After retiring, we sold our home in Laie Hawaii, sold our Tacoma and Corvette and set off on our world traveling adventure. And what better way to start than Australia. After a quick stop on the north island of New Zealand we landed in the south of Australia, Adelaide where we took a small plane and a 45 minute flight to Kangaroo Island. After playing luggage Tetris with our rental car we took note that we’ll need to research the boot (trunk) space prior to landing.

First stop, Pelican Lagoon for our first 7 nights. Pulling in the dirt driveway at dusk, tired from flights, we brightened right up when we noticed a welcoming party…there were kangaroos quietly grazing all around the house! There were adults and young roos, all meandering about, looking for tasty treats, chasing each other, and a few still napping. It was full kangaroo emersion!

Seal Bay Conservation Park

Limestone cliffs and dunes line the stunning coastal scenery that Seal Bay is famous for. We spent hours walking the viewing platforms along the boardwalk and watching the Australian sea-lions, as they nursed pups, surfed waves and sunned themselves on the beach. Sea-lions “walk” or pull themselves on land with their front flippers.

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park – Best day ever!!!!

No words…..we hugged a koala bear….

Bottle fed baby roos….

Face to face with little blue penguins…… all in one day!

Few more memories from Pelican Lagoon

Emu Bay on the northern coast of KI, known for long white sandy beaches….and PENGUINS!

Our second Airbnb located on a bay that was full of surprises. We read that little blue penguins, also known as fairy penguins, nest near-by. We learned that indeed they do, in fact they had a nest just under the back deck of our Airbnb! Little blues are active 24/7, only taking 3 minute naps during their days. The parents are out feeding in the ocean during the day, and return to feed their young at night.

The first night we sat outside at dusk to try to catch the penguins returning. As darkness settled in we saw no site of them, but we could hear them! The calls between the parents and the young echoed throughout the entire bay, it sounded like a full penguin party. There was no light pollution, actually no light whatsoever. There we sat in total darkness, listening to the song of the little blue penguin!

And so it continued, every night we awaiting the penguin chorus. It became the best part of our day. Most nights we spotted a few other visitors wondering past.

One night it was the short beaked Echidna, a unique egg-laying mammal.

Another night it was a wild koala

Another night it was a few kangaroos

And the beautiful birds

Even the gardens were gorgeous

All this from the front deck!

Day trip to Flinders Chase National Park to see the Remarkable Rocks