Food from KI

One of the greatest things about Kangaroo Island, if you put aside the beautiful beaches, the amazing wildlife, the fantastic isolation and the "how's the serenity" (from a classic old school Australian comedy movie) feeling, it is the food. The place is crawling with fantastic things to eat. There are many artisans and if the population was bigger it would be amazing to see what else they came out with.
So here are a few of the things we visited and/or tasted.

You can eat them.... but I didn't this time.

In Kangaroo Island they have the only remaining population of Ligurian bees, originally from Italy, but due to disease and pollution in Europe there are now none left.

Aren't they darn cute?

And if you go to Cliffords Honey Farm, you can see them, and better yet taste their magic in the form of honey icecream

There is something that is now farmed in Kangaroo Island too, it is the Marron. Which is a large growing fresh water crayfish, similar to the yabby (yabbie) or the Polish rak.

You can buy the marron, fresh and in all different sizes.

So can see them feeding in the holding tanks.

Then you can see them on your plate.

This was the biggest platter you could get there. The Marron Platter - prawns, scallops, and of course Marron hot and cold.

They are just so delicate and delicious

They are clawfully good. Sorry, that is a bad pun.

Oh dear, probably my most favourite of foods, scallops!

Feeling a little bit devilish eating something so great.

Then feeling sad it is all gone.

Of course we need to finish with cake.

Next stop Kangaroo Island Spirits, a small distiller on the island

Even flavouring vodka with samphire, giving you a feeling of the seaside.

The copper kettle which makes all the wonderful spirits.

The cellar door and home of the magic, seriously you should try the gin and the zenzerino, both are fabulous. One of which made it home as a Christmas present for my father in law.

 On KI there is a beach that was voted the best in Australia, due to its pristine appearance, safe swimming, crystal clear water, and also the chance to surf. We came for another reason too....

What is in the box?

It is the locally famous whiting burger. The King George Whiting is thought of by many as the best eating fish in the world. It is priced around $AUD40 (140PLN) per kilogram, but still is worth it.

The boss seems to agree.

There is more food from the isle to come too. Hope you aren't feeling too hungry.

Kangaroo Island part II

More of Kangaroo Island....... For an island with such a small population there are certainly lots of different things to see and do there. There is some really great spots for photography and you can get some dramatic light with the clouds over the Southern Ocean and sunsets and sunrises (not that I saw any of them due to enjoying my rest). One of the most dramatic and beautiful locations is known as Remarkable Rocks in the Flinders Chase National Park.

Ok, these aren't them, but I did like the joke.

The way there

So to be honest, I don't think I will comment on the photos as they are simply beautiful and don't need my words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 There you have 20 odd photos of one of the most inspiring and beautiful places, in my eyes.

Kangaroo Island, part 1

There is a little island to the South of Adelaide called Kangaroo Island. It is one of the most amazing places that I have had the privilege to visit. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone. On the island (which is 4,405 km² or the size of two Luxembourgs or half of Belgium) this makes it Australia's third biggest island behind Tasmania and Melville off the coast of the Northern Territory. To give you an understanding of what I like about this island is if you compare the islands' 4400 people to Luxembourg (half the size) and its 511,000, population it puts things in perspective. It is a barren place, at times desolate and empty. It suffered from large scale bushfires in 2007 which destroyed lots of native bush and killed many animals. This said it is still full of wildlife, large nature reserves and even larger farms. Amongst all of this you can though find some amazing 'non-natural' wonders. I will talk about these in the next few posts. Don't get me wrong, the main reason to go there is actually to see many of the natural wonders, but there are some other things you wouldn't expect. With honey, wine, natural eucalyptus oil, lavender and many other numerous products being created by local artisans.

So to celebrate our long awaited honeymoon, Marty and I hit the water in the form of the ferry from Cape Jervis on the mainland to Kingscote, the island's biggest township.

Looking back as we set sail

The school kiddies having fun with the wind

Losing some vision and stability

So it is time to be on the Titanic, I hope not!

We didn't stop there though instead and hit the road to our accommodation at Emu Bay about an hour away to drop off our things and then to progress on to one of the islands numerous fantastic beaches. Stokes Bay.

The beautiful Stokes Bay

Hidden from view of the carpark but large rocks

The amazing super white beach actually has great variety of mineral colours

And some odd white growths about.

Where we stayed, Emu Bay

Home of the odd Pelican or two

Ok, catch you later mate.

Alone, so alone.

Amongst the Rock pools

The rocks around the jetty

Some classic onion weathering

Love the formations

The jetty the home of some great fishing apparently, I didn't bring a rod.

We had our next wildlife connection on the way to Flinders Chase National Park in the South West corner of the island.

An unfortunate road kill, the beautiful monotreme that is the Echidna

The echidna spines.

The road to Flinders Chases Admirals Arch

Just off to the left of the road is the Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse

Marty and I really love Lighthouses

So we spent a while strolling around the area

The small building here is the kerosene hut

Where fuel was kept for the lighthouse to run.

We were lucky to get some great weather.

Marty pondering about the world of being a lighthouse keeper

Only 102 years old! Almost new!

So farewell Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse onto....

Admirals Arch

Look sea slugs!

Slugs everywhere!

People on the walkway looking for slugs

Ohhhhh they aren't slugs they are seals! Silly me.

Some of the native ground covers.

If you jump on the small side road you can get a view back to the lighthouse.

And of the Encounter Bay

The location of the lightkeepers house, where he had to get supplies from the bay up this cliff

Well rather large cliff actually.

I don't know that it would be the most fun thing in the world to get your supplies up and down this cliff face. It must have been a great relief when they built the flying fox to get things up and down.