. And it was amazing because at the time we were at the summit, it was obvious that the clouds was heavier and darker, these clouds had been visible to most of the photos. While strolling around the place, I learned that the summit was named by famous Matthew Flinders who an English man from Britain whom navigated Australia. “The Summit” also offers restaurants and cafes where people can indulge with great foods while watching panoramic views, a truly relaxing place to be.

P1090137 P1090138

–Adelaide City Centre

DSC05170

–Adelaide Airport

Mount Lofty Summit reminded me again how I really missed mountains, seeing places which can only be appreciated or discovered at the top together with nature is one of the main reason I love to be in highlands.

At the top, I can see beyond my imagination and started to think things in good ways and view the world again as liveable place to stay on.

Name Of The Place : Flinders Chase National Park

DSC05269

Name Of The Place (Post#21) : Flinders Chase National Park

When I visited Kangaroo Island in South Australia, one of the National Park we visited was Flinders Chase National Park which includes two geological monuments such as Remarkable Rocks and Admiral Arch. After seeing the two geological monuments, I also enjoyed the nature within the park, some areas nearby Remarkable Rocks had captivating scenic views and discovered the other life form that lives in the island. Photo snapshot captured last May 2013.

Adelaide – A Green City Named After A Queen Consort

Last May 2013, I planned a quick holiday in South Australia and Adelaide City was just one of the itinerary included in one of the tours that I had while I was in my two days holiday. One of the things that I learned while traveling as solo is the location of the hotel where I will be staying so I can walk around and discover the city coming from my accommodation without worrying about transportation.

Adelaide is the Capital City of South Australia. I lookup where its name come from until I learned that it was came from a queen consort of King William IV of United Kingdom named Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. The city is also considered one of the greenest city in Australia. Since it was my first time visit, I had a lot of curiosities towards the city. I booked two nights in Ambassadors Hotel which can be found along King William St within CBD area. I got a flight to Adelaide with Virgin Australia airline and I bought two tours which include Grand Adelaide and Kangaroo Island.

I filed one vacation leave which was Friday and I continued my holiday to Saturday. I flew from Melbourne Friday morning past 7AM and arrived past 8AM in Adelaide. The flight was just an hour since the cities are near with each other. My Grand Adelaide tour was scheduled the same morning at 9AM. It means that after arriving in the airport I need to go straight to the Coach Terminal in Franklin St in Adelaide CBD. Because of time constraint I took the cab to the city. Before the time of my tour I was already at the bus terminal. My tour was divided into two: one was morning tour and one was in the afternoon.

I sit in the waiting area of the coach terminal, when the schedule time of the tour arrived, I went at the bus bay area where each of the coach tour are waiting and other bus that goes around Adelaide. I hopped on the bus and relax myself until our driver and tourist guide climb the bus. We left the terminal few minutes after the said schedule. We drove around the city itself and our driver/tour guide explained places that we passed on.

From Grote St which is the other road of the coach Terminal, we drove straight to Wakefield St until we reach Victoria Square or Tarntanyangga. At the time of the tour, the square was being renovated. Victoria Square is located at the heart of Adelaide CBD. It is the park that you immediately noticed while in the city.

Inside the bus at Wakefield St near Victoria Square in Adelaide CBD currently being renovated during my tour
Inside the bus at Wakefield St near Victoria Square in Adelaide CBD currently being renovated during my tour
Inside the bus at King William St to Rundle Mall
Inside the bus at King William St to Rundle Mall
Inside the bus at King William Road
Inside the bus at King William Road

After Victoria Square, we turned left to King William St and we saw the major parts of the city as the street is in the middle of CBD where Victoria Square road extended to the said street. Then, we drove straight to King William Rd, next, turned left to Pennington Terrace until we reached Montefiore Hill where we found the statue of William Colonel Lights whom the First Surveyor General fixed the site and laid out the City of Adelaide. I learned that William Light was the one chose and designed the street of Adelaide as well as the parklands.

Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill
Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill
DSC05076
Messages in the Status of Colonel William Light
DSC05077
About Colonel William Light
Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill
Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill

From the same hill, we had a great view of the Adelaide CBD with the overlooking of some of the structure of the city such as the ongoing Adelaide Oval (at the time of the tour, the Oval was being redeveloped, right now the Oval was already finished and opened for business again).

View in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill, Adelaide Oval under constructions
View in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill, Adelaide Oval under constructions

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After spending time at the hill, we drove down back through Montefiore Rd, turned left at War Memorial Drive and turned right to King William Rd. We left at North Terrace and turned right to East Terrace straight to Hutt St and Hutt Rd. Next we turned right to Greenhill Rd where Haigh’s Chocolate Factory are located. We spent some time at the factory by watching the process how the chocolate are being processed and by listening to some of the history of almost 100-year-old chocolate brand.

At King William Rd
At King William Rd
At King William Rd
At King William Rd

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After the factory, the next location we visited was Glenelg, Mount Lofty Summit and Hanhdorf. The detailed story of these places will be published in a separate posts.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After being busy in a day tour, wherein our last destination was Hanhdorf. I arrived at Ambassador Hotel. I rested for a while and I had my dinner. After dinner, I went out for a walk. From the hotel, I walked few blocks away and arrived at Rundle Mall where majority of shopping areas, malls, boutique stores, restaurants and food courts are located.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

P1090165 P1090166 P1090167 P1090172 P1090176 P1090178