I woke up to birds singing, as the golden sun streamed inside in a beam. I looked out to see slender lavender stalks swaying in the breeze and yonder, behind the rose bushes, the sea painted in a pretty blue. Snug under a quilt and drunk on the beauty around, I hummed an old English folk tune: “ Through bushes and through briars/ I’ve lately made my way/ All for to hear the small birds sing/ And the lambs to skip and play…
Kangaroo Island is not just about wildlife. There is an easy charm, a gentle elegance, that gets you hooked the moment you set foot on the island, says Vijaya Pratap
The magic of Kangaroo Island and that of Seascape Lodge on Emu Bay – is hard to define. There is a quiet elegance to the lodge interiors and a beautiful opulence to the surroundings. Sniffing roses and admiring exotic succulents in the garden is how I spent my days in this tiny paradise on Kangaroo Island.
It was Lynn, my chauffeur who’s also a sheep farmer – who introduced me to the wonders of this paradise, from the golden pennants lining the dirt roads to rosenberg’s goannas basking happily on the rocks. We walked on the long boardwalk at Seal Bay that meandered through limestone cliffs and dunes, watching sea lions lazing around on the sand or napping in the sun, exhausted after a long swim.
We braved a long walk against the wind to see the stunningly beautiful Admirals Arch, a stalactite- fringed cliff with a sweep of rock that forms the perfect niche for New Zealand fur seals to play. Later, the remarkable rocks, wind-sculpted rock formations that sit atop a smooth granite dome, transported me to a surreal landscape of dramatic sunsets and prehistoric Aboriginal living.
Kangaroo Island is a place where you can see native Australian animals and birds the way they are meant to be seen – without disturbing them. At Flinders Chase National park, which covers 74,000 hectares of untouched bush land, kangaroos, koalas, tammar wallabies and the endangered Cape Barren geese roam free.
Under the canopy of fan palms, working our way through thick vines, we learnt to identify edible plants, medicinal herbs and poisonous berries
As we lingered, a shy wallaby appraised me from behind a bush, retreating as soon as I came close. I spotted an echidna in the undergrowth, foraging for ants with its sticky tongue. I followed the creature with my camera deep into the bushes, curious for a peep into its life.
The Kangaroo Island coastline is longenough to bestow a sense of peace,wild enough to hold secrets and small enough to tour be it through wildlifewatching or recreational activitiessuch as surfing, scuba diving, fishing,snorkelling, swimming and sailing. Iwent kayaking with Kylie, of KangarooIsland Outdoor Action, on harriet river.Chatting softly, we enjoyed the quiet,meandering river as it snaked gracefully through the landscape. It was amemorable 90 minutes spent in thecompany of the gentle sound of oarslapping on silk-smooth waters.
The land where lambs prance around, roses smell the sweetest, birds sing all day and beauty envelops every corner, Kangaroo Island is a little slice of Australian paradise. Between playful sea lions and surreal rock formations, you are sure to come away with a rich memory bank.
Highlights
Feathered Freinds : Kangaroo Island, home to 267 species of native birds, is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Spot them on coastal cliffs, beaches, estuaries, creeks, wetlands and lagoons
Carved in the Stone : The remarkable rocks sit on Kirkpatrick point, named after an 1899 shipwreck survivor. The term is from an original chart that described some “remarkable rocks”
Honey Diaries : The Ligurian bees on Kangaroo Island are the world’s last pure popu- lation. The island was the world’s first bee sanctuary, established in 1885
Things to Know
Air India Route : AI operates three flights a week to Melbourne and four flights a week to Sydney from Delhi with its B787 Dreamliners.
Time To Go : In April, enjoy clear skies, a pleasantly warm sun and shorter queues at every tourist destination. It’s autumn in Australia so get ready to roll in golden leaves, most spectacular in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
Just a Week : Three days will give you a taste of Kangaroo Island; five will show you the sights; and seven will make you one with the natives, allowing you to truly discover the magic of this nature’s wonderland. It’ll be a week you will never forget!
Vijaya Pratap is a freelance journalist and a documentary filmmaker, based in Hyderabad. She specialises in the study of art, culture and wildlife.
Meet the Author – Vijayapratap
