Adventure and excitement in the water and out!

Welcome to the Seafood Capital of Australia, Port Lincoln!

Your personal guide will greet you at the Port Lincoln Hotel.

Our day starts with morning viewing is at the small coastal hamlet of Tulka where waders, Swans and Sea Birds can be seen from the Bird Hide. This is another known location for Southern Emu-Wrens near a well first dug by Captain Matthew Flinders when he explored the area in 1802. We take you to the diversity of the Port Lincoln National Park. From the naturally rugged and wild Sleaford Bay and the Southern Ocean to the tranquility of the Spalding Cove area and other beautiful beaches. Of the 29,000ha National Park, you can walk or beachcomb along Surfleet Cove, take a 45-minute hike to see spectacular views of Boston Bay, Port Lincoln and the Port Lincoln National Park at the Stamford Hill Lookout. The park is ideal for trekking, birdwatching, photography, fishing, swimming and 4Wdriving, and the last is a must for the more adventurous. 4Wdrviing through massive sand dunes with the stunning ocean as your vista. There are 130 species of birds listed in the National Park as well as many Western Grey kangaroos, Emus, lizards and in summer, snakes. In the afternoon, we get up close and personal at one of Australia’s very best habitats where Koalas can be found in the wild & a wonderful natural playground. We stroll under the beautiful old Eucalypt trees and come face to face with the cuddly icon of Australia as they laze in the Manna gums. Due to the gums being stunted in growth, your view of the koalas is at eye level and you will definitely need more than 2 hands to keep count! Wild but placid kangaroos casually hop & graze around in this beautiful historical setting, where in 1842 Scotsman Adam Borthwick and his family made their home as one of the very first European settlers of the region. Wander through the restored original homestead as emus roam around and look for some of the 160 native bird species that reside here, such as the Port Lincoln Parrot, Blue Breasted Wrens and an occasional Scarlet Robin. As the sun settles for the evening, sit back and relax with a platter and drop of local wine surrounded by wildlife and the sounds of nature. It’s stunningly beautiful!

Swim with Australian Sea lions & Bottlenose Dolphins at Baird Bay.

6.00am: Pickup before embarking on the 300km road trip to Baird Bay.

It’s an early start to the day but it will be worth it though with an unforgettable ocean experience with Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experiences. Today’s headline act is only a very short steam off shore aboard the ‘Neo-phocus’, where you will be swimming with the Australian Sea Lions off Jones Island. The island is home to just over 100 Australian Sea Lions, as well as a variety of native birds. Here you have the opportunity to experience sea lions in their natural environment

fast, agile & playful- they thrive on the interaction of humans. The sea lion experience is full of wonder & charm, and swimming with them is rated in the Top 10 things to do in Australia. These mammals have never been fed, it is the natural curiosity of the sea lions, and mutual respect between both sea lion and human, that has led to such a close relationship with the animals. Following the sea lion encounter, ‘Neo’ pulls out into deeper waters where you now have the chance to swim with the resident Bottlenose dolphins. Powerful & lightning fast- these animals often come so close to you that you can hear the high pitch chatter. On the way up the coast and back down we stop on many occasions to get out of the vehicle and see some of our secrets places. Amazing coastal views at the town ship of Elliston including the Great Ocean Drive and with time permitting, Venus Bay. Talia caves are another attraction en-route. Nature’s elements of the sea & wind have etched patterns through time on its limestone roof, whilst the surf washes the rocks, edging the caves offering another spectacular scene of color & the wonderful force of the Southern Ocean. Walk through the amazing rock formation known as Murphy's Haystacks, the unique form of pillars and boulders dates back 100,000 years ago, you can clearly see the wind word shapes of these pink granite inselbergs. Also on the agenda is one of the very best vantage spots on the 2000 long stretch of the Great Australian Bight. Cummings Monument provides this and more as the view gives you spectacular and uninterrupted views of the rugged cliff tops that make up the Bight. Adjacent to the Monument is a craggy pinnacle set amongst deep blue waters which makes a home to a family of sea eagles as they nest on top.

Today we visit beautiful Coffin Bay, an area is of outstanding beauty, world famous Oysters and is home to a variety of important species of flora and fauna. There are no other comparable systems of bays and inlets in such compact form anywhere on the coast, which is why this area is classified as a maritime wilderness area. We venture to Coffin Bay National Park where there are about 150 species of birds, 11 species of terrestrial mammals (of which seven are introduced), 12 species of marine mammals, 20 species of lizards, six species of snakes and several (mostly unidentified) species of amphibians have been recorded in the parks. Several wildlife species occurring in the parks are classed as vulnerable, endangered or rare. About 10% of the bird species recorded are pelagic, that is, they frequent off-shore and/or ocean water, while a further 15% are wading species. White-bellied Sea-eagle and Osprey are both moderately common in the parks but are generally uncommon in South Australia, and are vulnerable to human interference. The availability of undisturbed coastal cliff habitats and rocky offshore islands makes the Coffin Bay area a significant breeding refuge for these species. Reptiles recorded from the park include the Peninsula Dragon, Rosenberg's Goanna, Masters Snake, Black Tiger Snake, Common Death Adder and Peninsula Brown Snake. Native terrestrial mammals are few, reflecting the severity of extinctions that have occurred on Eyre Peninsula since colonial settlement. Within the first 50 years of settlement, Eyre Peninsula lost up to 40% of its terrestrial mammals and some have become extinct more recently (Watts & Ling, 1985). The remaining native mammal species include the Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes) and Western Pygmy-possum (Cercartetus concinnus). Islands of Whidbey, Avoid Bay and Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Parks support breeding populations of seabirds and marine mammals. Colonies of the Australian Sea-lion (Neophoca cinerea) and New Zealand Fur-seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) occur on many of these islands. Southern Right Whales (Balaena glacialis australis) are often seen along the southern coastline of Coffin Bay National Park during early winter, as they migrate towards their breeding grounds at the Head of the Great Australian Bight. Fauna species of conservation significance within the parks of the Coffin Bay area include the Australian Sea- lion, New Zealand Fur-seal, Osprey and White-bellied Sea-eagle. The two-seal species have been the subject of a cooperative survey and monitoring program by the CSIRO. Australian Sea-lion colonies are relatively stable, while the population of New Zealand Fur-seals appears to be increasing moderately following the cessation of extensive hunting during the 19thCentury. Back in Coffin Bay lunch is gourmet seafood delight in the heart of picturesque Coffin Bay. After lunch, we will be learning about the Pacific and the Native Angasi Oyster with an Oyster tour & tasting with a local Coffin Bay oyster farmer. Cruise out to the oyster farms in the bay, all the while learning and being shown about the Oyster growing and harvesting process. This typical oyster operation contributes to the 60 tonnes of oysters that are trucked out of Coffin Bay every week. Fresh out of the rack, you get to sample these magnificent Oysters as well as seeing all the equipment used to get these Oysters into the top restaurants around the world. On the way back to Port Lincoln and visit the region of Big Swamp – a ‘listed Wetlands of Australian Significance’ site. Big Swamp Wetland is 3 seasonal fresh water lakes, that form a water dependent eco system, with a large and ancient Red Gum forest, creating a unique habitat for many documented rare wildlife, bird species of passerines and non-passerines, threatened plant species, fresh water tortoise, native fish and invertebrates. These wetlands are nationally important wetlands, and are the last true “fresh water wetlands” on Eyre Peninsula and contain “Many Rare and Endangered Wildlife”, especially rare waterfowl, raptors, endangered emu wren & whip bird, and 5 types of migratory waders. Follow this up with a visit to one of our local wineries sampling a local drop and learning about the varieties that are grown on the lower Eyre Peninsula.