Kangaroo Island, Australia Nov. 2-4, 2012

Kangaroo Island

Roos, wallabies, koalas, geese, sea lions, fur seals, goannas, echidnas, birds……..the list could go on.
Kangaroo Island could be compared on a smaller scale to the Galapagos. There is abundant wildlife living around the island, mostly in the conservation areas. About one third of the island is dedicated to conservation. The island is about the size of Long Island but with only 5000 inhabitants, mostly living in the town of Kingscote.

It is only a 20 minute flight from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

This is the airport. We think the fencing is to keep the kangaroos out.

The waters must be treacherous around the island as there have been numerous shipwrecks. (Each of the 21 rooms at the Southern Ocean Lodge is named after a shipwreck). Many lighthouses have been built to keep the sailors off the rocks. Cape du Couedic lighthouse is built with the limestone that is found in the area. We are staying at the Southern Ocean Lodge which is on the southwest corner of the island. It boasts beautiful views from every room and has lots of beautiful viewing from glass all around the lodge.

Cape du Couedic lighthouse

One of the few lighthouses that have not been painted white.

Southern Ocean Lodge

Entry

Sitting and bar area

Windows all around for views of the Southern ocean. There is nothing between here and Antarctica

Lunch on the deck

View from our room

Rooms on the left. Each has a view

Sitting area in our room

Our bathroom

Nice views

Kangaroos and Kanapes is the name of the evening tour we take with the lodge. Western grey kangaroos are found here and like to come out at dusk and eat. They have no predators on the island, so they are not wary to too many things. Not far from the lodge is an old farm where land has been cleared and the roos like to eat the grass in the area. The lodge sets up drinks and h’orderves and we watch the roos until the sun goes down. Barb wanted to make the roos feel at home, so she pogo’d around the field with them.

Their tails are so strong that they can sit back on them and use both feet to kick out at an opponent

They can be fast

Lots of Roos

These tow are having a bit of a boxing match


Kangaroos in the Outback are more of a red color. These are Western grey Kangaroos.

What are you looking at?

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Barb thinks the Roos won’t notice her if she acts like one of them.

They have no predators on the island

Roos and an evening sunset toast

A coastal clifftop trek in the morning to see views of the limestone cliffs of Hanson Bay and the crashing waves across the coastline began our day. The landscape has both limestone and granite boulders and cliffs. We came across calcified wood. (similar to petrified wood)

View of the cliffs

Self portrait

There is a fresh wind blowing from the direction of Antarctica and it is a cold wind.

Beautiful views

It is the end of spring in Australia

Tree stumps of calcified wood

Granite boulders below

Standing on limestone and looking at granite boulders in the ocean

That is an osprey nesting on the green patch on top of the rock

Barb enjoying the walk

This is an Echidna. It looks a lot like a porcupine and does have some quills, but also has a fur that grows between the quills. It won’t release quills though. Barb decided to pet one to see what it felt like.

We saw this echidna on our walk

Barb petting this echidna and making friends

Eucalyptus trees are in abundance. There are many different varieties, but the Koala only likes the gum eucalyptus. They will eat one pound of leaves a day, which is hard to do considering that they sleep for 20 hours a day. They wedge themselves into the tree and sleep.

Sleeping Koala

Koala’s are not actually bears. They just look like a cuddly teddy bear.

This one woke up enough to take a look at us.

This one is holding a baby

It doesn’t look very comfortable

Better watch out when walking under gum eucalyptus. There could be falling Koala’s.

Cape barren geese do not migrate. Their green bill makes them look different from other geese.

Cape barren geese

Remarkable Rocks…….and we do mean remarkable. That is the name of a grouping of granite rocks that are amazing. Set high on a cliff, they look more amazing to us than stonehenge. The sea below is treacherous and often has errant waves that crash up here. The lichen on the rocks is bright orange.

They don’t look too impressive from a distance.

They start to get more impressive the closer you get.

Barb standing next to the boulders

This is like a big playground

The way these rocks have been carved out is amazing

Once again, Barb is queen of the mountain

Atlas has nothing on Scott!

Barb is having a hard time with this one. She better get back on her regular workout routine.

Self portrait

The orange lichen is pretty

From a distance

Scott looks like he is in the whale’s mouth

And you thought Scott was tall.

The coastline

Sea plants growing on the rocks

Fur seals are found close by…. they love hanging out on the rocks and playing in the tidal pools. There is a blow hole called Admirals Arch that has stalagtites growing from above and seals hanging out around it. It was picturesque.

Fur seal

Hanging out on the rocks

What’s for lunch?

The rocks create nice swimming pools

Scott

Admirals Arch

Barb

Wallabies are a marsupial along with Koala’s and Kangaroos. They give birth to tiny young that are naked and blind. There are so many wallabies on Kangaroo island that cars often hit them on the roads.

Wallaby

Seal Bay is home to Australia’s third largest colony of Australian sea lions. We took a tour with a wildlife guide to walk along the beach amongst the sea lions. There were a few babies that were trying to nurse and some young males playing or fighting with whomever they could annoy.

A large male

A baby pup nursing

A young male annoying a female

Oh yeah, take that!

When they get tired they just roll over and say, “I have had enough”.

Barb at seal beach

Hanging out with the sea lions

Birds and lizards:

Sea birds

Beautiful small bird outside our window

Cock-a-too’s

A goanna lizard

A lizard poking his head out

We decided to take the bikes down the road to the next beach area. Riding along the beach in the sand and the sunshine is our last morning activity. We layed the towels down for a little vitamin D and a quick rest before heading back to the lodge to pack up and head out to the next adventure.