A quiet – wet New Years day, the kids played Lego in the camp kitchen for most of the day and the rain didn’t stop! We had a very windy night – and our beloved Marque collapsed during the night. Gaz tried his best to resurrect it but we think we may have to replace it with a new one when we return to the main land. It was a curbside find back home before the trip – and an item we wouldn’t of thought of packing – but now we love its many uses, rain hail & shine it has protected us, and it makes a great washing line too.

Enough of sitting around the camp site – we head for the Kelly Caves nearby, something we can do without getting wet.

From here we drive north thru the centre of the island, and stumble across a pub in Parndana – we had a most memorable lunch here, local Marron was YUM! Now our truck is covered in red mud, the islands non major roads are red dirt and very corrugated or white dirt with pot holes, and with all this rain – very muddy.

After our delicious lunch and pub ping pong, its off to Stokes Beach on the northern coast line, what first looks like a rocky beach it hides a jem of a beach a short walk thru the tunnel of towering rocks

This beautiful beach had one end full of washed up sea sponges &  puffer fish but otherwise this pristine beach was so clean like no other we have seen. The cliffs had interesting rocky caves although it was a cold, grey afternoon, it was still fun to explore. A short drive west along the coast we found Snelling Beach, where we pulled up for Latte’s and cookies, the beach was full of 4wd’s and boat trailers dotted along the sand. Even hatchbacks get on these beaches.

An early pack up in Adelaide this morning, for our drive south t0 Cape Jervis. No time to for impromptu site seeing this time, KI here we come!

It was a bit choppy today – so we rocked our way to KI, but when we got there it was stunning, the colour of the water is amazing. Lunchtime beckoned and no matter where you stop the vistas are breathtaking.

Our first week is at the western side of KI – it doesn’t matter which beach you go to they are all pristine and untouched.

Another awesome lunch spot – today its crab laksa on the menu!

Seal Bay was nearby – so we indulged in a beach tour to see this seal colony, it was extremely hot – but amazing to see them lazing around in the sand, there were so many of them on the beach, we saw mums suckling, bulls trying it on ( and getting rejected) and pups playing.

After an afternoon in the sun, and its getting hot…back to camp to cool off – then at dusk we decided to go on the short trip to see some most Remarkable Rocks.

What a massive day – so much to take in – its been so worth it! What a remarkable place to end the year – looks like worlds end!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Morialta Falls in Adelaide was our first stop for a walk up the gorge to the falls.

Our camp was 2kms from the city, with a bike path along the mighty River Torrens, we loved riding along this pathway to the city, it really is geared up for bikes with racks everywhere.  Our special treat was a trip to the cinema – the boys saw the Hobbit movie and the girls saw Frozen – I think our cinema was the nicest….

Some of the tracks along the river were more thrills and spills than others….

We hit the Adelaide Central Market to stock up on goodies for KI, we love shopping here and grabbed many bargains as it was nearing closing time. Lunch at a sushi bar in Rundle Mall, followed by a little retail therapy.

With all our past rips to Adelaide this was the first time we went to the summit of Mt Lofty, to see the urban sprawl.

And so this is Christmas – it has really crept up on us, we have had the most relaxed lead up ever. It wasn’t till we saw that house in Burra on our xmas photo that we realised it was only a couple of days away. This year we have not been caught up in the retail buzz around xmas, we haven’t had carols pushed upon us, its been very quiet and relaxed.

Gaz had a Christmas wish – to have an oven to use. We did, and it was a great gas oven – so he weaved his magic and we ate like kings.

After eating all that – dessert was simple. Choc dipped Stawberries with the Salted Brandy Caramel sauce we picked up at Maggies on xmas eve. Yum Yum!

After 2 great restful days, our last morning in the Barossa was for a little bit of wine tasting and aerobie in the Bethany Park.

Thru the Adelaide Hills, with a quick stop at the Rocking Horse Toy Factory.

Today we have our first booking for accommodation  since we left home – knowing we needed to get to the Barossa Valley by today, but have made up the way as we went along.

So welcoming as we arrived into Nuriootpa to see a beautiful Eucalyptus Macrocarpa on the side of the road – my Dad loved this native and it was very special for Gaz & I to see it in flower – and show it to the kids – merry xmas!

Our first stop was Maggie Beers farm house, the kids were very happy to see the ‘studio kitchen’ and even happier to see Maggie in there. Look carefully between Max & Leni thru window.

Next stop Santa and stock up on food for 3 days in the Barossa Valley.

Our little tree is set – complete with our new Christmas lights – yep gotta love a freebie – get a case of Coopers and get some xmas lights free. We didn’t realise til we set up the tree that each light is a lil bottle of Coopers beer – too cute!

A short drive to historic Burra, where we got the key to the town’s historic sites and rode our pushies around half of them, and drove by the rest after lunch.

We started at the old brewery, after being told the filming of ‘Wolf Creek 2’ has recently finished here. It was very eerie, taking ourselves thru these dark abandoned tunnels.

So on we went to the smelter, police lockup and courthouse.

Followed by lunch under the peppercorns at the Copper Mine, Hamptons Village and Gaol. It was a fun day that we could do at our pace with the key to let ourselves into the sites. Max & Leni had a treasure hunt printout to look for things at each site.

40 km’s back to camp at Clare tonight, the temp dropped, and it was really cold, out came the beanies and thermals again…..

Overflowing gutters in the south of the Yorke and the wind on our tail we head straight for the Clare Valley, this weekend is all about us!!

First stop, after Shaz & Curls recommendation, was Greg Cooley wines, Lisa looked after us, the tastings were very generous and the hospitality warm, we are beginning to like the feel of this region already.

A nearby caravan park looks lovely and leafy for us (haven’t seen much grass since Balranald), we arrive to check in and revealed behind the gardens are a pool and jumping pillow….now the kids are in heaven, we strike a deal with them for Saturday’s wine tasting, for every hour they let us taste (in peace) we will supervise at the pool for 1/2 an hour! We think that’s fair….after all this weekend is all about us Its the first time we have been to Clare together…

But the kids actually loved the day of tasting too. We found so many friendly, hospitable people who included the kids in their warmness, we all loved it. Some of our fav people were at a new cellar door called ‘shut the gate’ after enjoyable & interesting conversations and great tastings, we made our purchases and then were walked to the truck, with a farewell gift of a just opened (almost full) tasting bottle of our fav wine and about 10 fresh lemons from their tree – Rasa & Richard we love the feel of your place and we were so glad we popped in. We wish you all the best of luck. Thanks for a great finish to our day.

Today is blowing a gale! After a really hot day and sleepless hot night yesterday –  the winds are here.  Our drive is south into the winds, there is no way we can put the tent up  in this weather. The drive is thru wheat farms, with some farmers harvesting in the heat and wind, we came across a paddock fire, which was quickly being pushed across the golden fields.

After a delicious pub lunch (Gaz votes best Ham Steaks this trip!) at the Troubridge Hotel.

We head to the nearby Wattle Point Wind Farm. Made up of 55 wind turbines, on 11.5  km sq of land at the base of the Yorke Peninsula. Over a year it can generate enough renewable energy to power approx. 52,000 SA homes. What a day to visit, and watch those puppies hum. The winds were so strong we could barely stand our ground. No wonder AGL chose this place! Buy their shares.

After being blown away today we booked a cabin for the gusty night and hit the 1/2 court for a scrimmage!

It was nice to sleep in and listen to the rain on the roof, knowing we had an easy pack-up today.

We needed a swimming beach to escape the predicted heat wave, so a quick trip south toward the Yorke Peninsula to Wallaroo, we book in for 3 nights to ride it out.

We spent our days cooling off at Office Beach, a 50m walk from our tent site.

Had to be careful where we stepped in the water – the Blue Swimmers were on! So the 4wards had their 1st crabbing outing that night at dusk.

The sunsets were amazing, we had a full moon rising to the east behind the ferry and the sun setting to the west, behind the busy jetty dotted with fisherman and crabbers,

Max & Leni filled in the time with Chess, Lego and beach combing…

Then THURSDAY was here! Yep it got hot.. We were prepared for a 40 degree day….. It beat that. We went for a drive and shopped in air conditioned target in nearby Kadina, then hit the ‘Coopers Ale House at the Wallaroo Marina for lunch and an afternoon of gaming…