We have been travelling now for a little over 3 months and still really enjoying the adventure and looking forward to seeing more of our beautiful country. So on boxing Day we packed up and got going reasonably early for the 4 hour drive back to Ballarat where we would stay for 3 nights.
Our stop back in Ballarat was mainly to get a few things out of storage and put a few things back in storage as well.
While we were there though, we were able to catch up with some friends which was great and Troy got to have a day playing with his best friend as well.
Thursday 29th December and it was time to head off on our adventures again. Today we were off to mount Gambier where we stayed at the showgrounds for 4 nights to explore the region. After setting up we chilled around camp and met some of the other campers at happy hour at the camp kitchen.
Friday we stopped 1st at the information centre. There is an excellent display of the geological history of the area as well as a replica of the Lady Nelson which was the 1st ship to sail west through bass strait amongst other exploits. This would have to be one of the best information centres we have been to on our travels.
After that we checked out blue lake which is a huge lake in an old volcano crater near the centre of town. The water here really is very blue hence the name. We stopped at a few of the lookouts but did unfortunately have to battle the clouds being school holidays and Xmas holidays for most people.
From there we went to valley lake which is right next to blue lake in another volcano crater. This one we could go right down too and for those with boats you can fish or water ski in it.
We stopped at the picnic area and had some lunch followed by a play on the small beach on the edge of the lake. We then took the boys for a big play at the nearby playground. They were even lucky enough that the icecream truck turned up at the park so of course we all had one.
Saturday 31st December. 1st on the list for the days adventures was a tour of Engelbrecht cave right in the middle of Mount Gambier. You enter through a sinkhole and then explore to the east and west going underneath roads and houses. It is a very interesting cave but not like the typical ones full of stalactites. This cave in the limestone is very dry, with no water dripping down through the rock to create stalagmites etc.
There is however water in the cave as the vast majority of it is completely flooded. We were able to explore both sides of the sinkhole up to near where the water started but to go further you would need to have special training to dive in the caves.
The cave does continue for hundreds of metres in both directions and only recently diver’s discovered a whole new section on the western side.
After the tour we made our way to Umpherston sinkhole gardens. This is another large sinkhole with beautiful gardens inside the sinkhole. Unfortunately we didn’t really enjoy it here as there were way too many people and numerous idiots buzzing their drones around over everyone’s heads.
From there, we went back to camp for lunch and then headed out of town a little way for a swim at little blue lake which is a smaller sinkhole than the blue lake in Mount Gambier. Another great spot and as expected quite busy on a warm afternoon. There is a pontoon on the lake with a ramp and steps onto it so you can swim, and we did enjoy a nice swim in the very cool water.
It was also fun to watch some people jumping off the top of the cliffs all around the sinkhole into the water. It is probably a drop of about 10m. It is also VERY deep one depth I heard was 47m and we did see divers going in to go down and into the caves below.
In the evening we had a nice bbq and drinks at the showgrounds with some of the other people camped there and just after dusk we went back to Umpherston sinkhole to see it by night and to see the resident possums. It was much more peaceful at night and the plants and flowers lit by the lights looked wonderful.
After that it was back to the caravan and bed and still all asleep before midnight.
Sunday 1st of January happy new year. Today we drove the 30min or so down to the coast to explore port MacDonnell and on the way stopped at hell’s hole and Caroline’s sinkhole.
Hells hole is hidden away in a forestry area and the sides are a sheer drop to the water below. Apparently divers are allowed in there as we saw a sign above the gate at the end of the lookout platform telling divers to keep the gate locked. The only way down from the platform would be rope or rope ladder the the divers must bring with them.
Caroline’s sinkhole is just around the corner from hells hole and couldn’t be more different. There may be water below but If so it is under the rock and vegetation that covers the bottom of the hole.
It was a very strange day on the coast with the whole coastal area covered in fog all day, but less than 1km inland it had totally cleared to a perfect blue sky day.
Our 1st stop on the coast was Cape Northumberland which is south Australia’s most southerly point. What a dramatic section of coastline, with jagged rocky outcrops and waves flowing over flat rocks surrounding the cliffs. Such beautiful scenery.
After that we went back into Port MacDonnell for lunch and a walk along the beach and down the jetty. Thankfully we brought our own lunch as the wait time at both the fish and chip shops was an hour.
After our walk we jumped back in the car and drove up the coast to blackfellows caves. At first when we got there, we looked around and thought, we can’t see any caves here! But the realised that they were actually caves formed by the ocean and we were basically on top of them. So we walked around and explored them as best we could without trying to swim around the headland.
After we had finished there, we headed back to Mount Gambier for an icecream and then back to camp for the night.
Monday morning it was time to pack up and head for the town of Kingston SE. On the way there we stopped at Pines cave and Fossil cave. Pines cave is another of the diving caves with a small entrance, their appeared to be divers in the cave when we were there as we could see a steady stream of bubbles coming out from the water.
Fossil cave is another divers cave but not as pretty to look at and we also got attacked by a swarm of bees there. Luckily the kids did not get bitten.
The caravan Park is a nice spot just across from the beach although when it’s busy like now some of the spots can be a little tricky to get into.
After setting up, we went for a drive around town and got a late lunch of fish and chips. The rest of the afternoon we relaxed while the boys played with lots of other kids on the jumping pillow which was right near our site. .
Tuesday we drove to Cape Jaffa via the beach and checked out the out lighthouse keeper’s cottage and could see the old lighthouse platform which is on a shoal about 8 miles out to sea.
From there we made our way to Robe and started with a walk up and down the main street, checking out some shops and having lunch at a the food lab where we had a really good greek lamb pizza. After lunch we finished exploring the main street and then headed out to check out the old gaol ruins and the obelisk.
Out at the obelisk the cliffs and islands are very impressive but seem to be crumbling fairly rapidly as we could see where the walking tracks did go but are now fenced off and in parts already collapsed into the ocean.
Walking around to the south along the track towards the lighthouse, we saw more spectacular views of the cliffs and a small island that formed a bridge between two parts.
The lookout on the northern side of the obelisk looks across the bay past Robe and all the way up the beach to the far end of the bay.
After taking lots of photos, we drove back through Robe and down onto the beach where we found a less crowded spot to park and a play on the beach for an hour or so before getting an icecream back in Robe and heading back to camp.
Wednesday, as the weather was overcast and windy was a quiet day mostly at camp while the boys played on the jumping pillow. This gave us a chance to catch up on a few things like washing.
Later in the afternoon we went for a nice walk down the beach.
Thursday we made the short drive with the caravan to Naracoorte caves to stay for the next 2 nights and check out the caves and surrounding areas.
After setting up, we drove down to peola and Coonawarra to check out some of the wineries. We had a lovely afternoon, I sampled a few very nice fortified and stickies and Belinda tried a few whites and reds. We did also take home a couple of tasty ones. Some of the wineries also had games and things outside for the kids to play with which was really good and kept them occupied while we tasted.
Friday 6th January and our 1st adventure of the day was a guided tour through Victoria fossil cave. This is an amazing cave system with lots of stalactites and stalagmites and several significant fossil beds.
These fossil beds were created when animals over the last 500000 years or so have fallen into small holes in the roof of the caves and either gotten stuck in the hole and died or fallen completely in and sometimes died where they fell or survived but then couldn’t escape again.
There is something like 140 different animals fossils in 1 section and include things like giant wombats and short face kangaroos as well as giant Tassie devils.
On the tour we had the opportunity to have a good look at one of the fossil beds with the bones laying just as they were found as well as a couple of fully reconstructed skeletons.
We all really enjoyed this tour and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is travelling through the region.
After lunch we went to the fossil centre and looked through the displays there and the did the self guided tour through stick tomato cave.
This is a very different cave to the Victoria fossil cave, as it has much bigger caverns inside and seems to be dryer with less water dripping down creating stalactites. Still it is a very nice cave to visit and worth the effort.
Saturday morning it was time to leave Naracoorte caves and make our way to Loxton where we stayed with friends for 4 nights.
While we were there we spent each afternoon in the pool, caught up on things like washing again and relaxed with our friends. We did go for a drive around to berri, Renmark and Barmera and saw how high the flood waters from the Murray River are. The local areas have done an amazing job with all the levies to protect as much of the towns as possible.
After a wonderful few days in Loxton with great friends, it was time to head to Adelaide on Wednesday 11th January to see family and go to a wedding on the weekend.
We stayed at Moana tourist Park in Adelaide which is in the southern hills, right next to the beach. There is also a vehicle entrance to the beach just near the park where you can take the 4wd down and find a place to park for a nice day by the water.
Thursday and Friday were busy days with appointments to attend in the city and a few bits and pieces to get from the shops like clothes for the wedding and a snorkel set for the kids.
Saturday morning I had to go and get my beard trimmed and fixed at a barber after the wife tried to trim it and did a bit of a woopsy…… After lunch I did a quick bit of food shopping and a couple of things from Bunnings before getting back to camp in time to get all dressed up for the wedding.
It was a great night at the wedding, with everyone having a great time and dancing the night away. Our 4 year old even made it until almost 11pm before he finally crashed in my lap.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were spent seeing family and playing at the beach and relaxing. I also had a chance to make a small mod to the caravan by bolting the hose reel to the rear bar of the van, beside the spare wheel. With the reel fixed there, it doesn’t take up any space in the storage areas and is also a lot easier to wind back up as it wont move around when trying to wind the hose up.
On Tuesday afternoon we dropped the kids off at Nana’s to have a sleepover so we could have a date night for our 10th anniversary of meeting yay… We made our way into town to a camping shop to get a new chair to replace the faithful old one we have had for about 15 years and then headed off to the movies where we saw the new black panther movie. Definitely worth seeing this one.
Wednesday morning for the 1st time in forever we woke up at our leisure without being jumped on and hounded by 2 little boys wanting breakfast. After having breakfast ourselves, we packed up the van and drove to Nana’s to pick up the kids and say goodbye.
From there it was a short 2.5h drive to Wallaroo to visit more rellies. Here we stayed up the road at a nice free camp at Alford. In the afternoon we had a good time visiting family and grabbed some pizza and pasta from a takeaway shop on the way back to the van.
Thursday 19th January we drove up around the top of the Spencer gulf, past Port Augusta to an awesome camp right next to the beach just north east of Whyalla. Black point is a small, free camp with only 2 camp sites which makes for a nice peaceful time. we stayed here overnight then made our way further down the coast to Point Gibbon for 2 nights, stopping in at Whyalla to have a bit of a look around in the morning as well as refill the water tanks and empty the toilet.
In Whyalla, we drove up to Hummock hill lookout which gives great views over the coastline, the port area and part of the town. From there, we drove down to the marina and jetty area and arrived just at the right time to see 2 dolphins right beside the boat ramp and we all got a really good close up look at them.
After the dolphins moved away, we walked out along the new jetty which has nice big areas to sit and plenty of space for the fishermen to spread out. We also saw the same 2 dolphins who had come out of the marina and were swimming around the jetty checking us out.
After getting a few groceries, we finished the day’s driving down to point Gibbon. What a great spot!! Right next to the beach with excellent firm allocated spots and there is even flush toilets and free wifi all in the middle of nowhere. After setting up, we went for a walk down the beach and the boys played on a big sandbank on the edge of the beach. The sign said that there are often sea lions here but unfortunately we didn’t see any during our stay. When we got back from our walk, another family had arrived, so the we went to say hello and our boys and the 2 boys from the other family played for the rest of the afternoon.
The next day we, along with our new friends decided to go for a drive down the beach and explore the dunes in the 4wds. There is such a large area of tracks and dunes just to the south of the campgrounds and the adults had fun driving on the dunes and when we stopped, the kids all had a great time climbing up and rolling down them too.
After lunch we went for a swim at the beach just in front of our camp. We even saw a starfish in the shallows near some rocks. The rest of the afternoon all 4 boys had a great time playing in the dunes near camp and the adults relaxed.
Sunday 22nd January we packed up again, said goodbye to our new friends and drove down to Port Lincoln where we were booked into the Port Lincoln caravan park in North Shields about 10 min north of town. From here we will explore the bottom of the peninsula on day trips.
Thats probably enough for this part. In the next part there will be caves, Beautiful beaches, swimming with sharks, dolphins & sea lions and more.
Route part 11 Seaspray to Adelaide
A Love of Adventures 