Nuriootpa

Barossa Valley

Off the Ferry @ 2.30 and put the address for Barossa Valley Tourist Park into Mrs G and headed north alongside the very inviting blue waters of St Vincent Gulf. We passed the area that had been burnt by the fairly hot but fortunately not widespread fire we’d seen earlier in the trip and continued though very dry farmland passing the only apiary we’d seen. If beekeeping was too hot for the Apiarist around Narooma it would have been unbearable in SA!

Our ETA was 5.30pm and we’ d told the receptionist that we expected to arrive by 6.30 when we booked. As it turned out one wrong turn and the fact that most of the roads going through Adelaide we being repaired/ restructured/ rebuilt added a frustrating hour to the trip. Not one of our fondest memories of 2013 South Australia!

Arrived after the office had closed and we interrupted the owner who was getting ready for BBQ tea but was happy to give us directions to the unpowered camping area. We had our choice of sites as we were the only occupants of that area and we were able to select a site that was at deep long on (we were right next to the cricket ground). Set up the tent, used the Tourist Park’s washing machines, relaxed with some nibbles and wine before dinner, bed and some well earned (especially for the pilot) sleep!

Awoke to an overcast but calm morning, broke our fast, hung washing, watched the junior cricketers warming up for the final’s match and headed off to the Barossa Farmers Market at nearby Angaston.

Drove all of ten minutes to the very popular market. The drive was well and truly worth it as we were overwhelmed with variety of condiments, breads, fresh foods, dressings, sauces etc. Tasted lots, bought some and envisioned making most of what was on offer in the two pleasant hours of roaming! The coffee on offer was almost worth travelling back for!!

Home via the Nuriootpa Library where some of the blog (WOMADelaide) was posted while the Educator was buying more everyday provisions. More importantly she gained more information (including the BEST campsite) for our stay in the Flinders Ranges.

Local Libraries are a good, cheap and workable alternative for Internet access and you don’t need to buy a Big Mac or drink some ordinary coffee while going online. Finished blogging left and returned to the tent site in time to unload and marvel at our Market purchases and have lunch while watching the cricket.

 Suitably sustained and our Cricket Tragic sated we headed in search of wineries! After all The Barossa is an area of worldwide renown for its Shiraz and Riesling.  We had maybe 4 hours to taste those wines, as well as anything else on offer, so we did what seemed logical and sought out the closest small winery. As happens The Willows was one where we’d tasted and enjoyed on a previous journey and it had only got better. http://www.thewillowsvineyard.com.au/

Next was a favourite not only for the product but also for the wonderful, attentive, knowledgeable service from the family. Gibson’s wine is great and judging by the Gibson’s we have met so is the family. Their Dirt Man Shiraz is a favourite and their many other varieties wonderful! Left both wineries with more for the cellar if it makes it home; travelling is thirsty work!

http://www.gibsonwines.com.au/ 

Next stop was at a winery that will only be remembered for the fact that they wanted us to pay for tastings! We paid for the tastings and didn’t purchase at all. Both the Apiarist and the Educator enjoy tasting wine but neither enjoys paying for the privilege. It is unusual for them to leave empty handed but in this case there was something that is unusual for the Barossa. Nothing worth buying!!

We finished on a high with an extended tasting at the well hidden Glenrock Creek Wines including tasting of wines up to $192 value. NO CHARGE FOR TASTING HERE. Instead we walked away with a scrumptious $30 Shiraz.

http://www.winecompanion.com.au/Wineries/South-Australia/Barossa-Valley/Greenock-Creek-Wines 

Arrived back at the tent in time to see the cricketer’s day one post mortem underway and the pitch being covered. We were in full agreement, called for drinks and (late) afternoon tea before cooking home made pasta with kasoundi, onions, capsicum & pepperoni. Yum!

The earlier intermittent showers were long gone and sound sleep was a reward for a hard (lol) day!!!

Bound for South Australia was supposed to be a regular (daily) blog (journal) of  the South Australian trip undertaken by Julie (the Educator) and Bruce (the Apiarist). Now what happened? They had way too much fun to spend time writing a daily record but notes were noted and photographs were photographed. So this is what took place in the time after the last post.

Now where did we leave the intrepid adventurers? 

Hmmm that's right they were last found listening to the music of the world under the fig trees in Adelaide's Botanic Park at WOMADelaide http://www.womadelaide.com.au/ 

After all the fun of the past 4 days and nights one would have expected that the Apiarist and the Educator may have spent a lazy morning by the hotel pool or at least had a a little bit of time to relax. NO WAY!!! We had noticed a couple of minor issues with Steffi so we had booked her in at Adelaide Suzuki for a minor makeover (maybe we should have booked the Apiarist in as well).

The visit wasn't a long one and we soon returned to the Hotel and quickly packed all the time looking at...........


And after Steffi was packed it was kersplash into the pool. To be frank the pool and the Country Comfort Adelaide have helped to make the 4 days of 33C+ bearable and at times really comfortable! 


Refreshed after a dip it was into Steffi on with Mrs G (GPS) and away towards our next destination at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island. We faced a 2 hour trip, a 40 minute ferry ride and then a 30 minute drive before a relaxing evening. Well that was the plan...

First problem was something was occurring that was more than a BBQ to the south of Adelaide,

and what direction were we heading? South of course! The further we travelled the stronger the wind and the more smoke and as we saw Bush Fire Brigade trucks getting ready we started to wonder whether we'd come to a police car and a sign saying road closed. Luckily we safely passed what looked like might be a very nasty fire! Even more luckily was that we later heard the fire had caused no major damage. Phew!

Food hadn't been an option and with plenty of time we thought a counter lunch would be an easy option and headed into the Yankalilla Pub and ordered had a beer/ wine and waited and waited and WAITED!!! Not sure if our meals arrived but we departed hungrier than ever. Perhaps those salad rolls in rest areas aren't all that bad!!!

Raced to the SeaLink Ferry Terminal at Cape Jervis where we JUST made the booked sailing. Oh well lunch is overrated and the ferry trip was great with some time for some nice photos.

First stop after the 30 minute trip was the KI Visitor's Centre. Our planning for this trip hasn't been as comprehensive as other adventures. But the Visitor's Centre were great and about 10 minutes drive saw us at their first suggestion. Great view from.............

Sunset Winery www.sunset-wines.com.au  where we were greeted with a Sparkling Shiraz. Our planning wasn't all that bad after all. The option to taste of each of their 6 wines was a testament to our planning. I think Kangaroo Island (KI) was looking good. In honesty their wine was very good!

An hour and a half later after a picturesque side trip into American River we found ourselves at our abode for the night. This was a part of a deal that only added $30 to the cost of the Ferry. A deal too good to refuse. Nice place with free Internet, i.e. if you sat outside – another reason for the red wine!!! And the view was a bonus.

And following a dinner of local fish and chips at an entertaining (mainly the staff) takeaway we relaxed completely. 

What a day!

KI Day 2

Car packed and we were away reasonably quickly and headed south with our first stop being all of 2 km! 

But in truth, it was an important stop! 

No it wasn’t a winery the stop was at “The Island Beehive”!!! This is an informative display that shows off honeybees an their products which

 can only extend peoples knowledge of bees and in particular Ligurian 

Bees. These that are the only species of European Honeybees on Kangaroo Island. Tasted all five of the varieties on offer and came away with a jar of Stringybark

South through very dry farmland until we took our first side road. Road is a little too complimentary but the "winding track" took us through some nice vegetation that obviously had some appeal to native and introduced insects.

Not certain what a "Grug" tree does but they were profuse on the drive and like they are in the book they are kinda cute!

All the rattles were worth it as the track did lead us to the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil http://www.emuridge.com.au/ . The distillery was an interesting and informative stop which was made even more worthwhile by the “The Rookery” wi

ne tasting that was offered. But I must say that the Distillery still looks like a wool shed. That's right it was a wool shed!!!

Suitably educated and with our palates refreshed we wound our way south and west to Seal Bay where after a downward board walk there was a surprise, a colony not of seals but sea lions??? Oh well they were cute anyhow!

Not surprisingly the return journey boardwalk was not as gentle but we survived, sort of... national Parks are doing a great job here both with the interpretative signs and their displays

As the day was heading towards evening it was back into Steffi (the Suzuki)and off toward our campsite for the night. Lo and behold what should we pass but a Koala Sanctuary and we were in!!! Interesting fact bout Kangaroo Island is that Koalas are not native http://www.abc.net.au/nature/island/ep6/locals/1.htm and have expanded greatly in numbers since they were introduced. That being said we lined up for and paid the entry to watch the koalas at Hansen Bay Wildlife Centre.

Yes we did see them and yes they were cute and looked cuddly

but if we had waited until we booked into Western KI Caravan Park and (Wildlife Reserve) we would have seen them for nothing!!! Tho there were some other nice sights and the coffee was good

 

The campsite was great and we were able to not only relax (and go for another koala expedition) but the wildlife came to us.......

These Tammar Wallabies are very, very friendly and very, very cute but they are also very, very hungry. Oh well we enjoyed their company and enjoyed a very pleasant sleep!

KI Day 3

Awoke to the sound of the birds, had a quick breakfast, left the tent standing and headed to Flinders Chase National Park. Our plan was to be at two of the iconic places on Kangaroo Island at or at least shortly after sunrise. 

Well that was what we planned and although we didn't get to see the sun come up we were there before the Park office opened.

And the view It was worth it!!!

We were heading for the Remarkable Rocks and they lived up to their name. I'm sure that

 there are explanations for how the rocks formed (I'm sure Greg can help with those) 

but this is a wow part of the world! 

A 20 minute drive took us to our next stop on our early morning agenda. This destination was Admirals Arch. Again accessed by the means of a well made and maintained boardwalk (with plenty of steps) this natural phenomenon really has to be seen to be believed...

The day we were there was a little overcast and cool with light winds and the seas were quite benign (tho I wasn't looking to swim or go skindiving). I can only imagine what it is like there when Admirals Arch or the Remarkable Rocks are experiencing a storm! The fur seals, and there were lots of them, below the arch seem to be oblivious to either the sea or the rocks and life for them seems quite relaxing these days.

Now back to a bit of reality or at least back to pack our tent and then head to the western end of the island. Couldn't help noticing yet another camp visitor as we were making a cup of tea to take and enjoy on the drive.

Back into Steffi and off on a road that looked like it would be a nice alternative to the main road. 

Hmmmm we may need a need a new navigator but the drive was lovely if you could ignore the shake, shake, shake/ shake, shake, shake/ shake your booty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgZOYt5kH9Q  We were heading for Cape Borda Lighthouse along Shackle Road and the route had looked OK on the map. Maybe it would have been OK if it had been graded recently. 

Oh well well we got there. The lighthouse was interesting as it wasn't very tall but I guess it only had to be seen. Not sure I would have fancied travelling from England to Australia in the "days of sail". I think our little drive on a rough road would pale into insignificance. It was for us a great place to enjoy a late lunch on a day when the weather continued to improve. "Haven't we been lucky with the weather"!!

We had reached the western limit of our KI stay and travelled on "mainly" sealed roads towards our destination for the night. Stokes Bay. Again words don't do justice to another unforgettable destination.

Both the locals and the visitors both seemed at peace!

KI Day 4

Good night's sleep and after a walk to the surf beach  the next morning and we were away!

(who finds these tracks)!

A member of this expedition is an educator so where was our next stop? 

An interesting and informative stop and a testament to how important local history and historians are. The school has been rebuilt and maintained by former students and their families and we could have stayed for hours.


But hours were becoming precious as we had to catch the ferry for our return to the mainland and the next part of our South Australian Adventure!!

Almost everything that comes from or goes to Kangaroo Island makes the trip across Backstairs Passage on a ferry and we were squeezed in and left wishing we had a few more days there. 

Thank you Kangaroo Island! It was a wonderful but too brief visit!!!!