A weekend at Victor Harbor
October 30th 2005
Published: October 31st 2005
Published: October 31st 2005
Whale tail fountain
Granite Island walk: Dan took this photograph of the Whale tail fountain at the park next to where we started the causeway walk to Granite Island.
Victor Harbor is a fabulous sea-side town about 75 minutes South of Adelaide. It is a retirement hub and every time we visit, there seems to be more and more houses springing up!
It has been the site for a whaling industry - but now eco-tourism promotes whale-watching through the winter primarily of the Southern right whale.
Some web sites to visit to learn more about Victor Harbor include
- the Tourism centre and
- the Whale Centre.
We did three walks over the three days.
- the almost compulsory Granite Island walk (2 hours)
- the walk to the summit of the Bluff (2 hours) and
- a section of the Heysen trail from Waitpinga to Parsons Beach (3 hours).
A note about viewing the photographs - probably the easiest way to view the photographs is to
- click on the first photograph
- select Full Image.
- at the top of the big image is the word Next which you can select to scroll through all the images
Following the horse-drawn tram
Granite Island walk: The way to get to Granite Island is over a causeway from Victor Harbor to the Island. You can catch a horse drawn tram as well as walk. - at the end, select Close window.
Walk 1: Granite Island
On a warm and still Friday afternoon we did the walk around Granite Island. From the beach front at Victor we went across the causeway to the Island. From here we went up and then walked clockwise around the island and back again.
Dan says ...
I tried to catch up with the tram so I could catch a free lift. Mum called me a stowaway. When I heard Mum calling out I jumped off.
I told Mum that penguins are a bit like omnivores. They eat figs. I watched this TV show where they looked at the vomit of fairy penguins and they found figs, fish and small crustaceans. In another part of the show they sent out small infrared cameras and they saw that after the penguins spewed then ate the blossom of the figs with seeds inside. This helped them to stop spewing.
Walk 2: The Bluff summit
On a cool and showery Saturday we did a walk to the summit of The Bluff. From the shack we went to the beach-side bike/walking path and headed west. At Whalers Inn we headed up Jagger Road and a little way up there was a turn-off to the left to go up to the Bluff. Soon we arrived at a Whale information board that over looked Encounter bay and the suburbs of Victor, and then to the Car park on the western side, where there were lovely views of Petrel Cove. The walk took us anti-clockwise around the Bluff to the Southern side on a made path before going straight up on a dirt track. There were lots of Boulders at the summit as well as fabulous views. We moved down the
On the causeway
Granite Island walk: This photo was taken on the causeway. The Bluff (a hill we scale the next day) is in the background.
Dan says ...
I thought we were going to drive to the Bluff. My blood sugars were very high (possibly due to the Nutella I had in my lunch) but with extra insulin and water I was okay. When I sat on the rock at the top I meditated so long with nothing in my mind - I neally forgot everything! When it started to rain however, I remembered we had to get out of there!
Mum lent me her umbrella for the walk back so I didn't get too wet. Mum and Dad shared Dad's new big umbrella.
Walk 3: Heysen trail - Waitpinga to Parsons Beach
On a mild and overcast Sunday we did a beach walk from Waitpinga to Parsons along the Heysen trail. After passing the surfers and the Salmon fishermen, it felt pretty much like we were the only people in the world, as we walked down the expanses of Waitpinga beach, then over the Parsons beach headland, to Parsons beach.
Dan says ...
I thought we were going to head straight home, when Dad told me that Mum wanted to go on a walk. It was pretty good. The waves were loud and dangerous. You couldn't swim there. The currents were too strong. The surfers stayed out of trouble by floating.
There was lots of sand, and not many shells. There was some kelp and Neptune's beads.
The creek crossing was tough but we managed to do it twice.
Q: Why did the skelton not go on the roller coaster?
A: Because it didn't have any guts!
Have a happy Halloween!!!
About us
We are a family who use our Sundays to discover, explore and enjoy the serenity of the world around us while getting some exercise.
We live in Semaphore, a beach-side suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. Although Adelaide and it's suburbs are quite flat, there is a range of hills that run North-South that provide for many interesting walks.
Here are some quotes that say some of what it means to us to go out bush walking.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
- John Muir
Climb the mountai... full info
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The tram arrives on Granite Island
Granite Island walk: Dan the stowaway
Penguin crossing
Granite Island walk: Penguins arrive here every evening. The island is covered with small holes in between rocks where the fairy penguins nest.
Granite boulders
Granite Island walk: On the Southern side of the Island. The Bluff is in the background.
Dan and Granite
Granite Island walk: The wind rain and sea has shaped the Granite boulders into some weird shapes.
Pacific Gull at Umbrella Rock
Granite Island walk: This gull had a shell in its mouth that is repeatedly carried about 5 metres above the rock and released, trying to smash enough of the shell away to eat the critter inside.
Whale lesson
The Bluff summit: Exploring the whaling past of Encounter bay
Near the car park
The Bluff summit: Petrel Covel on the Western side of the summit
A spiritual moment
The Bluff summit: Dan meditating at the summit of The Bluff
A few showers
The Bluff summit: Walking down the track looking over Encounter bay and the Victor Harbor suburbs.
Windswept
The Bluff summit: Walking down from the summit we saw these bushes that had obviously been doing it tough in the prevailing Southerly winds.
Heading to the beach
Waitinga walk: the start of the trail was taking a walkway to the beach.
Sooty terns
Waitinga walk: a flock of sooty terns gathered on the beach
Creek crossing
Waitinga walk: a wide creek proved difficult to cross on Waitpinga beach
Beach end
Waitinga walk: the end of Waitpinga beach is a rocky outcrop
Over the Headland
Waitinga walk: To get to Parsons Beach the trail took us up and over the headland
Parsons Beach
Waitinga walk: This is where we had lunch - just enough wind to scare away the flies and an amazing view of Parsons Beach to dine by.
Pig face
Waitinga walk: A beautiful display of pig face on the Parsons Beach Headland
Heading back
Waitpinga walk: The Heysen trail marker as we head back towards Waitpinga beach from the top of the Headland.
Father and son
Waitpinga walk: Although the sun was rarely out, the reflections of the sky in the water were amazing!
Footprints
Waitpinga walk: These look like the wanderings of those sooty terns!
Walk sites
Google Earth image with the three walk sites marked
Comment on A weekend at Victor Harbor
Comments
Date: 1st November 2005
Figs
I will in future see penguins and figs quite differently. Thanks Dan for this information. I am learning more biology and gegraphy from your site than I ever did at School
From Blog: A weekend at Victor Harbor
Figs
I will in future see penguins and figs quite differently. Thanks Dan for this information. I am learning more biology and gegraphy from your site than I ever did at School
From Blog: A weekend at Victor Harbor
Date: 2nd November 2005
What a trip Dan! Would have loved to joined in as we like walking and enjoying nature so much.You are a pretty good walker and an excellent observer.We like your website and appreciate if you keep us up to date on the trips you make with mum and dad.The photoos are a good reflexion of the area. Been there before with your oma Elly. After our walk around Granite Island we sat down on a bench overlooking Victor Harbour across the water. And we talked and talked about the good old times and all the memories we share. So Dan, excellent idea to make us feel part of your Victor Harbour experience
From Blog: A weekend at Victor Harbor
What a trip Dan! Would have loved to joined in as we like walking and enjoying nature so much.You are a pretty good walker and an excellent observer.We like your website and appreciate if you keep us up to date on the trips you make with mum and dad.The photoos are a good reflexion of the area. Been there before with your oma Elly. After our walk around Granite Island we sat down on a bench overlooking Victor Harbour across the water. And we talked and talked about the good old times and all the memories we share. So Dan, excellent idea to make us feel part of your Victor Harbour experience
From Blog: A weekend at Victor Harbor
Date: 21st December 2005
To Polly Sue and Marga and Theo
Thank you for your comments. Geez you are making me blush. I'ts nice that you are all enjoying the blog. Dan
From Blog: A weekend at Victor Harbor
To Polly Sue and Marga and Theo
Thank you for your comments. Geez you are making me blush. I'ts nice that you are all enjoying the blog. Dan
From Blog: A weekend at Victor Harbor
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polly
non-member comment
your photos are great, I particularly enjoyed the Parson's walk, and liked Dan's joke!!
From Blog: A weekend at Victor Harbor