Blogs from Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, Australia, Oceania

Thursday 25th May 2023 Sitting here in the van we feel we made the right decision not to stay in Melrose. The rain has really set in. Yesterday we also felt like this as we drove down the steep winding road from the top of the Flinders Ranges west towards Port Augusta. We commented then that the roads would have been even more unpleasant if they were wet and the wind gusty. As it was, the caravan park is pleasant enough with wide access roads and roomy sites. Security here is just a tall fence separating us from the nearby railway line and a football oval. In town the fences are also tall but topped with barbed wire, and the gates are locked at night. We are about 5kms out of the centre, just far enough ... read more

DAY 5 FOWLERS BAY We must have been pretty tired … woke at 8.30am SA time (1.5hrs ahead of WA). Admittedly, there were a couple of ‘during-the-night’ awake periods … due … Jane says … me snoring. I never snore, however I do have a little head cold that probably contributed to the roar. We have a quiet, secluded, away from everyone camp spot. The wind is up and hasn’t eased at all. Initially cold, however it has warmed considerably. We felt the cold whilst walking the jetty and atop the massive, white sand dunes. Atop the windswept dunes we had an uninterrupted 360-degree view of the surroundings. Today was a slow, relax and rest day with cuppas and fruit cake that Jane had made prior to our trip. As a matter of fact, we are ... read more

Monday 26 September 2016 - Talia Caves Tourist Drive. This was another natural wonder of Eyre Peninsular in South Australia. The Woolshed Caves were the 1st feature off the main road. The route began some 20 minutes south of Venus Bay. The caves were beautifully coloured by the distinctive limestone and granite formations common to these areas. The area is also home to 100,000 year old fossil cocoons, locally known as ‘clogs’. The weevils that lived in thee cocoons (Leptoptius duonti) once inhabited the area. We drove on a little further and found The Tub which was a big hole with an arched entrance from the sea. There was a home made steps down into the tub but we really needed a road to help lower us down. We could see that the only advantage in ... read more

Port Augusta! My most enduring memories of Port Augusta from previous trips involved the sounds of trains shunting and making weird noises throughout the night (I think I must have stayed in a caravan park opposite the rail yards) and public toilets with automatic everything from door opening to water from the tap to wash hands accompanied by elevator type music and recorded instructions on how everything works. I know, I know, these are not uncommon now, but 18 years ago on my first trip to this fine city, they were very avant garde. This time however, I am taking away some much finer memories. I was surprised by Port Augusta this time and impressed with the townscape, their care of fine old sandstone public buildings, the wharf precinct and harbour generally and especially ... read more

Streaky Bay to Hancocks Lookout (Birdseye Highway/Eyre Penn.) Leaving Streaky Bay via the Flinders Hwy our first scheduled stop is Elliston where in 2011 we attended the Elliston Hotel Melbourne Cup Day and Trish won the Cup Sweep, I wonder if they will welcome us back! You can take a scenic route out of Streaky that joins the Flinders Hwy via Point Labbatt, where you can see the only permanent colony of Australian Sea Lions. On this loop you can also visit Murphy’s Haystacks, a unique outcrop of ancient wind-worn pink granite inselbergs, (do you remember what an inselberg is? Check our Blog, MikeandTrishV.Pildappa Rock). If you take this loop to leave Streaky heading South East towards Elliston, you will join the Hwy about 40klms out. The next place to visit along this route is Venus ... read more