Kangaroo Island

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007 at 21:48
ThreadID: 123155 Views:4844 Replies:7 FollowUps:2
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I read an interesting article the other day about Kangaroo Island, how it is a fauna paradise, great seafood and so on. We were thinking we would like to visit there in the autumn and would appreciate any information about whether the Bushtracker can be taken across, what camping sites are available and anything else of interest. Isn't that Angie's stamping ground?

John
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Reply By: Noosa Fox - Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007 at 21:56

Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007 at 21:56
John,

Angie has her BT over there at the moment and will be leaving next month to go to Malacoota Rally so you will be able to have a long chat to her & Ivan at the rally. I believe it is a little expensive to take the van over there.

Brian
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Reply By: Motherhen & Rooster - Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 01:44

Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 01:44
We haven't been across, but when we went as far as the ferry point, there was a BT (non boggers) parked nearby ready to take the ferry the next morning.
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Reply By: Cowcockies - Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 02:31

Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 02:31
There seems to be very limitred camping grounds on K.I.
Last year we priced the crossing, at the Adelaide caravan show,at approx $650 return for our extended drawbar 20BT Towed by a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

David & Sue
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Reply By: Bushtracker42 - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 18:15

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 18:15
We have been 5 years ago.
We had an issue with west side camping as one road has a no caravan sign (1st trip in the BT and there was a discussion in the car - possible invalid insurance backed me off). One other on the west side was closed when we were there.

Other than that there are still a few places to stay. It also holds our record, with 9km travelled one day after we realised the 2nd spot was better.

When we were there some poor bas*** working on a government grant announced after a 2 year investigation that Vivon bay was the best beach in Australia. Best??? it was very nice but I'm not opening that argument.
If you go and it's still there, Play on the Sam&Eidy golf course at Vivon (Spelling wrong but..). Was $1/day. 9 holes, chase the kangaroos off the 'greens'. If the caretakers still there you may get a cup of tea with the game. Based on the visitors book when we were there, 5 years means we are still probbaly on the same page.

PS - We found it very difficult to get seafood without going out. We had our 25th wedding anniversary there and could not find lobsters/crabs/prawns to have on the beach. Had to settle for Moe and cheese.
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Reply By: Motley - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 18:59

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 18:59
Interesting place to visit but not sure about the value vs cost of taking the Bushtracker on the Ferry.

The western end is wild with great scenery. There is an eco-lodge on the edge of the western end which is good for a couple of nights. We also made arrangements to stay at the lighthouse cottages at both the western end (Cape Borda) and the eastern end (Cape Willoughby). Three to four nights on the island is enough time to check out most of the attractions. If you spend the last night at Cape Willoughby, then it's an easy drive to catch the first ferry in the morning.

What you would spend transporting the BT would provide for accommodation for about three nights while you leave the BT on the mainland. Then there are any number of places to camp around the Fleurieu peninsula once you come back from KI
Motley

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Reply By: Silver Fox - Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 09:23

Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 09:23
I was on K.I. Sept past. I firstly enquired at the Cape Jervis ferry terminal re cost of taking BT over. Too much for me compared to the "deal" the lady at the terminal worked out on her computer. She had a big number of choices of accomodation listed. I got a three bedroom house at American Bay with a huge deck overlooking the bay for less than the cost of taking the rig. Left the BT at Normanville van park for a small fee. We had a great time over five days. Saw almost all of it. There are lots of wildlife to see particularly if one drives the back roads. Goood idea is to get a copy of the tourist info book on K.I. prior to going over. Watch out for the jet black tiger snakes. We saw a huge very active one next to the Willoughby lighthouse.
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Follow Up By: Bogger John - Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 17:58

Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 17:58
Thanks for all the helpful comments. The cost of the ferry certainly seems to indicate leaving the BT on the mainland and paying for accommodation on the Island.

John
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Reply By: Bushtracker Buck & Babe - Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 20:45

Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 20:45
Hi there,

Ivan and I have just priced coming off the Island at the special residents rate and one way and it was nearly $400. Camping sites are limited as free camping is technically not allowed and you have to obtain a permit from the KI council to use any of the camping spots they provide. Then most of Flinders Chase is now by entry fee.

There are a couple of caravan parks. The one closest to Kingscote at Brownlow we would have had trouble getting into with our 20' and Effie, luckily we are able to stay at brother in laws independently, just tapping into their water. I am talking to him about allowing Boggers to stay fee free at his place in Kingscote as a base spot, which is a huge paddock, in exchange for a couple of days work if people want it doing things like packing honey. He would provide water, and possibly power. There is also the family farm out the west end of the Island which could also be a launching point for getting around using the same couple of days work system. Get back to you all on that one.

The caravan park down near Flinders Chase is quite spacious but not sure of costs, sorry. I can find out more info for you if you want to know.

If you are coming to Mallacoota I could bring some info with me on KI, but Motley is right, you can get a good deal on the accommodation over here without having to bring the van. I can get more info on all that too if you want.

It really is a lovely place with lots to see. There has been a lot of major development over the past 2 years to satisfy the tourist market. The Lavender Farm, the Marron Cafe, and make sure you drop in to see the brother in laws honey processing plant and shop called The Island Beehive near Kingscote. He has done a brilliant job with it and I wrote the business proposal.

Angie
AnswerID: 570096

Follow Up By: Bogger John - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 17:47

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 17:47
Thanks for the info, Angie. Hope to see you at Mallacoota.

John
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