010 - Coffin Bay

Day 10 came and we had decided that we loved the area so much we’d have another day in the region before moving on. Originally thinking we’d drag the Lizard to Coffin Bay, we decided at 40km or thereabouts we’d just day trip it and keep our premo spot on the top of the hill.

A reasonable lazy start, but we got away and were in Coffin Bay by mid morning. To use the cliché, I found Coffin Bay “sleepy”. Not much going on around here midweek, although the Caravan Park looked busy so a few people must have been around here somewhere.

It was stunningly tranquil and peaceful though, and on a beautiful day like we had, there are certainly worse places on the planet to spend a day.

We pottered around for a little while on the town jetty, having a bit of a lesson in marine life. Like Port Lincoln, the water in the bay is ridiculously clear, and we could see an array of fish, crabs, starfish, jellyfish and the strange peg-fish, sunglasses-fish and beer can-fish. It was like an impromptu aquarium.

The mythically flat and peaceful Coffin Bay

"What is that thing?"

"That's a peg Bob."

We decided to take a trip out to the National Park for lunch and see if we could find a nice spot to eat our rolls. Well, that was like going to a library to find a book. To only have spent a few hours there is almost criminal in hindsight. Just flat out spectacular, it amazed me how two pristine national parks on the same peninsula offered such constrasting styles. Coffin Bay is far more “sand dune” style in my opinion, as huge dunes dominated the backdrop to with sandstone drops down on to just phenomenal beaches.

Our first stop was Templetonia Lookout where you are afforded a spectacular 360 degree of the lower part of the National Park.

Not sure if the panoramic shot will work, but hopefully it zooms in and you get the idea of the size of the place.

I love when Evie's in a studious mood. We didn't even ask her, but she jumped out with her notebook to take notes off the sign! 

On to a few more lookouts, Avoid Point and Golden Island, as we then decended down on to Almonta Beach to once again have the beach to ourselves. Sure it was a random Thursday to the locals, but to us, it was amazing. We strolled around and waded and paddled in the water, explored the rock pools and had plenty of laughs and giggles. I think B even checked her eyelids for holes at one stage as we were at one end of the beach.

Exploring the rock pools, always a favourite pastime with the kids, regardless of the beach.

We go around the corner and the coastline takes a rugged and aggressive, yet attractive tone...

James loving the fact he could "walk through this rock Dad!"

Saw this creature lying down in the sand with a hat over her face. We gave it a wide berth for fear of waking it from it's slumber.

A great shot, capturing the essence of their personalities walking up the beach. Sam straight to the point, shortest route. Evie, all over the show, but full of dance. James, inquisitively distracted all the time.

A rare moment in time when these two occupied space near each other... and were quiet! 

The view from the Golden Island lookout (over the cliff faces seen above). I loved this location as waves were coming in from the left and right of the pics as water surrounded the island. Waves crashing into each other in a show of strength.

Just a complete and unique landscape.

The highlight, was not the beach though but a impromptu game where I challenged the kids to walk back to the car (maybe around 100m from where we were) leaving only on set of footprints in the game. I thought they’d get sick of it, but it soon became quite the escapade. People looking down from the carpark (had they been there…) would have thought we were doing some sort of contemporary dance routine. Twists, turns, backwards running, jumping. A simple moment but one of the real special moments on the trip so far.

 B said I looked like the Pied Piper at times. These moments... these exact moments were why we wanted to do this trip. 

After washing the kids like the disciples, we trundled back in the car, and headed back towards town. Before leaving the National Park we took a quick squiz at Yangie Bay, which was nice, but popular I think only because you can get there on tarmac. This is where it becomes 4WD only into the NP, and as I reached over to the tyre deflator, B slapped my hand and said “it’s Oyster time!!” We’ve since decided that the Eyre Peninsula is a complete adventure in itself. I feel we need to spend far more time here in the future, and being within striking distance of Victoria within school holidays, have committed to come back here at another stage.

We also managed to see a small goanna native to the park trundling across the road so that was another animal off on the fauna bingo card for the kids.

Oysters were then bought from one of the farmers out the back of town, where there more oysters than I’ve ever seen before. The young fella at the “oyster bar” they had set up, shucked oysters like I set up spreadsheets. I was amazed (although no one says that about my spreadsheets…) at the technique and efficiency and was happy to pay the extra $4 per dozen for him to it for us.

I loved this sign. A great play on words.

So 2 dozen oysters found their way into the car and like precious cargo, rode in the front seat of the car with B, not to be relegated with the rest of the pleb cargo and shopping in the rear if the truck…

We managed to scoff a dozen before our first dinner guests for the trip arrived. We’ve been a few steps ahead of the McGuirks (Joe and Teresa) , family friends from the halcyon days of living in Alice Springs, ever since starting our trip. They’re currently a few months into their nomadic trip but we managed to cross paths for at least an evening in Port Lincoln as they were booked into the same park.

I knoew it's NZ wine, it seemed fitting in name and quality.

A somewhat haphazard roast dinner was served for them, but plenty of chats, laughs, and spoilt kids were had as we stayed outside talking until condensation started forming on the furniture! Such is the penchant for a great Alice catch up, I feel this won’t be the last time we catch up with Joe and Teresa on this trip, and I hope to at least have a round of golf with them somewhere in WA.

Another beautiful day done and won.