Bordertown travelling south to Mount Gambier, SA

After a reluctant pack up to leave peaceful McLaren Vale, it was time to make our way east to Bordertown, SA to visit Australia's only colony of white Kangaroos. Unfortunate we decided not to stay as it was a beautiful little town just bursting to impress visiting tourists with beautiful parks and friendly reception. After a quick photo stop with the kangaroos, we heeded on to stay the night free camping at Cockatoo Lake (60kms south of Bordertown). The next day we travelled directly south following the SA/VIC border, and stopped in at the world heritage listed Naracoorte caves, before heading on to stay the night at the beautiful mountain town of Mount Gambier and its stunning  scenery. 

Australia's only colony of white kangaroos lives at Bordertown SA. A white kangaroo was found by locals (around 1980) just across the NSW border and relocated to Bordertown. This bull went on to sire the current population of white kangaroos. These kangaroos are not albino, but actually a white mutation of the common western grey kangaroo (also pictured).

Free camping at Cockatoo Lake (60kms south of Bordertown, SA) - ewe crazy kid! 

Beautiful old gums dotted across the SA landscape, so beautifully lit late in the day - Cockatoo Lake, SA.

Weeeeee!!!! Having fun together - Cooper and Blaire - Cockatoo Lake, SA

Sunrise - Cockatoo Lake, SA

Naracoorte Caves, World Heritage Site. Home to fossils dating back to over 500,000 years old - Naracoorte, SA

Bright light!! Damien and Cooper soaking up the atmosphere 20mtrs underground

Stallegmites and other cave formations - Naracoorte Caves, Naracoorte SA

"Oooh, look at this Australia's largest and most diverse collection of fossils and mega fauna Mum!" (Think it was more like "Take a picture of my funny face Mum!")

Replica fossil of a juvenile leaf eating kangaroo found on the Naracoorte Caves. 'Procoptodon Goliah' (46,000 yr old extinct cousin to the kangaroo) - Naracoorte Caves, Naracoorte, SA

This is Blue Lake in Mt Gambier, most of the year it is a green/grey like most dams, but during the few months between Nov and early March, it turns into a brilliant blue seen here. We were lucky enough to see this as apparently it was due to start changing back any day. Interestingly enough this is actually the crater of a dormant volcano, as well as the source of water for the town. cool, huh! - Blue Lake, Mt Gambier, SA

Damien and me (Alison). Yes, Damien was freezing and yes, I needed that jumper as it was only 16'c!

Wine Country! (Clare Valley, Barossa, McLaren Vale), Adelaide, and Hahndorf - South Australia

Leaving Port Augusta, gateway to the four states (WA, NT, VIC & NSW) we headed parallel to the Flinders Ranges for a while on our way to the Clare Valley just north of Adelaide, SA before settling in the Barossa Valley for a couple of days of wine tasting and exploring.

Flinders Ranges, SA 

Where to start....?

Navigating the Clare Valley windy hilly roads with a caravan in tow in search of Kilikanoon was a little hairy. Luckily Damien is amazing at manoeuvring or we would have been staying in the Clare Valley for a while. 

Star Gazing - lunch with Tim Adams from 'Tim Adams Wines' at Mr Mick's tapas bar - Clare Valley, SA.
Ok, so we were actually sitting in the next table across from him by accident, but we did get to meet him, and he is a lovely guy (and his wines aren't too bad either :p)

High rise haystacks - these funny hay stacks are everywhere in SA - Barossa Valley, SA

VINES!!!!! A bit exciting to see the rolling hills of farmland give way to the endless vineyards - Barossa Valley, SA

Secret Cellar - a sneaky visit in to to the Torbreck Winery's private cellar trying to track down a wine we were given from there (but couldn't remember the name of) and totally loved - Barossa Valley, SA

Grape press on display at Henschke Wines -  Barossa Valley, SA

Welcome to Tanunda, just near where we were staying - Barossa Valley, SA

Maggie Beer Farm Shop - a yummy lunch of delicious Maggie Beer food, Yumm!!

The Maggie Beer TV kitchen - this is where the magic happens with Maggie's TV cooking partner Simon - Maggie Beer Farm Shop, Barossa Valley, SA

After a quick indulge in the Barossa, it was time to head into Adelaide Central for a couple of days to explore the beautiful city and check out the Caravan & Camping Show.

Native Animal Network - these wonderful ladies rescue our native fauna and nurse them back to health - Adelaide Caravan & Camping Show, Adelaide, SA

This is Joe, the owner of New Age Caravans and the designer of our caravan. Thanks Joe!! - Adelaide Caravan & Camping Show, Adelaide, SA

 A fun day exploring Adelaide with the kids saw us catching up on errands as well as seeing the sights.

iBlaire.
Some necessary maintenance on our Mac while the kids kept themselves busy at the kids tech bar - Apple Store, Adelaide, SA

iCooper - Apple Store, Adelaide, SA

Street Art - Adelaide City, SA

Cooper(s) xo

Beautiful historic buildings in Rundle Mall - Adelaide, SA

Street Performances as part of Adelaide Fringe Festival - Adelaide, SA

Little statue man playing guitar,
Little girl fascinated.
Fringe Festival street performances, Adeliade, SA

Beautiful Church, Adelaide, SA

Leaving Adelaide it was time to explore the McLaren Vale wine region for a few days. This included a trip out to the historic German village of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, as well as some leisurely time relaxing and enjoying the region, one tasting at a time.

A visit to the historic German village of Hahndorf - Adelaide Hills, SA

'Zeigen Sie uns Ihre Kerze!' - roughly translated from German to English as 'Show us your Candle!' - Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills, SA

New apron babe? Top right please!

We read the plaque and it's still a complete mystery what this was meant to represent. Still a bit of fun! - Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills, SA

McLaren Vale vines - McLaren Vale, SA 

Sunset jammies - wanted some vine photos but couldn't resist the opportunity to take some cute photos of the kids amongst the vines in pyjamas.

"C'mon Blaire, run to Mum for a good photo" - McLaren Vale, SA 

My artistic effort. Old vines - McLaren Vale, SA 

Strawberry Farm on the way out to Victor Harbour - Fleurieu Pennisula, SA

Taste testing strawberries - nom nom nom!!

Victor Harbour - Fleurieu Penninsula, SA

Victor Harbour - Fleurieu Penninsula, SA

Writing to our friends at Port Hedland

Now, this is a bottle on wine! (Made of wine corks) at Wirra Wirra Wines - McLaren Vale, SA

Eyre Peninsula - Ceduna, Streaky Bay & Port Augusta, South Australia

Arriving in the small town of Ceduna, SA was a welcome back to civilisation after the long stretch of the Nullarbor. After cleaning the van, restocking and washing all the dusty clothes, we moved on to spend 4 days in Streaky Bay. The kids got a chance to stretch their legs, and run wild as little children need to do, and Damien and I got some to time to relax and do...not a lot really. 
Family life with young children is always busy, but being on holiday with them is a much different but better kind of busy we are loving getting to know.
It has been amazing spending time uninterrupted with our kids, don't get me wrong it can be frustrating and tiring as hell. But we are both loving the endless time we have to observe exactly what they get up to every minute of the day.
The Eyre peninsula is a beautiful place, lots of sandy beaches and protected bays for the kids, lots of cheap and plentiful oysters for the husband (from $7.50 a dozen), and lots of interesting sightseeing for the wife/photographer of the family. The weather had been wet/windy for the majority, but we managed to turn it to our advantage and enjoy the time well. 

Setting up the crab nets for some entertainment with the kids - Streaky Bay Foreshore, SA

Much to everyone's surprise we actually caught some crabs off the jetty - Streaky Bay Foreshore, SA

Surveying the catch - 5 blue swimmer crabs - Streaky Bay Foreshore, SA

The only way to eat spaghetti - all in! 

Valentines Day 2014 - let it rain in SA!!!! 109mm falls in the 24 hours of Valentines day creating among other things a nice puddle for Greg's caravan to swim in (aka Lake Brewer)

Valentines Day - Damien collecting rainwater for our kettle!

A break in the rain and we take the kids out to see what is happening  - Streaky Bay Foreshore Caravan Park

Damage to the beach from the run off out of the caravan park from the early morning downpour. Not long after, the bulldozers were out to repair the beach.

The simple joy of jumping in puddles

A visit to a replica of the world's largest great white shark ever captured at Streaky Bay (that explains the fenced swimming enclosure on the jetty...) weighing in at 1500kgs, yikes!

This thing is huge, much rather meet it here than in the ocean!

A visit to a nearby sea lion colony - Point Labatt, SA

Point Labatt

 We though we would sneak out to Baird Bay from Point Labatt for lunch and to see if we could get closer to the seals but only found some friendly birds - Baird Bay, SA

A baby 'something-or-other' Bird - Baird Bay, SA 

Murphy's Haystacks - inselberg rock formations (where the sand degrades and blows/washes away from granite pillar formations over time) - so named because some chap back in the 1800's, who advised on successful farming practices, thought that Farmer Murphy had been very successful and tilling hay and building haystacks when he was traveling the area and saw the rock formations from a distance (no wikipedia back then of course)

One of the 'Haystacks' with some pretty amazing markings

Happy hour with the Streaky Bay crew - thanks for letting us crash your party!

And this was before all the party really started - beer, wine, CS cowboys, Galliano, these peeps know how to party!! Have a fun rest of your stay guys!

Port Augusta
Rather than travel down the whole Eyre Penninsula, we decided to head across to Port Augusta for an overnight stop after our relaxing break at Streaky Bay. Port Augusta is the most northerly port in South Australia and seventh largest populated town in SA. It so described as the crossroad of Australia and is the gateway for travellers to WA, VIC, NSW and NT. The Indian Pacific and Ghan (trains) also travel through this Port.

Port Augusta, SA