May 8th, 2016

Day 40: Kangaroo Island – Part I, Finders Chase National Park

We tip-toed out of the hostel as quietly as we could at 7AM in order to make our 9AM ferry at Cape Jervis. Once we were safely checked in to the ferry queue, we had a quick brekky in the car and then boarded the ferry to Kangaroo Island. As we checked in, however, we were warned that a storm was expected the next day, and there was a good chance our return ferry would be cancelled. We decided to risk it – surely they were just being overly cautious, right?

Wise advice from SA safety as we board the ferry to KI

The weather was a bit rainy and windy, but the crossing along the “Backstairs Passage” was relatively gentle. When we landed in Kangaroo Island, the rain was coming down pretty hard, but the forecast promised a break in the weather in the afternoon, so we made our way to the opposite end of the island, to Finder’s Chase National Park. The timing couldn’t be better – the weather cleared up just as we reached Admirals Arch and the Remarkable Rocks.

 

Flinder’s Chase National Park – first stop: the Remarkable Rocks!

These rocks are REMARKABLE

Lindsay has dragged Igor to a lot of rocks on this trip, but even he admits these are cool!

We were like little kids, running around and climbing the rocks! Really fun, and really beautiful spot – it totally lived up to the name.

Admiral’s Arch – where a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals lives

We took advantage of the sunny spell to in get some short hikes as well – first a walk along the Weirs Cove Hike from the Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse to the old store house ruins for a bit of KI history, then we went hunting for wildlife along the platypus path. Unfortunately, the platypuses (platypi?) were not in a social mood, but we did see some more Cape Barren Geese, lazy koalas and grazing kangaroos.

A dramatic view of the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse

Igor admires the lighthouse, and checks to see if it is open (nope)

Hiking along the Weirs Cove Path

Ruins of the old store house for the families who maintained the lighthouse  

Three families lived here to keep the lighthouse running – there was no road to the lighthouse until 1940 – talk about remote!

The weather turning for the better in the park – time to look for some animals!

Searching for the platypus, without any luck. Boo.

At least we found more koalas and Cape Barren Geese

And kangaroos – never a shortage of Kangaroos here!

We headed back to Kingscote (ah hour & a half drive) just before sunset, and suddenly realized we had made two terrible mistakes: first is that it is incredibly dangerous to drive on Kangaroo Island after dark. The name of the island is quite appropriate, as the place is teeming with rather large kangaroos and wallabies – who all seem to decide that dusk is the best time of day to hop across the street! We counted 17 kangaroos/wallabies jump in front of our tiny Toyota Camry (plus 16 possums). We drove 20KM/H below the speed limit, in an attempt to give ourselves braking time. The second terrible mistake we made was not realizing our car rental agreement specifically forbade us from taking our car to Kangaroo island (for reasons obvious to us now)! I share this with you all, now that we have safely returned the car to Avis, without a scratch. Anyone visiting Kangaroo Island – be forewarned and double check your rental agreement!