Goodbye to Ceduna, and we made our way along the coastal route, Flinders Hwy, south-east, the long road to Port Augusta. As we discovered on the way home, the coastal run is the choice one, even if it does add a couple of hundred kays to the journey. It's well worth the trek. The run back along the inland Eyre Highway was through typical Oz arid and dry cropping country, interesting in its own way. But the coastal run is a peach.
The first major centre on the Flinders is Streaky Bay. But just before rocking into town, we nearly missed spotting this little gem off in the scrub. Maybe an old outstation building, or if a small residence, imagine how difficult it would have been to live in. Some pioneers did make a home in such structures, so who knows.. The stone construction has lasted through the years relatively intact.
And so into lovely Streaky Bay. Perhaps because the weather was so great after the spring storms, the place was buzzing. Understandable, given the attractions of the town. I got lucky for a moment with this pic with a small break in the madding crowd as I fired the shutter. I have to report that this was the only place where we were confronted with a surly shop assistant on the whole journey! She was obviously under the pump with the lunchtime crowd and snapped an answer at me. I'm afraid I don't handle that sort of thing well and shot back. She was sent out the back for a break after that so I'd say she needed a breather. No probs with the lunch shop crew after that. Good service, good tucker.
Streak Bay jetty guardian; this osprey wasn't the only fisher on the jetty, but it seemed to have a better handle on the nuances of the art than the human hopefuls. It stayed put! Obviously a mecca for anglers young and old, the jetty is a pretty fine fish attractor. We watched schools of smaller Aussie salmon patrolling under and around, frustrating hell out of the young spinners and bait fishers alike. It wasn't feed time for the fish right then.
On to Venus Bay, which is a few kays off the beaten track, but the word was it's another fine fishing venue. And so it seemed to us on our lightning visit. We even considered that its protected waters might be an attractive destination for a 'something different' trip for us to seriously sample SA fishing. Here, the jetty and launching area is the gateway to this great looking waterway.
Look at that! Acres (hectares?? Doesn't sound right!) of fine fishing water in the relatively shallow but protected semi-enclosed Venus Bay. Good for salmon etc, but particularly King George whiting - beer batter on the barbie! Very fine! Oysters too, I suppose. But you have to love 'em..
The local caravan park was full, a good recommendation. You'd do well to book.
The rugged coast near the entrance to Venus Bay. It's a very different world outside in the boisterous Southern Ocean!
Next stop, overnight at Elliston.
-- Edited by JocknNik on Saturday 1st of July 2017 10:46:08 PM
We want to explore all of this section of the coast. Old habits die hard. I love KG fishing. We inhabit Arno Bay, Port Neil, Tumby bay. I will get onto my blog today.
Good onya Dave. Go for it mate. You certainly won't regret it. Spring is a great time to go that way.
Jim, we bypassed Port Neil. That won't happen next time. But we were very impressed with Tumby Bay, especially the fine lunch we had at the Seabreeze Hotel. Love that little town! More on that later. We did pop in to Arno Bay but didn't really get to see enough. The weather was dismal at the time which turned us off a bit. But the potential is obviously there.
Great pics Jock. Looking forward to that part of my trip (eventually). Did go down to Streaky Bay for a day trip from Poochera when I visited a cousin in early 80's. Beautiful coastline. There was a colony of penguins just east of the townsite.
Tumby Bay. You didn't mention Rolls Bakery. Mark and his wife who owned and started the bakery still live in Tumby Bay.It takes a while to map the good fishing spots.
I also have a complete set of GPS marks for Arno Bay pasted on to myself by a good friend. You just have to love fishing.
Ray, thanks. That stretch was certainly a highlight for us. Didn't get to see the penguins, but that's how it is on tour. You just can't fit it all in when you're moving to a timetable. Just gives you more reason to go again.
Jim, we didn't get to that bakery. Only stopped in Tumby Bay for a couple hours. We'd been advised to stay longer by a mate who's done all that stretch. But we chose to stay back at Pt Lincoln. Got a feeling that was a mistake but Lincoln did have its attractions.
