Kangaroo Island October 2012

5 Days: Monday 1st to Friday 5th October 2012

1 Nights: Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat

2 Nights: Cape du Couedic Cottages

1 Nights: Ozone Hotel in Kingscote

Ahhh….Time spent with Park Trek on Kangaroo Island allows you to fully appreciate this wild yet friendly location. During October the nights are cool and the days warm. Park Trek's five-day journey through Kangaroo Island will reveal an abundance of wildlife and bring you to a landscape of sculpted rocks and dramatic coastlines indented with small coves of the most beautiful colour and shape. None of the walking on this trip is particularly difficult and the tracks are all in excellent condition. It is our easiest walking holiday. The trip is fully accommodated and your trip cost includes access fees on all designated tours and ferry costs.

DAY 1

It all begins in Adelaide on the Monday morning at the Keswick Railway Station from where we are looking at a 6.30am pick up with a prompt departure shortly after that time. Our morning's journey takes us south to Cape Jervis where we board the Sealink Ferry for a very scenic 45 minute crossing, known as the Backstairs Passage, to Penneshaw and Kangaroo Island. Once we’ve arrived around 11.00am we’ll set out for the first of our day's walking along the Iron Hill Cove Hike. It affords us spectacular views over the Island. From there it’s onto our lunch spot at Seal Bay where we also take the opportunity to do a 45-minute tour of the seal colony. A short walk later in the afternoon sees us arriving in at the lovely Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat.

About our accommodation.

We are staying at the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat for the one night in their Eco Lodge. All rooms open to a large communal lounge area. Some rooms have either queen or single beds, private bathroom with a fridge plus tea/coffee making facilities. Our evening meal will be enjoyed in the local restaurant as will breakfast. Lunch is something we make prior to departing for our day two walk.

9 kilometres walking

DAY 2

Walking from our front door this morning we head off for our day's walk to Kelly Hill Caves. It's along the Island's best known walk the 10 kilometre Hansen Bay Hike. Once at Kelly Hill Caves it’s time for a cuppa before we take a tour of the caves and appreciate their amazing limestone formations. Then it’s on to the Flinders Chase National Park where we’ll spend the next 2 nights staying in the very comfortable surrounds of the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse. Before settling in we have time for a wander around the fabulous formations of the Remarkable Rocks.

About our accommodation

The heritage listed lightkeeper accommodation at Cape du Coedic is located in an equally dramatic location. The buildings are extremely spacious and their thick stone made walls are as solid as you'll find anywhere and the interior of the buildings are extremely well maintained and in excellent order. Polished floor boards, gas heating and soild furnishings make for a very comfortable, cosy experience. Each cottage has three bedrooms and one bathroom. This is shared accommodation although if rooms come available we will put our single guests in to them without any further charge.

13 kilometres walking

DAY 3

Today’s walking includes the opportunity to glance a platypus in their natural surrounds as we do a delightful circuit walk around Rocky River as well as a short walk through the equally lovely Snake Lagoon. When we return this afternoon you may wish to explore your neighbourhood, considered the most spectacular on the island. I’m referring here to Admirals Arch with its New Zealand Fur Seal population; it’s only a short walk from our front door!

14 kilometres walking

DAY 4

It will be hard to leave our cosy surrounds but today’s walk makes sure you’ll have more great memories of Kangaroo Island. Today we are in the northwest corner hoping to explore the island's best walk – the Ravine des Casoars. We are hoping it will be open this year. If it is not then we have a walk out to West Bay, another remote corner of this unique island. After the walk it’ll be time for a refreshing cuppa, which we’ll find at the Cape Borda Lighthouse, only a very short drive away. The spectacular views from here are to be appreciated before we move onto the lovely seaside town of Kinscote where we have terrific comfortable at the Ozone Hotel. This evening we can enjoy an a la carte meal in this famous institution.

About our accommodation.

The Aurora Ozone Hotel is located right on the foreshore. It is an excellent location. Rooms are configured with either a double bed or double bed and single bed. These rooms are located in the original part of the hotel. Ensuite, TV, air-conditioning, tea & coffee making facilities, refrigerator and hair dryer.There are single rooms available for our evening at this location.

12 kilometres walking

DAY 5

We’ll leave Kingscote this morning and make tracks for one of Kangaroo Islands highest points in Prospect Hill, our final foray before we depart on the ferry from Penneshaw for a 10:30am departure. Then it’s on to walk a small but truly brilliant section of the Deep Creek Conservation Park. It is a great way to cap off a most enjoyable five days. We are aiming or a 5:00pm return to Adelaide.