Butler's Beach

Day 13 - Butler's Beach

Waterloo Bay, Port Moorowie, Marion Bay, Butlers Beach

Thursday, 31 January 2013
Woke up to the sound of rain - raining on my chair and Tuka's mat that I left outside last night. Had breakfast, packed the wet stuff in the passenger side of the van and drove back onto the South Coast Road. The dirt road is in good condition although the occassional patches of corregations shake the inside of the van including poor Tuka. Drove past grain crops and coastal heathlands and views over the ocean. Stopped at some lookouts but rain ruined the views.
Eventually arrived at Hillocks Drive (Butler's Beach), a bush camp with "several kilometres of spectacular rugged coastline interspersed with quiet sandy beaches and rock pools". I talked to Lisa at the shop/office then drove onto Marion Bay, so I could update the blog and buy some bread. Drove back to Butler's Beach, paid my fee and parked the van at one of the beaches (Coffin Beach). Rain stopped so spent the rest of the day walking, photographing and exploring. Too cold for swimming. Tuka spent his walking time searching for rabbits but didn't find any.

	Tuka on the beach [Map]		Campsite and Coffin Beach [Map]
	Waves [Map]		Coastal vegetation [Map]

Waterloo Bay

Day 11 - Port Wakefield to Waterloo Bay

Port Wakefield, Androssan, Edithburgh, Waterloo Bay

Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Tuka and I went for a walk around town and I photgraphed some of the old buildings. Came back and packed up. As I drove out of town I noticed that Port Wakefield has four bakeries!
Drove to Ardrossan, a small town with a museum, parks, wharf, shops and a supermarket. Stocked up on supplies and then had walk around the wharf. Cold and windy so had jeans and jacket on.
Drove on to Black Bay. Small village of expensive houses. Garages are all lined up on the road with houses near beach or cliff top.
Stopped at Port Julia. Bush camping site ($6/night) but I decided to contine onwards. Stopped at Port Vincent and then Edithburgh. Bought some chips at a local cafe and ate them at the beach at Sultana Point.
Decided to follow the coast road. A dirt road in good condition that follows the cliff top - fantastic views. Stopped at Troubridge Hill lighthouse. Only saw two vehicles during the trip.
Came upon a large deserted beach with a steep track down that I was able to drive the van down.
Tuka and I now have our own beach. No Optus or Telstra reception. Have to walk to the top of the cliff to get reception.

	Cliffs at Ardrossan [Map]		Tuka paddling at Sultana Point [Map]
	Campsite and our beach [Map]

Day 12 - Waterloo Bay

Waterloo Bay

Wednesday, 30 January 2013
A lazy day just swimming, snorkelling, reading, photographing and walking along the beach. Tuka even manged to swim out to the little reef where I was exploring. Day started off cloudy and cool, then sunny and hot and finally windy, cloudy but still 24deg. Tuka and I still have the campsite and beach to ourselves.

	Low tide at the reef [Map]		Tuka at the reef [Map]

Port Parham and Port Wakefield

Day 9 - Rapid Bay to Port Parham

Rapid Bay, Encounter Bay, Victor Harbour, Adelaide, Parham

Sunday, 27 January 2013
Up at a 7am to a quiet campsite. Probably quite a few hangovers.
Chatted to Margaret and David and then started to pack up. Tuka was given some bacon and sausages by the son of my next door campers. Very nice people that were very kind to Tuka and very friendly.
Said my goodbyes and then drove to Victor Harbour. Larger and prettier than I thought it would be - has a population of 14,500 but harbour still has a village feel.
Continued on to Adelaide and then to the free camping ground at Port Parham. Set up the van and chatted to the lady in the next door large Avan motorhome. Lee had just come from the Northern Territory where she was managing the Ross River Resort over summer.

	Tuka's adopted family at Rapid Bay [Map]		David and Margaret at Rapid Bay [Map]
	Low tide at Port Parham [Map]		High tide at Port Parham [Map]

Day 10 - Port Parham to Port Wakefield

Monday, 28 January 2013
Got up, took Tuka for a walk and then had breakfast. Talked to Lee, took photos, packed up, said goodbye and left about 9am.
Arrived at Port Wakefield Caravan Park about 9.45 and booked in for night ($27). Found out there was no supermarket in town but plenty of places to eat out. Set up camp next to the river - pretty spot overlooking the flat plains. Set up awning, filled water tank and started washing clothes. Had cup of tea and then hung out the clothes.
Change in weather to windy and cool. Retracted awning and went for walk with Tuka. Met the new publican of the Port Wakefield hotel while walking. Told me how he, his wife and two sons came to be running the pub. He said we should come for a meal that evening. Soon after started raining so we retreated to the van for lunch.
That evening went to the pub with Tuka for a meal. Met Chris and his Kelpie, Tex. Had a beer outside with while Tuka and Tex sorted out who was boss. Talked to the family,  had a good meal and another beer.

	Port Wakefield District Hospital (1933-1950) [Map]		Port Wakefield Hotel [Map]

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Rapid Bay

Day 7 - Rapid Bay

Friday, 25 January 2013
Walk in the morning with Tuka then talked to some of the other campers and did reading. Went snorkelling in the afternoon near the northern headland but water cloudy due to the rain last night. Later went for a walk to the houses near the quarry and then onto the jetty.
In the afternoon lots of people began to arrive for the Australia Day long weekend. By evening the place was just about full.

	Old wharf, Rapid Bay [Map]		Old wharf and quarry [Map]

Day 8 - Rapid Bay

Saturday, 26 January 2013
Woke up about 6.30am. Took Tuka for walk and then had breakfast. Put Tuka in the van and went kayaking. When I left it was sunny and the smooth water. By the time I came back it was windy, cloudy and rough water. Managed to paddle past the jetty and down to the southern headland before the change started. The end of the old jetty is used by 100's of seabirds. Paddling back I had to hug the shore because of the off-shore wind. Near the shore end of the jetty a dolphin surfaced next to the kayak and then dived back under. I didn't see any more just that one dolphin.
Back at camp Tuka was given some bacon by my next door campers. They think he is a wonderful dog. Went for a short walk with Tuka. seems to be a bit wobbly today so will just have short walks. After lunch he was given some sausages by the boy from next door.
Margaret and David turned up about 4pm. After they had set up the caravan, David and I had a beer while Margaret had a cup of tea. Talked and had another beer and then we all went for a walk to the jetty.

	Seabirds including a sea eagle using the old wharf [Map]		Crowded camping ground [Map]

Rapid Bay

Day 5 - Rapid Bay

Rapid Bay

Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Cloudy day when I got up but clouds soon blew away. Had breakfast and then Tuka and walked up the small headland and looked at the old stone/brick houses.
Assembled the kayak. Put Tuka in the van with some water (only 22 deg inside) and then carried the kayak down to the Indian Ocean (or Southern Ocean as it is known locally). Kayaked out to the end of the jetty and then over to a secluded beach at the northern part of the bay where I had a swim. Constant wind made the ocean very choppy so even though the water was very clear visibility wasn't very good.
Talked to Bill about his trip with his wife Ingrid and their long haired German Shepherd Stella. They are going around Australia the same way I am so we may meet again
Talked to Chris and Tuka said hello to his dog Patch
Talked to Tom and Di. Bought a chain from them to protect the solar panels. Tom makes the chains and sells them while travelling.

	House built using stone from quarry [Map]		Kayak on a secluded beach [Map]

Day 6 - Rapid Bay

Rapid Bay

Thursday, 24 January 2013
Kayaked down to the next bay and past the jetty of Second Valley. Plenty of people fishing on the wharf at Second Valley. On the way back had swim at an isolated beach.
Went for walks with Tuka and did some reading.

	Paddling towards Second Valley jetty [Map]		Kayak on a beach [Map]

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Rapid Bay

Day 4 - Rapid Bay

Rapid Bay

Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Cool night and hot day. Lazy day reading, eating, swimming and walking. At various times during the day I talked to some of the other campers while Tuka met their dogs.

	Tuka at the beach [Map]		Rapid Bay Campground [Map]

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Merbein to Rapid Bay

Day 3 - Merbein to Rapid Bay

Merbein, Mildura, Renmark, Waikerie, Adelaide, Rapid Bay

Monday, 21 January 2013
Finish 121425km
Left Merbein around 8am and drove into Mildura and then along the Sturt Highway towards Adelaide. Stopped at Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre at Kingston on Murray. Bought two bottles of wine. Around 12.30 stopped at Waikerie for lunch at the Riverside Park next to the Murray River. Tuka went for a swim.
Detoured off the highway onto the Barossa Valley Way and through the Barossa Valley. Decided to stop for the night at Mount Crawford Forest but found out their is no camping from December to April. Continued on to Adelaide and bought some solar panels.
Decided to visit the Fleurieu Peninsula. After driving through the centre of Adelaide, finding peak hour traffic on the southern side, driving on a one way motorway (the other side is still being built) and onwards along a windy but very scenic road I arrived at Rapid Bay about 7.30pm. A long day but worth it - camping ground next to the beach and clear water perfect for swimming and kayaking.

	Banrock Station vineyards and wetlands [Map]		Waikerie Riverside Park and Murray Queen paddle st [Map]
	Campsite at Rapid Bay [Map]

Merbein

Day 2 - Merbein

Oura, Hay, Robinvale, Mildura, Merbein

Sunday, 20 January 2013

Packed up and left Oura about 9am. Stopped and had lunch at a park at Hay. Hot day - 30 deg in van with a/c going. Most of the scenery during the trip was flat and fairly boring.

Decided to camp at State Forest near Robinvale. After a few kilometres of dirt road arrived at a camp site next to the river. Tuka went down for a swim and sank to his shoulders in the mud. got him out and then had to give him a bath. Decided not to stay there.

Drove on to Mildura where finally some hills and trees. Camped at Merbein Common about 10km from Mildura and next to the Murray River. Tuka and I had a swim to cool off as it was still 30+ degrees.

	Scenery near Hay [Map]		Camp next to the Murray River [Map]

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Oura

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Day 1 - Oura

Wollongong, Wagga Wagga, Oura

Saturday, 19 January 2013
Had a cup of tea with Brian at 8am, said goodbye and then went over to Tom's place to see Kat. Said goodbye to Tom and Kathy. Had breakfast with Kat at Woonona East cafe. Said goodbye and then Tuka and I were on the road for our big trip at about 10.30am.
Arrived at Wagga Wagga about 3.30am and then at Oura Beach about 4pm. Oura Beach is a reserve about 20km from Wagga Wagga next to the Murrumbidgee River. Tuka had a swim while I talked to some locals. Then I fed him and had a beer while watching the river and listening to hundreds of cockatoos.

	Tuka and I at the start of the trip [Map]		Tuka at Oura Beach [Map]

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