We arrived by plane in Adelaide (77 kB) in the afternoon and took the nostalgic tram to Glenelg (please note that this name reads the same from behind), a suburb with a beautiful beach. This was basically all we got to see in Adelaide as we took the ferry from Cape Jarvis to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island the next morning.
Being 140 km long and 50 km wide, Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island. The south coast (50 kB) is more wild due to the constant breakers from the Atlantic Sea compared to the north coast with its lovely sandy beaches (57 kB). The kangaroos on the island, the Western Greys (80 kB), are somewhat smaller and darker than the kangaroos on Australia's mainland. Unfortunately, we saw quite a few of them lying dead right off the road. So please be aware on the roads at night. Kangaroos (86 kB) are very friendly when you encounter them on parking lots.
Our first stop was at the Jumbuck Sheep Shearing Demonstration near Kingscote Airport. With over a million of merino sheep, this ranges as the no. 1 industry on the island. What I thought was most impressive were the small shepherd dogs (64 kB), the Kelpies, which get together the sheep being much bigger than them. In the small gates, the dogs jump on top of the sheep standing closely together. This is how they urge the sheep into the direction as given by the shepherd.
In Parndana Wildlife Park we got to see emus (78 kB) next to the obligatory koalas and kangaroos. It really is most impressive to have such giant birds looking you right into the eye.
A formation called 'Remarkable Rocks' (44 kB) is one of the island's main attractions. These sandstones are on a granite hill top right near the coast. Erosion formed most bizzare formations (39 kB) here. Not far from here, at the Cape du Couedic, is a lighthouse (25 kB). Here is a viewing platform from which New Zealand fur seals lying on a rock plateau may be observed. There's also a path leading to Admirals Arch, a huge limestone arch right near the seaside. Black stalagtites at the bottom of the arch prove that this used to be a dripstone cave. There is a dripstone cave, the 'Kelly Hill Caves', open to visitors. In case you've already been to Jenolan Caves in Blue Mountains you may find them slightly disappointing.
For us, the 'Seal Bay Conservation Park' was definitely the island's main attraction. This is where 10% of the world's sea lions (43 kB) live and you may see them throughout the year. Accompanied by rangers, tourists may get as close as 5 m to the colony. Many sea lions doze (81 kB) either on the beach or in the dunes or simply get some rest from catching fish in the open sea.
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last update: 24.11.1999