[26 September 2018] After a beautiful few days in Adelaide we hit the less traveled road back home via Cape Jervis where you catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island. To explore the island properly would be much more than a day trip and we therefore added it to our “to do later” list.
Passing Strathalbyn, Langhorne Creek and Mulgundawa (remote hamlets) we crossed the mighty Murray River at dusk on a pontoon which operates 24/7.
Meningie, where we spent the night, overlooks Lake Albert which seems to be the HQ of the Australian Pelican. It is a fresh water lake near the mouth of the Murray, filled by water flowing in from the larger Lake Alexandrina at its mouth near Narrung. It is separated on the south by the Narrung Peninsula from the salt-water Coorong where we were headed next.
John Francis Peggotty, infamous Birdman of the Coorong, is labelled the most eccentric bushranger in the history of Australia. He was often seen stripped to the waist and wearing stolen gold jewellery whilst brandishing two ornamental pistols while riding an ostrich. His “memorial” overlooks Lake Alert in the area where he was “active” for many years.
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The mission church at Raukkan was built in 1869 and appears on the $50 note. The church is still in use today. Raukkan is also the birthplace of inventor and author David Unaipon, whose image appears on the reverse side of the same note.
On to Coorong proper then.
Established in 1966, Coorong National Park is a spectacular saline lagoon stretching 140km. It is separated from the Southern Ocean by sand dunes and is a migratory wader and waterfowl refuge. We were blown away by the stillness, colours and isolation.
The beaches are absolutely pristine.
More birds.
Stumpy-tailed lizard.
We reached Robe well after lunchtime and found No.4’s “locally sourced then shared” food delightful.
