Hopping With the Roos
Wake up to sea lions basking on pristine white beaches, koalas
dozing on towering eucalyptus trees and kangaroos bounding across vast verdant
spaces on Kangaroo Island
Picture an island of 4,405 sq km with a population of just 4,600
people and uncountable wild life. You don't wake up to your News Feed but sea
lions basking on pristine white beaches, koalas dozing on towering eucalyptus
trees and kangaroos -many carrying their young joeys in the pouch -hopping across
vast verdant spaces. This is Kangaroo Island (or KI, as locals call it) in
South Australia -a remote, rural Australian experience.
It is divided into North Coast, which consists of rolling hills
and secluded bays, and the rugged South Coast. The adventure in Southern KI
begins with a drive down an almost never-ending road sheltered by eucalyptus
trees on both sides.Seal Bay and Admirals Arch have longnosed fur seals that
are fishing, surfing, napping and defending their territory.Seal Bay is home to
the third largest colony of Australian sea lions in the world.Just a 10-minute
drive from the Arch, Remarkable Rocks is an iconic landmark with granite
boulders sculpted by rain, wind and pounding waves over a period of 500 million
years.
Feed pelicans and koalas at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park,
click tammar wallabies that look like a finer version of the kangaroo, catch
sight of camera-shy echidnas and be on the lookout for birds like the black
cockatoo, magpie, cape barren geese, rock parrot and the little penguin. If you
have time on hand, traverse the wilderness of the Flinders Chase National Park
on foot; it has a network of (Clockwise from top) Kangaroo; Remarkable Rocks
are granite boulders sculpted by rain, wind and waves over 500 million years;
Australian sea lions; and Admirals Arch walking trails and broad walks of
varying levels of difficulty.
To be fully immersed in South Australian fishing and surfing
culture, head to Vivonne Bay, a 5-km-long, white sand beach. If you are lucky,
you can spot the southern right whale in the waters during the winter months.
Swim in the shallow, calm waters and take in the spectacular views from Point
Ellen and then get ready for the wildlife. The KI wildlife is active at night.
Animals will pop up on the road from thick bush lands. So, make sure you drive
slowly, dip the lights and carry binoculars.
The island's 540-km-long coastline has everything from secret,
rocky caverns to rolling hills and shimmering beaches by an aquamarine ocean.
With old-fashioned beach shacks run by passionate locals and laidback,
alfresco-style dining options, Stokes Bay on the northern coast makes for a
great swimming and camping spot. The fun lies in making your way to the beach
through natural, cave-like formations. Around Stokes Bay, you can find a few
hidden jewels like the idyllic Snellings Beach, Western River Cove and King
George Beach. Popular for snorkelling and rock fishing, Snellings Beach is also
a place to enjoy a quaint island dining experience. Feast under the drooping
canopy of 150-year-old fig tree, with flickering sunrays piercing through the
giant leaves.End the meal with a dessert made of fresh figs plucked from the
same tree. It is a gourmet experience like no other. On the way back, consider
a quick halt at the Stokes Bay Bush Garden; it houses plants that are native to
Australia, including banksias, dryandras and grevilleas.
To explore the underwater world, go on a marine tour that takes
off from Bay of Shoals and Emu Bay. View seals, sea eagles and osprey on
ancient fossil beds or put on your wetsuit and swim with bottlenose dolphins in
shallow, protected waters. Grab your scuba gear and marvel at gorgonian coral
and magnificent fish, including blue devil, harlequin, truncate coralfish,
boarfish and the elusive leafy sea dragon.
Kangaroo Island
It is Australia's third largest island, after Tasmania and
Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia, 112 km southwest of
Adelaide
HOW TO GET THERE
Take a 30-minute flight from Adelaide to Kingscote airport on
Kangaroo Island or opt for a 45-minute ferry service that operates daily
between Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula in south of Adelaide and
Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Summers (December to February) are slightly warm and breezy with
cool evenings, and winters (June to September) are short and wet. From March to
June, the weather is pleasant with long, balmy days and calm seas. Visit in
summer for sunbathing on the beaches, in winter for whale watching, in autumn for
hiking and greenery, and in spring to spot birds, animals and wild flowers
Sep 24 2017 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)
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