Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula

After the arid terrain of the Flinders Ranges we made our way south once more, this time down the east coast of the Yorke Peninsula. During settlement the Yorke Peninsula was heavily cleared. It consists largely of great expanses of barley fields stretching in all directions no matter where you are on the map.

We were headed to the Innes National Park at the very southern toe, and planned a couple of days in the camp ground at Pondalowie Bay.

Thankfully in the early seventies this area was declared a NP and has become a haven of coastal habitat for what had been a diminishing population of fauna on the Peninsula.

What a contrast this coastal tip was to the ranges up north. For two and a half days we explored the many walks and toured around bays, capes, lighthouses and we visited an old historic gypsum company township that flourished here in the 1800s - early 1900s (managed by a Stan Innes).

Time seemed to stand still for us while in the Park - the spectacular scenery, prolific wildlife (kangaroos, emus and bird life) thrilled us; the strong winds on West Cape blew off the southern ocean and nearly threw us off the cliff. We loved the wildness of it, and the fact that at times we were the only human life in eye or ear shot.

Can enveloping oneself in the wild landscape be medicine for the soul? I believe so, and for me, these are the kind of experiences that I am searching for.

However, as Michael has said, we came out of the wilds in search of food - so we went hunter-gathering at Woolworths in Port Pirie (they have a great range of gluten free foods - essential for me).

After stocking up on supplies we headed to a lovely town just a short drive north of Port Pirie, called Port Germaine. We ended our sojourn on the eastern side of the Spencer Gulf by walking along the 1.5km wooden jetty (longest in Australia) at sunset. It was like a magical walk out into the sea as the sunset gave way to a starry night, a mild breeze blowing as we headed back to our cosy camp.

Now we're off to Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, then around to Coffin Bay for a nice long stay.

Yes, that is a beard!



Pondalowie Bay



Pondalowie Bay

West Cape

Camp ground - Pondalowie Bay

Stenhouse Bay