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Day 1 - Adelaide
to Kangaroo Island Stranraer Homestead (or similar),
2 nights
From Adelaide you have a 30 minute flight
via light aircraft to Kingscote Airport, Kangaroo
Island.
Buffeted by the waves and winds of the Southern
Ocean, Kangaroo Island boasts wildlife untainted
by many of the introduced species of European
settlement. Tamar wallabies, now almost extinct
on the mainland, koalas, echidnas, and a variety
of bird life, live within the safety of the
island’s ocean boundaries.
Stranraer Homestead is the home of your hosts
Lyn and Graham Wheaton; Graham is a third generation
islander. The Homestead offers 4 guestrooms,
each with a small fireplace and 3 of which have
private bathrooms. The central living area offers
guests a comfortable sitting room with an open
fire.
Each day Lyn prepares a fully cooked breakfast
and a gourmet dinner for her guests - much of
it from island produce. After dinner Graham
will take you on an evening drive to look for
kangaroos, wallabies, and other nocturnal animals.
Day 2 - A guided
discovery of Kangaroo Island
Meet your wildlife guide this morning for
a full day tour of the island. You will be part
of a small group – a maximum of 12 guests travelling
with 2 guides. The day will focus on the eastern
half of the island and the aim is to get you
off the beaten track and away from the tourist
spots.
Enjoy a visit to Seal Bay to see a breeding
colony of sea lions, a walk through a eucalyptus
forest to look for koalas and perhaps a late
afternoon stop at D'Estrees Bay to see kangaroos
and wallabies. At lunchtime, your guide turns
into a chef and will prepare a fresh seafood
BBQ lunch for you – complete with a glass (or
two!) of fine South Australian wine.
At Flinders Chase National Park you may spy
an elusive platypus, you will see the historic
lighthouses and not too fare away are Remarkable
Rocks. Stop at local farms to sample some of
the island produce, take a bird watching trip
on Murray’s Lagoon … each day is different as
your guides take into account the weather, the
wildlife and the interests of the group.
Return to Stranraer for dinner and overnight
Day 3 - Flinders
Ranges, Arkaba Station, 2 nights
After another delicious breakfast prepared
to order by Lyn, your hosts will drive you to
Kingscote Airport for your flight to Adelaide
where you collect your car. The drive to Arkaba
Station in the Elder’s Range of the Flinders
Ranges will take 5 to 6 hours and there are
some lovely lunch stops along the way. We can
arrange a charter flight directly to Arkaba
if you prefer – price is on application and
varies depending on aircraft size.
At Arkaba you will be hosted by Dean &
Lizzie Rasheed, whose family has long been part
of the region’s history. Arkaba is a heritage
listed property dating from 1851 and remains
a working sheep station. In 1856 a magnificent
stone wool shed was built and with 40 stands
it is one of the biggest in Australia.
Accommodation is in the rambling homestead
where two guest bedrooms with private bathroom
share a lounge and reading room. Meals are enjoyed
with the Rasheeds – good home-style cuisine
washed down with local wines and interesting
discussion of the region.
Day 4 - Explore
the Flinders Ranges
It is Arkaba’s extraordinary landscape that
commands attention for it has a geological history
dating back 700 million years. All around are
spectacular formations, best-known is Wilpena
Pound, a remarkable rock basin that covers 80
sq kms and reaches a height of 800 metres. Take
a scenic flight (additional cost), walk the Arkaba
Creek, bird watch, enjoy the abundant wildlife
or take an interest in the running of a working
sheep property. Lunch is often a bush picnic beneath
the river gums on Arkaba Creek.
It is also possible to arrange a guided walk
with a local Aboriginal elder to view ancient
rock art and learn about traditional culture.
Day 5 - Adelaide
Return to Adelaide today. Time permitting
you may like to stop at the Praire Hotel for
a taste of their famed ‘feral food’, or spend
time exploring the Clare Valley, one of Australia’s
premium wine producing areas.
Options and Upgrades
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