Part 2(c) – The South Coast of Kangaroo Island

This Report covers a vast area of Kangaroo Island the South Coast, including D’Estrees Bay, Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, Seal Bay, Vivonne Bay, Hanson Bay, Kelly Hill Caves and Flinders Chase National Park.

Lets start under the ground at Kelly Hill Caves, a limestone cave network under the Island, named after a horse that fell into the cave system and never returned. Only her rider managed to walk out. Even today perhaps only 15% of the cave system has been mapped. They have still not found the horse carcass. The cave, geologically speaking are young, so the stalactites and stalagmites are only small. The caves also have a rich fossil record. It seems more than the horse fell into the cave system.

After the cave walk a short trip to Hanson Bay. Not many visitors come here, as the dirt track is rough. Which is a shame because it has a stunning beach, which is also a major nesting area for hooded plovers. This is another underrated place on KI. The Doc saw a car pull up and look down the boat ramp and then drive away. The ramp down onto the beach has a restricted view, so they missed a great place because they did not get out of the car.

Nest stop Seal Bay Conservation Area. The name says it all, it is a major resting area for the endangered Australian Fur Seal. It is a very well managed area, with guided tours. You can only go the beach with a National Parks guide and must stay 10 metres away, unless they come to you. The Doc knew from Galapagos that young sea lions were much more likely to approach, so he focused on them. However, the close up shots of the Australian Fur Seals come in the Wildlife Report.

Then a short trip to nearby Bale Beach, missed by most visitors.

We finish the day with a visit to Vivvone Bay, Vivvone Beach and Point Ellen. One of the first decent sunsets The Doc got, it only took 2 weeks on the Island. Apparently voted the best beach in Australia a few years ago. Not sure why as The Doc has seen better, the bay and jetty were much better than the beach.

Up early the next morning to get sunrise photos of Vivvone Bay, especially the jetty.

Now down into the nearby Flinders Chase National Park. Flinders deserves a report of its own. So perhaps later, if time permits, The Doc can do it justice. In the meantime a sample of the Southern end of the Park, excluding the main tourist place already covered in Part 1 here. Places like West End Bay, Point Vennachar (place of famous wreck), Weir Cove (where supplies were bought up for Cape du Couedic Lighthouse), Sandy Creek, Sandy Creek Hike, Snake Lagoon (The Doc saw no snakes), Snake Lagoon Hike and Rocky River.

There was even an unusual sun during one day at West End Bay. It will be obvious which shots, the sun looks like it has a huge corona and you could actually look straight at the sun without injury, not that The Doc tried that for long. The Doc did not photograph the nudies he saw at West End Bay, 2 days later he saw them again at Remarkable Rocks but did not recognise them initially as they had their cloths on!

Snake Lagoon deserves special mention. The Doc has never heard so many birds singing at once. They sing all day everyday, an endless orchestra of sounds – just amazing.

We will finish by going across to the eastern side of the South Coast to D’Estrees Bay including Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park. There was localised flooding that stopped The Doc getting into this area, until he found (by accident) the only open route. A lot of road works going on in this area also. The localised flooding can be seen here.

Again we see the French influence in the names. This is a remoter part of the Island, where you can visit Wreckers Beach, Point Tinline (a limestone arch), Wheaton Beach (with an incredible sea bird colony) and Tadpole Rock. Quite a bit of wildlife down here and feral cats.