Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 324 October 2016 goxploretravel.com.au General enquiries (03) 9417 7610 Editor: Mary O’Brien mary@goxploretravel.com.au National Advertising Director: Chris Jefferson Jnr chris@goxploretravel.com.au Design: Artifishal Studios Printing: AIW Printing Pty Ltd Distribution: PMP Pty Ltd Published by GOxplore Pty Ltd ACN 612 161 609 140 Johnston Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 Australia While every attempt has been made to ensure information is correct at the time of going to press, the publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in content. Island paradise Danielle Wright enjoys the wild side of Kangaroo Island. O n the 45-minute ferry ride to Kangaroo Island from the South Australian mainland, it’s plain sailing. But locals tell me it can get so rough you sometimes have to dodge rubbish bins flying down the aisles. It’s all part of the experience as visitors flock there not for days spent in sun loungers, but for a rugged beauty and an island so full of wildlife it’s billed as “a zoo without fences”. As the coach winds its way out of the ferry terminal, all eyes are peeled for the wildlife. A downside of the calm hot weather is that the animals have hurried off to shelter in the shade. Luckily, there are sightseeing stops dotted around the island and our first is Seal Bay, where we spot Australian sea lions, one of the rarest species in the world. It’s hard to imagine that 60 years ago they were carelessly used as shark bait. Today cameras click in unison as mother sea lions nurse their young on the beach. At Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase National Park, we watch honking New Zealand fur seals frolic in washing-machine swells as the charismatic Cape du Couedic lighthouse looks on with its sandstone base and tomato red top: a giant sandcastle on the hill. My favourite wildlife experience, however, has to be the Pelican Man (aka John Ayliffe) feeding a throng of ravenous pelicans at Kingscote Wharf. It’s like watching a choreographed ballet as the birds strain their necks to grab the fish. John serves up a delicious dry wit with his show, but it belies a hard life. He ran 9500 sheep on the island until the 1990s, when the wool price collapsed. Reinventing himself as Pelican Man hasn’t been popular with the authorities and he has faced arrest twice. To the crowds happily handing him $5 to watch, he’s one of the island’s drawcards. Apart from the wildlife, the island is also stacked with natural beauty. One of the most stunning places is the aptly named Remarkable Rocks, sculpted by the elements over 500 million years. Join the parade perched under claw-like rock shapes for selfies beside a feisty Southern Ocean backdrop. The sights are broken by long stretches of dusty roads and we learn the famous Kangaroo Island wave — a one-finger salute by locals where they lift only their index finger to acknowledge passing cars. It’s a laid-back lifestyle in contrast to the caffeine-fueled city I’ve left behind. Kangaroo Island isn’t the small island paradise that I’d imagined — it’s seven times the size of Singapore, with its own highway — but there’s still a chance to slow down, recharge and be impressed by its rawness. Next visit, I’ll be hoping for the kind of weather that sends rubbish bins flying down the aisles, just so I can experience the island’s rugged power in its full splendour. Danielle Wright travelled with the assistance of AAT Kings. Fast facts STAY The Aurora Ozone Hotel (ozonehotelki.com.au) overlooks Nepean Bay. There’s also quaint lighthouse accommodation or splash out on Southern Ocean Lodge EAT Stock up on Kangaroo Island honey, known for its purity. Look out for American River oysters and locally made manchego sheep’s milk cheese DO AAT Kings Adelaide and Kangaroo Island short break tour, www.aatkings.com John Ayliffe feeds the penguins at Kingscote Wharf The Remarkable Rocks are 500,000,000 years old