Frolicking around Kangaroo Island: Exploring the north coast
- Lauretta Stace
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
This is the third and last blog about our journey around Kangaroo Island where we joined some close friends to explore the island and have some fun.
This time, we headed for the north coast to enjoy some relaxation time on some lovely beaches and experience one of the highlights of our trip - swimming with a pod of wild dolphins!
Moving away from the wild-west coast, you cross through large tracts of agricultural land, with cattle, sheep and vineyards all around before joining the north coast road which winds through gently undulating hills providing glimpses of sparkling aquamarine water. Our first destination was Stokes Bay.
Stokes Bay
On arrival at our campsite we checked out the bouldered beach from the car park and wondered why Stokes Bay had been announced as Australia's beach of the year in 2023. We then noticed people disappearing into the surrounding boulders and cliffs, with towels over their shoulders, hats and sunscreen on. Following their lead we arrived at a pristine and stunning beach, surrounded by towering cliffs with clear turqoise water, a large sweep of soft white sand and some shallow rock pools.
OK - the Award is well deserved.
The walk through the boulders and caves to get to your destination adds to the charm of the whole experience, so after lunch, we went back through the boulder maze for a refreshing swim.
It was a lovely place to camp within walking distance of the beach, a nearby cafe, lots of wildlife and a range of sea birds on the rocky shoreline. We were pleased to see a healthy population of koalas in the eucalypts surrounding our campsite and we had a visit from a very friendly kangaroo who was interested in our biscuits (but didn't get them).
We managed a brief glimpse of the elusive glossy black cockatoo but had a good opportunity to watch and photograph the equally lovely yellow-tail black cockatoo.
Emu Bay
Following the north coast road towards Kingscote, we arrived at our final destination for the trip - Emu Bay. The campsite is located within walking distance of this large stretch of beach with its calm waters and 100-year-old jetty. The water had lots of seaweed which provides habitat for many creatures and attracts a large range of seabirds from tiny plovers to pelicans.
Dolphins - Bay of Shoals
Just a short distance from Emu Bay we joined Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures for a fantastic morning boat trip on the Bay of Shoals to swim with wild dolphins. This is a truly unique eco-experience as we entered their home and got to swim up close with these magnificent animals. The large pod stayed with us for several hours as we frolicked in the calm sea. On the way back to shore, the dolphins enjoyed the exhiliration of racing the boat and jumping through the bow waves while we watched them with admiration. It was a great privilege to be able to get so close to these wild animals and interact with them in their natural environment. The water was a bit churned up on this day, but we still got some great underwater footage.
We also spotted a sealion on the trip who popped up to say hello.
The video below was provided by KI Marine Adventures and shows the dolphins swimming in crystal clear water.
Great dining and food experiences
One cannot visit Kangaroo Island without enjoying some fantastic dining experiences. The people of Kangaroo Island have a long tradtiion of self-sufficiency and the end result for the visitor is access to fresh, gourmet produce and delicious local brews and wines.
Around this part of the island, there were many opportunities to try the local produce. Here are a few highlights from this part of the trip:
Rockpool Cafe at Stokes Bay for crispy and delicious fish and chips. Great ambience as a casual beach-side kiosk with a really good menu.
Emu Ridge Eucalyptus oil distillery and cafe. A great place to learn about the production of these uniquely Australian products. We left with a basket full of creams and potions!
Emu Bay Lavender Farm - famous for its alluring products and huge, tasty scones.
Kangaroo Island Brewery - the first cellar door microbrewey on Kangaroo Island. We enjoyed a delicious hamburger and a cold, tasty craft beer after our dolphin swim adventure.
Honey - lots of tasting rooms and interesting stories about this divine product.
Watch our video on YouTube to see more:
Next up, we return to the mainland and head east again to explore Wilsons Promontory and the Gippsland of Victoria.
Commentaires