TRAVEL Eyre Peninsula, South Australia CaptionPort Lincolnhere National Park is dotted with caves. Eyre Peninsula From the Ocean to the Outback XPERIENCE THE UNTOUCHED through massive sand dunes, swimming Eand remote beauty of the Eyre with Australian sea lions and dolphins Peninsula in South Australia. From at the same time (the only place in spectacular coastal landscapes to the Australia where you can do this), wildly beautiful outback, and the visiting arguably Australia’s best native wildlife that call them home, you'll revel koala experience, seeing landscapes in the diversity of this genuine ocean-to- that only a few ever see from the raw, outback tour. rugged and natural coastline to the ep SA Unsurpassed in its beauty, this extraordinary colours of the red sands, region also teems with another truly blue skies and glistening white salt lakes AG TRAVEL special quality - genuine hospitality of the Gawler Ranges. from its colourful characters. You'll The icing on the cake of this trip is Dates: meet a host of locals during your visit the opportunity to sample the bounty of 10–18 Feb 2021 to Port Lincoln, the seafood capital of the ocean here, including taking part in 26 Feb–7 March 2021 Australia, and the stunning, ancient and a seafood masterclass with marron and 24 ApriL–2 May 2021 geologically fuelled Gawler Ranges. oysters direct from the local farms. 9–17 Oct 2021 Each day you'll enjoy memorable Accommodation is on Port Lincoln’s email: and unique wildlife, geological, foreshore overlooking Boston Bay, and [email protected] culinary, photographic and educational then, in the outback, at Kangaluna phone: 0413 560 210 experiences, including a 4WD safari Luxury Bush Camp. Itinerary 1 TRAVEL Eyre Peninsula, South Australia The ancient volcanic Organ pipe formations of Gawler Ranges Itinerary from ocean to plate. Meet local fisherman Day 1 Arrival in Port Lincoln (domestic airfare not included) as they drop off the catch of the day from all Day 3 Coastal Geology over the Eyre Peninsula. At the end of the Welcome to the seafood capital of Australia, tour, you'll sample a tantalising selection of After breakfast at the hotel we 4WD Port Lincoln! in-house smoked fish and pickled seafood. through Lincoln National Park to learn Make your own way to the hotel (transfer Meet Ken Martin, a master sculptor in about the caves, rockpools, ancient rock can be organised on request – additional bronze and wood. His artwork comes in the formations, crevasses and more. charges apply). forms of busts, full figures, animals, humans A major highlight are the massive Accommodation: Overnight at Port and abstract. He's most famous for his wind-sculpted sand dunes, pounding surf Lincoln Hotel in an Ocean View room Makybe Diva statue in Port Lincoln and the and spectacular limestone cliffs along the newly revealed The Tuna Poler on the town's 14km Sleaford-Wanna 4WD-only track. foreshore. Visit Sleaford Mere Conservation Park, a Day 2 Port Lincoln Next we take you on a guided walk, with a shallow permanent saline lake that is notable Seafood & Art former local fisherman, through the Marina as a bird habitat and a large land-locked Wharf to learn about the largest professional population of skates. Species of conservation Breakfast at the hotel and then get to fishing region in the Southern Hemisphere. significance include the fairy tern and south- know Port Lincoln. First up is an introduc- From here we transfer you back to the Port ern emu-wren. Our expert guide explains tion to the city from one of the best vantage Lincoln Hotel for a freshen up. the historical, geological and hydrological points in South Australia – Winters Hill. A seafood masterclass cooking demon- significance of the lake and the remarkable From here you'll enjoy vistas over Boston stration and dinner with renowned chef, Kris stromatolites that line the lake's edge. Island, Boston Bay and all the way out to Bunder, one of Port Lincoln's best-known Next we head to Whalers Way, an ancient stunning Port Lincoln National Park chefs rounds out your day. This will be a rocky coastline with a series of natural bays Next you'll visit the MFV Tacoma, the first dinner to remember. and headlands. Each stop along the dusty purpose-built purse seine fishing boat and Accommodation: Overnight at Port track is another superb photo opportunity, tuna clipper, which ultimately changed the Lincoln Hotel in an Ocean View room as the coastline and native wildlife inhab- course of pelagic fishing in Australia. After Breakfast, Lunch and dinner provided that you'll tour the Fresh Fish Place, where you'll see the full process a fish goes through, Itinerary cont. 2 TRAVEL Eyre Peninsula, South Australia Enjoy the spectacular for the chocolate connoisseurs, see and learn A local Indigenous guide interprets coastal vistas of the how chocolate is made. Pair this with a local the stories of the ancestors at the Eyre Peninsula. organic red wine. Our guide Peter Clutter- Injalak Hill rock art sites. buck is Eyre Peninsula's only vigneron and resident winemaker, and loves telling his winemaking story to guests! Something a bit more casual but just as exciting for the tastebuds is Del Giornos EP Tasting Menu (EP is short for Eyre Peninsu- la). With this menu you'll get a mixture of local fresh seafood and land products. Accommodation: Overnight at Port Lincoln Hotel. Breakfast and lunch provided Day 5 Hiking and wildlife Breakfast at hotel before viewing the small coastal hamlet of Tulka where waders, swans and sea birds can be seen from a bird hide. This is another known location for southern emu-wrens near a historical well, first dug by Captain Matthew Flinders when he explored the area in 1802, which saved his expedition. From here, we take you to Lincoln National Park and the Spalding Cove area, where we follow Flinders journey and his hike (although we now have hiking iting the area are truly spectacular. Further a large and ancient red gum forest, creating a tracks) up Stamford Hill to see spectacular along is Cape Wiles, named after the botanist unique habitat for rare wildlife, bird species, views of Boston Bay, Port Lincoln and the James Wiles who sailed with Flinders in threatened plant species, freshwater tortoise, park. Rare wildlife to look out for are: 1802. Dozens of fur seals splash around the native fish and invertebrates. Rosenberg’s goanna, echidnas, western base of the two golden sandstone islands just From here we head further up the coast whipbird, malleefowl, the brush-tailed off the point, protected on one side from the to the beautiful region of Coffin, Kellidie bettong and the hooded plover. harshness of the Southern Ocean. and Dutton bays, which are known for their Part of today’s activities is to join local or- Next we stop at Cape Carnot. The south- world-famous oysters, highly prized marron ganisation, Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board’s westerly tip of the Eyre Peninsula, it was (closely related to the crayfish) and yabbies, (EPLB) citizen science programs. These pro- named in 1802 by French explorer Nicholas as well as a variety of important species of grams aim to record rare species of animals, Baudin. Theakstone’s Crevasse is the final flora and fauna. There are no other com- stop along Whaler’s Way before the journey parable systems of bays and inlets in such back into Port Lincoln. The crevasse is a compact form anywhere on the coast, which deceptively deep fissure along a fault line, is why this area is classified as a maritime formed over millions of years. For the record, wilderness area. the gully is 13m deep with 9m high walls and After lunch, take a local oyster-farming extends 30m underground! cruise out to The Brothers to watch the many Make sure you bring your bathers as we ocean birds, Australian sea lions, long-nosed might find some hidden picturesque rock- furl seals and common southern dolphins pools to explore. that surround this area. You'll have the Dinner at leisure. chance to shuck your own oysters and of Accommodation: Overnight at Port course taste them. The farmers love explain- Lincoln Hotel. ing how and what they are doing to keep Breakfast and lunch provided their industry sustainable and how they are lessening their impact on the environment. The larger island of The Brothers, in the Day 4 Marron, Oysters and Fossils Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park, is of Breakfast at hotel before our first stop paleontological significance - it has sub-fossil at Big Swamp Wetland, a highly valuable bones of six species, including an extinct ecosystem that helps with water purification, kangaroo and a giant flightless bird. Please ground water replenishment, and water note cruise is weather dependent. storage and flood control. The wetland is For something a little different on the way actually three, seasonal freshwater lakes with back into Port Lincoln, and one especially Itinerary cont. 3 TRAVEL Eyre Peninsula, South Australia We take you to beautiful Mikkira Station, arguably one of Australia’s very best habitats for koalas ment is a craggy pinnacle, set in deep-blue waters, which is home to an osprey family. The nest on top (which is a piece of nature’s art) is reportedly 200 years old! Today’s headline act, however, is a short steam offshore aboard the 14-seater Neo-phocus, to Jones Island, which is home to more than 120 sea lions as well as a variety of native birds. Here you have the opportu- nity to experience a swim with sea lions in their natural environment.