Flour Cask Bay to Penneshaw

Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May

Distance: Approximately 70km

From Tom & Jakes Diary

If you visit Kangaroo Island and want to get further than Dudley Peninsula - which is that little knob on the end and the home to some spectacular lush land and beaches - you'll have to pass Pennington Bay. This beach always seems to look impressive with blue or grey skies and is a great fishing and surfing location. From then on, the whole coastline is fairly inaccessible, generally only through private property and is held tightly below tall cliff tops, which changed (quite pleasingly) from limestone to granite as I pushed on towards Cape Willoughby.

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Overlooking Pennington Bay from the West - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

A beach on the South Coast - East of Pennington Bay - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Kangaroos - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Eagle - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

South Coast of the Dudley Peninsula - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

A remote beach on the South Coast of the Dudley Peninsula - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Rockpool on the South Coast - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Looking towards False Cape - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Nearing Cape Willoughby Lightstation - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Cape Willoughby and the surrounding areas are home to quite a concentration of shipwrecks, which is why in 1852 the lighthouse was built. Standing at the most eastern point on the island and looking up the Backstairs Passage across to the beautiful mainland was such a treat - but to know that I was on the most beautiful side, where the grass is always greener, made me proud to be there.

On my way down to Antechamber bay I couldn't possibly pass up a glass of 2004 Cabernet and a farmer's slice of homemade cheesecake as I made it to the Chapman River Winery so I enjoyed their warmth, a lounge, a rug and a table for a while as I ordered my second slice - a top notch place.

The bay itself is another Kangaroo Island stereotypical bay with calm water, a long sandy beach, camping facilities and plenty of fish in the sea. The only difference is that with Antechamber you feel like you're actually somewhere in the world because you can see land on the horizon.

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Granite Cliffs, near Cape Willoughby - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Tom holding up the Cape Willoughby Lightstation - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Antechamber Bay - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Grain Threshing Floor, Baudin Conservation Park, Near Penneshaw - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Overlooking Penneshaw from the Baudin Conservation Park - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

SeaLink Ferry, Penneshaw - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Forced up to the green pastures which lie above the steep hills packed with tight scrub I headed towards Penneshaw, stumbling across the Ironstone Hill Hike which is a short walk starting in Penneshaw and has a few historical sites along the way which are worth visiting.

Woohoo! I'm at ‘The Shaw' and have fallen for Kangaroo Island and its adventure opportunities in a big way. Hopefully Jake will be out of bed and sickness and back on board for the last bit soon.