Onto the Eyre Peninsula

We headed back the way we had come in through Wilpena, Quorn and Port Augusta then another 100kms to Whyalla.

After filling up in  Port A we started on the Lincoln highway.... guess who was pretty excited about that?

We arrived later in the afternoon and stayed in a park on the edge of  town. The kids had a great time on their bikes before we all had much needed showers after two days without. Then off to the local Hotel Motel bistro for dinner which happened to be having schnitzel night. It was very popular and we were shuffled outside to an enclosed area as they were so busy. Schnitzel night is a big thing everywhere in South Oz as we have seen signs at just about every town since promoting their night. Anyway we had a great feed and a couple of well earned cold drinks.

We went touring the next day and saw the lighthouse at Cape Lowly and did a tour of the maritime museum. The museum has a full sized mine sweeper ship out the front that was used during WW2. It was the first ship that came out of the shipyards there in Whyalla. It was a great tour and the kids even got to sound the fog horn which was really good fun. I enjoyed having a turn too!!!

 

Then we went for lunch and a play in the park before heading up to a look out at Hummock Hill.

We had been told to go down to the marina and this is where you access the lookout but this is a mining and steel town so right at the marina is the huge area used to load the iron ore onto the numerous ships that were waiting offshore for their turn. We saw the train with about 50 cars full of iron pull in as well as the tugs bringing in one of the huge transport ships ready to load.

The hill where the lookout was also has gun emplacements that were put in place during WW2. The town had the shipyards and a steel factory that was making parts for some of the aircraft as well as shell casings for some of the big guns so it was considered of strategic value. 

It was a real contrast. When you looked to the south there was a beautiful view over the town out to the pristine ocean yet to the north was this huge industrial complex with train tracks, huge processors and equipment to load the ships.

The next morning the kids did some school work and we headed off for Port Lincoln down the Lincoln highway.

We stopped in at some lovely little spots on the way.

Firstly Cowell for their famous oysters.

We were both surprised that Lincoln tried one, although he did spit it out. Patrick and Milly touched one with their tongue but TJ ate one. Very impressed. I ate them but have to say I was a little disappointed. Could be that it was a bit early in the day but they didn't sit all that well.

Then we stopped in at Tumby Bay and Arno Bay.

Went to play in the park but got hit by some light rain.

Then we pulled in at North Shields to have a look at the caravan park as it was the only other option to the park in Port Lincoln.

We were very excited to see a huge school of little fish swimming under the jetty, it was amazing as there were literally thousands of them and the water was alive.

We got this pic.

Which was one of a number we have taken with Lincoln and Lincoln in them over the last couple of days. He has laid claim to surf shops, National Parks all sorts of things. Lots of fun.

Our caravan park is in an amazing position sitting on a hill overlooking Port Lincoln. The kids spent the rest of the day riding around on their bikes and playing in the park. We went into town for fish and chips as Port Lincoln calls itself the seafood capitol of Australia. Unfortunately that news hadn't reached the place we got our dinner from as it was very ordinary but it was still nice to sit outside by the water and eat.

This is a couple of pics from our site yesterday and then this morning as the day began to break. You can see one of the fishing boats heading out.

Today we set off early to have a look around Lincoln NP. It was stunning. The campground at Surfleet cove was amazing and if we had time we would definitely come back out there to stay. However we did go for a walk up Samford hill to the look out and Flinders monument with incredible views and some very interesting information on the first Europeans in the area.

Some more emus.

Then we went back into town for a tour of a local fish processing business. A great tour that included some tasting during and after. The oysters here that were shucked as we did the tour were fantastic and the fresh fish and chips we had at the end of the tour certainly restored our faith in the area. We only had a very small amount for lunch as TJ and I are starting to worry that we may return a lot bigger than when we left.

 

 Then we headed out to Coffin Bay NP. WOW this place is also amazing with a totally different coastline to the Lincoln NP. Very rugged and wild. We stood there for a quite a while just watching the surf pound into the cliffs below.

Tomorrow we head out towards Ceduna although we are not sure how far we will get as there is a lot of things to see in the 400kms.