Kangaroo Island COASTAL WALKS & WILDLIFE Itinerary Amended Aug 2017

Transcription

1 Kangaroo Island COASTAL WALKS & WILDLIFE Itinerary Amended Aug 2017 Highlights Stay in Heritage listed lighthouse keepers' cottages at Cape Willoughby & Cape du Couedic Learn about the maritime history of Australia s third largest island Experience off-track & beach walks at Cape St Albans & Antechamber Bay Enjoy cliff-top views to Vennachar Point Delve underground at Kelly Hill Caves View Australian sea lions Discover the remote Shipwreck Coast Sunset walks to Admirals Arch & Remarkable Rocks Explore secluded north coast bays & seldom walked tracks Coastal walks along Western River Cove & Snake Lagoon Wildlife viewing at every turn We were treated to incredible wildlife and very enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeabletour leaders. Travelling with a local, we were able to walk where no other tour company would venture. We learnt lots of geography and history and lots more about geology. One of the special things about this holiday is that we didn t run into bus loads of tourists. It seemed we had the island to ourselves. Deborah Dwyer South Australia s Kangaroo Island (KI) is one of the world s pristine nature-based destinations. A true wildlife sanctuary, KI is the place where we can quietly go bush and see native Australian animals and birds in their natural habitat. We discover the island s secrets led by naturalists / rangers plus soak up history while staying in lighthouse keeper s cottages. After leaving Adelaide by bus, we adapt to island time with a ferry journey from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. We walk the gentle coastal landscapes of Dudley Peninsula and Cape Willoughby. At Cape du Couedic, we traverse the northwest cliff-tops of Vennachar Point. In Flinders Chase National Park, we wander the remote shipwreck coast to Admirals Arch, experience the Kelly Hill limestone caves and walk to Hanson Bay. We enjoy sunset or sunrise walks to view Remarkable Rocks, granite formations weathered over millions of years. We are greeted by sea lions basking on unspoilt beaches, koalas dozing in lofty eucalyptus trees, pelicans soaring across shimmering lagoons and of course kangaroos and wallabies bounding across much of the island. Ending near Emu Bay we soak up the north coast, exploring secluded coastal bays on spectacular off-track walks along Western River Cove & Snake Lagoon, before we return back to Adelaide. DETAILS Price: Twinshare / person (ex Adelaide) Advanced Early Bird: A$3,150 until 25/11/2016 Early Bird: A$3,350 until 30/06/2017 Regular: A$3,650 Single Supplement: A$490 (on request - 5 nights shared facilities) Note: For single people who prefer to share, we will try to find a suitable roommate, but if this is not possible the sole-use surcharge will apply. Minimum Group size: 10 guests Accommodation: 3-4 star motel/retreats & historic lighthouse keeper cottage accommodation with shared facilities (5 nights) Special Interest: Wildlife, Birding, Geology, History, Botanical Note: Can be joined with Grampians - A Journey Through Time For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 1

2 WALK RATING Moderate: 6-15km per walking day with some steep & rough sections (off-track options). Age is not necessarily as important as your fitness and recent walking experience, and anyone of reasonable fitness should be able to join this tour. We reserve the right to be flexible with the itinerary to allow for unforeseen circumstances including weather conditions and group fitness. INCLUSIONS 7 nights twin share accommodation 3-4 star motel & historic lighthouse keeper cottages with shared facilities (5 nights) Meals include - 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners All transport / transfers as listed in itinerary National Park, lighthouse & museum entry fees (where noted) Kangaroo Island Birds of Prey, Seal Bay beach boardwalk & Kelly Hill Limestone Caves tours Professional tour leader/s assisted when required by local tour guides Pre-departure material including background and personalised A-Z tour information EXCLUSIONS Airfares and taxes to start / from end of tour Airport transfer Heavy or excess baggage Travel insurance Personal expenses e.g. drinks (water, alcohol, tea and coffee), laundry, telephone, or optional tours / excursions TOUR LEADERS Graeme McGregor is a geographer with a touch of the nomad. Some of Graeme s early roles included teaching geography; establishing and operating the Grampians Field Studies Centre near Dunkeld; planning for the Grampians and Point Nepean National Parks in Victoria, and planning or management of numerous national parks and reserves in Queensland and Northern NSW. Graeme is the author of many park management plans and schools educational material on soil conservation and land use planning. Graeme s most recent work was with the SA National Parks and Wildlife Service on Kangaroo Island where he lived for 4½ years, finding time to discover the wonders of Kangaroo Island and other areas of SA. He recently returned to live in the Northern Rivers of NSW. Graeme is passionate about our natural and cultural environments and enjoys nothing more than sharing it with others. Quentin Chester will assist on a number of walks during the program. Quentin is an accomplished traveller, writer, photographer and guide. A regular contributor to Australian Geographic and Wild magazines he has also co-authored two books - The Kimberley: Horizons of Stone and Australia s Wild Islands and authored three volumes of wildernessinspired essays. Quentin has a diverse background as an outdoor guide and interpreter with stints leading Himalayan treks, Kimberley cruises and nature-based tours in Flinders Ranges and on Kangaroo Island. Now also an award-winning photographer, Quentin s work is widely published in magazines and is exhibited on Kangaroo Island and in Adelaide. Quentin is a confirmed islophile who, since 2009, has made Kangaroo Island his home. He is also a regular guide at Cape Willoughby lighthouse. FAQ S How & when to book? Our biggest message to you is BOOK EARLY!! Many tours book out very quickly so the moral of the story is the early bird catches the worm! To qualify for any of the early bird prices, you simply need to send a completed booking form and deposit of A$400 per person per tour, by the early bird dates listed at the front of the tour itinerary. We offer A$500 discount per person if you book by the Advanced Early Bird date and A$300 discount per person if you book by the Early Bird date. If your deposit arrives after any of the early bird dates, the tour balance will be at the regular price. To place your booking, simply visit to pay your deposit and book online, or complete a Tour Booking Form, and post / fax / it to us with your deposit. Once you have booked on a tour, we will stay in contact with regular mailings (see below). What information and contact can I expect? When you send your initial deposit, we will contact you to confirm your booking. Once the tour has been confirmed to depart, a comprehensive information pack will be sent to you, including a Tour A-Z, suggested packing list, medical questionnaire, balance of payment invoice, and pre / post accommodation options. We can assist you with flight arrangements but please don t book flights until our office contacts you to confirm that your tour has been confirmed to depart. The final mailing is sent out approximately three weeks before departure and includes final tour documents, address list for family and friends, meeting points, and any final travel information. What is the group size? We specialise in small group travel with an average group size of around guests. Please see the front page for details on the minimum group size for this particular tour. All tours need a minimum number of passengers to operate at the price listed in the itinerary. If the minimum number is not reached, a tour may still operate with a surcharge. How fit do I have to be? When you are assessing your ability and agility to participate, age is not necessarily as important as your fitness and recent walking experience. Please read the tour walk rating and the day by day walking descriptions in the itinerary to determine if the tour is suitable for your fitness. If you have any queries, we are happy to put you in touch with either the tour coordinator or tour leader to discuss your fitness in more detail. What gear and equipment do I need to take? Because we focus on half and full day walks, returning to our accommodation in the afternoon, you don t need to carry any more than a daypack with rain wear, sunscreen, drinking water, camera and lunch. A few tours include an overnight hike where you will need to carry personal gear for the journey. We recommend hiking boots on most of our tours as they offer good ankle support and grip. A detailed packing list is included with your tour s information pack. For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 2

3 ITINERARY TOUR ITINERARY Day 1 Tue 03 Oct Adelaide - Cape Willoughby We meet our tour leader and remainder of the group outside the Chifley on South Terrace, Adelaide for a pickup at 8:00am. We depart Adelaide and travel via the scenic Onkaparinga area and Fleurieu Peninsula to Cape Jervis, where we catch the ferry to Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island (or KI as the locals prefer to call it). On arrival learn about KI s history from early explores to farming heritage whilst taking in the stunning seascapes of Baudin Conservation Park. We commence our journey on the eastern side of the island at Cape Willoughby and check into our Heritage Light house Cottages, our base for the next two nights. Rich in maritime history, Cape Willoughby Conservation Park is home to South Australia s first lighthouse. This afternoon the introductory walk follows the cliff tops from this lighthouse to Windmill Bay. In the evening we sample some of KI s finest wines with our tasty dinner in the lighthouse keepers cottages. Meals: D Walks: 6km across granite country and walking tracks/hiking shoes or joggers appropriate Day 2 Wed 04 Oct The Far East (Dudley Peninsula) This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse and its historic precinct, followed by a walk that showcases the Dudley Peninsula as we journey from Cape St Albans to the Chapman River. This walk takes in the gentle coastal landscapes of Red House and Antechamber Bays, through open landscape and farmland. Walks:10km easy moderate walk across a variety of terrains (off track but with some beach walking) with little elevation change/hiking boots required Day 3 Thu 05 Oct Wild about Wildlife Leaving Cape Willoughby we travel to Seal Bay on the South Coast to walk amongst the endangered Australian sea lion colony. This informative 45 minute tour highlights the biology, breeding characteristics and behaviour of the sea lions. We then move onto Kangaroo Island Birds of Prey tour at Raptor Doman, an environmental, educational and rehabilitation centre to learn about the islands unique birdlife before we continue into the heart of Flinders Chase National Park. Our walk this afternoon takes us to the Rocky River Platypus Waterholes Walk where we may be lucky enough to encounter the elusive Platypus. We pass through dense native vegetation abundant with bird life and native animals along the way enjoying lookouts and interpretation of the natural environment. Here we discover the wonders of this protected area and step back in time to learn more about the extinct mega fauna that once inhabited the park. Late afternoon we check into our accommodation at Cape du Couedic Historic Lighthouse cottages, our base for three nights. Walks: 10km easy on- track walk with gentle undulating gradients / hiking shoes or joggers appropriate Day 4 Fri 06 Oct Caves, Bays & Rocks of the South Coast This morning we experience a guided tour of the Kelly Hill limestone caves with its array of stalactite, stalagmite, shawl, helicities and column formations before commencing our walk to Hanson Bay. This spectacular trail meanders through banksia heath, Pink gum woodlands, mallee and coastal heath, alongside freshwater lagoons, over dunes to viewpoints that provide wonderful vistas inland along the coast. We continue our exploration of Flinders Chase National For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 3

4 ITINERARY TOUR ITINERARY continued... Park and head to the famous Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arc, to observe them at their finest in late afternoon. These spectacular natural rock formations are sculpted by weathering and erosion from the sea, rain and wind over thousands of years. Walks: 11km moderate on-track, mostly gentle undulating country with some short steeper ascents and descents/hiking boots required Day 5 Sat 07 Oct Shipwreck Coast Today we enjoy a network of rough terrain walking trails and off-track walks which enables us to experience the park in-depth from Snake Lagoon to Sandy Creek along the remote western side of the island. Referred to as the Shipwreck Coast this is a place where fierce ocean swells and storms caused many shipwrecks in the past. Here we take in the wonders of this ancient landscape along with learning more about the historical importance of 19 th Century shipping and its hardy sailors. Walks: 10km moderate off track walk, at times on rough limestone, with some short/steep ascents and descents. Gentle undulating gradients elsewhere some sandy sections/hiking boots required Day 6 Sun 08 Oct Wild West We enjoy walks at stunning West Bay today. Here we enjoy coastal and cliff top walks hiking to Vennachar Point, where the beautiful but seemingly cursed Loch Vennachar was wrecked in 1905, with the loss of all lives on board. Afterwards we continue onto Kingscote, the islands capital and our base for the next two nights. Walks: 10km moderate, off-track with sandy beach walks and trackless limestone country, with steep ascent and descent/ hiking boots required. Alternative options provided based on road conditions and guest walking abilities. Day 7 Mon 09 Oct North Coast Bays & Beaches The North Coast has its own unique character - from the rugged northwest cliffs through to the expansive calm white sandy beaches. Today is spent discovering hidden bays and beaches with the option of learning more about the local agricultural industries renowned for their honey, spirits and sheep cheese. Walks: 6km easy walks, some beach and off track sections, with short moderate ascent & descent/hiking boots required Day 8 Tue 10 Oct End of tour After breakfast we say farewell to KI and catch the mid-morning ferry from Penneshaw back to Cape Jervis. We aim to arrive at the Adelaide domestic airport at approximately 2pm (allow suitable time upwards of two hours after this time if booking departing flights on this day). Here you can connect with homeward flights or proceed via airport transfer options to the city centre, to explore Adelaide further. This tour can be connected with the Grampians journey. Meals: B For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 4

5 REDISCOVER EXPERIENCE CONNECT WHY TRAVEL WITH US? InterNATIONAL PARKtours have been leading small group walking holidays since Our like-minded guests bond easily and often create reunions, celebrations and friendships, many of them life-long. Our tours are active with regular half and full day walks. Aside from walking, we also spend time meeting local people, tasting regional food and immersing ourselves in the culture and history of a destination. Our flexibility enables us to adapt to the likes, dislikes and agility of our travellers, and changing situations such as weather and unforeseen circumstances. In most locations, we stay 2-3 nights and sometimes longer. This allows us to slow down, unpack our bags and enjoy the local atmosphere at different times of the day. Accommodation is comfortable, unique plus locally owned and operated where possible. Our guides are dedicated, informative people who share their passion and knowledge on local history, culture, wildlife & topography. Our journeys are designed to safeguard the ecosystems; benefit the communities we visit and contribute to the sustainability of destinations. Travel is a chance to change your perspective. Nature always provides a new view if we take the time to look. IPT offers great value for money with their programmes. There is minimum spending money needed once on tour and there are no hidden extras along the way. Judy & Peter Hughes Disclaimer of Liability Although international PARKtours has prepared the Information contained in this itinerary with all due care and updates the Information regularly, international PARKtours does not warrant or represent that the Information is free from errors or omission. Whilst the Information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Information. The Information may change without notice and international PARKtours is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user. Itinerary Updated: August 2, :23 PM Responsible Travel For your protection, we are allied members of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. Your payments are kept in a trust account until required for payment of your tour. We are accredited with ATAS, a national accreditation scheme, endorsing travel agents who have met strict financial and customer service criteria. We also have advanced accreditation with Ecotourism Australia and are members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Serendipity of travel Our guides will work 24/7 on your behalf to make sure that we are doing all we can to ensure your enjoyment. We have planned an intimate adventure, but adventure cannot be guaranteed. If indeed it could then it would lose its appeal. Though we do the best we can to plan a smooth journey, sometimes things change at short notice. Some things may take longer than anticipated, transport and accommodation arrangements may alter, and you may experience occasional shortcomings and be frustrated by the manana attitude; at other times you will be amazed by local efficiency. Tour itineraries may need to be modified but this is done so with your needs in mind and to provide the best tour experience. So, be flexible, surprised and delighted with the serendipity that comes from being open to the unexpected. Your enjoyment of this journey is ultimately up to you. T T F Timbarra Drive Beechmont QLD 4211 Australia info@parktours.com.au