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This would have been our destination: Broughton Island (under storm clouds) as seen from the mainland

Easter weekend at Port Stephens. Gisela and Pico stay with us until end of March. The weekend after their return to Florida is the long Easter weekend. As you might remember Claudia got her kayaking sea leader certificate a few months ago, and it's time to offer a trip. Her choice is Broughton Island, one of the most fascinating destinations for sea kayakers (cf. for instance monthly report July 2005). In order to get there a 16km passage of open sea needs to be negotiated, hence all conditions have to be alright: Wind speed and direction, sea conditions like swell and wave height. Therefore, the long Easter weekend is picked to allow for a sufficiently big time window and the option to move the trip a bit.

Still it was not supposed to happen: In the days before Easter a bad weather front had come through, and the ocean had become choppy. Actually so choppy that some fish trawlers needed to be rescued. For those who joined us on this kayaking trip: Sue and Kevin, Janet and Paul, this means to look for alternatives. Thus we paddle on Port Stephens and spend long hours walking along the beach. Definitely relaxed, we return to Sydney after three days.

What a job! Historical tram in Victor Harbor

Ever wondered why the spot got dubbed Kangaroo Island?

Now that's laid-back!

Feeling at home: Vineyards in McLaren Vale

Holidays. The rest of this monthly report will talk about one single topic: Our holidays. Mid of April, we hop on a plane to Adelaide, carrying our camping gear with us. Tent, sleeping bags, mattresses, cutlery and plates, camping stove et cetera. It's amazing how much you can fit into a backpack (and how much you are able to carry ...). In Adelaide a silver rental car is waiting for us which we will return eight days later covered in red dust. Our destination is Kangaroo Island, approximately 100km southwest of the city.

Kangaroo Island — nicknamed KI by the Aussies — lies ca 15 km before the South Australian coast. With a length of 150 km it is the third largest Australian Island. Because of its island location, mammal pests like foxes and rabits haven't yet made it onto KI, its natural habitats still being largely undisturbed. That is why KI has got a reputation as a paradise for nature lovers. We will not be disappointed.

On our first day, we stack up on food supplies in an Adelaide supermarket, and only make it as far as Victor Harbour. Here, we see not only sturdy horses pulling the historic tramway across a jetty to Granite Island, but also the first wildlife: At a night time walk on the island, we spot dozens of little penguins who walk to their nest burrows in the cover of darkness.

The next day, we catch the ferry over to Kangaroo Island. From now on, our days are filled with bush walks, wildlife spotting, and visits to the cliffs and light houses. We learn that KI's next neighbor due West is Argentinia! With so much fetch it comes at no surprise that the ocean is wild at KI's west coast. There is definitely no swimming here!

The East coast, however, is hugely different. The area is used for agriculture; we see more sheep than native animals. The ocean is calm and invites us for a swim. Here at the East coast, we spend some time visiting bee hive keepers, a eucalypt oil plant, and the light house at Cape Willoughby.

The definite highlight of our trip, however, is the travel along KI's South coast and the time spent in the Western part of the island: This is almost exclusively National Park, and we spot kangaroos — sure enough! — wallabies, koalas, and even a platypus. On the beaches and rocks, there are colonies of New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions. More photos at our photo gallery Kangaroo Island.

After only one week spent well on KI, we have to say good bye to this paradise. The return trip to Adelaide leads us through the wine region McLaren Vale. We will definitely come back one day, spending more time exploring Adelaide's surrounds.