Images and Maps
of Kangaroo Island, Fleurieu Peninsula, Victor Harbour, Yorke Peninsula,
South Australia.
| Kangaroo
Island |
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Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island with
rugged cliffs, pristine beaches and vivid blue water. It is
a haven for wildlife including sea lions and penguins as well
as kangaroos, koalas and a profusion of bird life from sea
eagles to the raucous black cockatoos.
There are several
flights daily between Adelaide and Kingscote, the flight takes
about 30 minutes. Passenger and vehicle ferries also depart
daily from either Adelaide or Cape Jervis (with a coach connection
available to Adelaide).
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Pennington
Bay |
Pop up map of Kangaroo Island (53 kb)
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| These days, tourism is the island's main activity along with
fishing and grazing (ranching) but in the past the island had
a less benign history. Over 40 shipwrecks lie in nearby waters
and the first inhabitants were pirates. The island was a base
for whalers and sealers with the hamlet of American River named
after American sealers who settled there in 1803. Scuba diving
is possible on some wrecks, the best being the Portland Maru
which sank off Cape Torrens in 1935. The 5865 ton wreck teems
with marine life. |
| Seal Bay is home to about 500
Australian sea lions which should be appoached with respect.
Guided tours and an information centre let visitors know more
about these animals and their habitat. Close by are the Little
Sahara sand dunes. |
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Fleurieu
Peninsula
Jutting into the Southern
Ocean south of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula has many beautiful
beaches and over 20 conservation parks. Cape Jervis, at the tip
of the peninsula, is the start point for the Heysen Walking Trail,
which ends in the Flinders Ranges after 1500 kms. The coastal section
from Cape Jervis to Newland Head is particularly scenic.
Pop up map of Fleurieu Peninsula (186kb)
Strathalbyn
An historic, picturesque town with many heritage buildings and
interesting antique and craft shops.
Victor
Harbour
| A
major regional centre (pop 10,000) and favourite seaside spot
on Encounter Bay.
Enjoy
spectacular coastal views from the Bluff, and good surf
at nearby Middleton.
The
Steam Ranger Cockle Train runs between Victor Harbour and
Goolwa.
For
information on local marine mammals, visit the SA Whale
Centre at Railway Terrace, open daily except Christmas Day.
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Yorke
Peninsula
West of Adelaide, across Gulf St Vincent, the boot shaped Yorke
Peninsula is a farming region that attracts more holiday makers
to its small coastal towns each year. Like other parts of SA, the
beaches are clean, the locals friendly and the fish are jumping.
Pop up map of Yorke Peninsula (131 kb)
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| Emus
at Innes National Park. At the end of the peninsula this
is a sandy park with good fishing, surf and coastal walks. |
Port
Vincent
A picturesque spot on Gulf St Vincent with a background of steep
timbered cliffs.
Port
Victoria and Wardong Island
The last of the Windjammer ports, where clipper ships set sail
for Britain laden with grain. Port Victoria has an interesting maritime
museum on Main Street.
Wardong Isalnd is 10 kms
offshore and has 8 shipwrecks in its waters. A heritage diving trail
with underwater plaques follows the wreck sites. A waterproof booklet
with details is available from local shops and museums.
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