Blacks Beach

Blacks Beach
Sunrise

Friday, March 30, 2012

Moonta Bay to Port Vincent via Point Turton

Sunday 25th March 2012

We left Moonta Bay today after waking up to a glorious day. We headed south through Port Victoria where we stopped for an ice cream.  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, grain used to be loaded into sailing ships at Port Victoria and taken around Cape Horn to Europe. There are about 8 wrecks of old sailing vessels around Wardang Island which is just off Port Victoria. Consequently the area is very popular with divers and fishers.
Mural outside bathrooms at Port Vincent

View from jetty at Port Victoria

From here we went through Minaton and then out to Point Turton. At first sight it was delightful. The sun was glistening on the water, the sky was so blue and we ended up with a camp spot where we could see out on the boat ramp and the jetty.
Jetty at Point Turton

When booking in the manager told us that all of the scenic areas to see around the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula were only a 30 minute drive from Point Turton, so we booked in for 4 nights.
Point Turton is on Hardwicke Bay and faces east looking back over Yorke Peninsula.
We walked out on the jetty and lots of people were fishing and not catching much worth having, so the next day Ray gave it a try, but he didn't catch anything either. We then decided to go for a run out to Corney Point which is a little further south.There are quite a lot of sheltered beaches which face into the Spencer Gulf.
The next day, Tuesday we woke to an overcast day so we decided to go for a drive around the bottom of Yorke Peninsula. We headed out to Corny Point Lighthouse where we saw 3 fishing trawlers resting at anchor.
Corny Point Lighthouse

We then drove to Berry Bay North where we came across a surf school. Some students were at a camp at Point Turton and one of their activities was learning to surf and this is what they were doing. We drove to Berry Bay south and came across another big group doing the same thing.

Surfers at Berry Bay south

Surfers and trawler at Berry Bay south

We then went to Point Annie, Gleeson's Landing and Daly Head.
Daly Head

Point Annie

Next into Innes National Park, where we startled a big flock of emus.
Stampeding emus

We then went into Marion Bay where we had lunch and saw these huge boat trailers, but we didn't see the boats which came off them.

We then started up the other side of Yorke Peninsula. First stop was Meehan Hill Lookout and then Kangaroo Island Lookout. As the day was overcast, Kangaroo Island was a bit blurry.

Next day was washing day and after doing that we decided to go the the Point Turton Tavern for lunch. The Tavern is perched on top of the hill and has a magnificent view of the Spencer Gulf. We each had seafood for lunch. I had salt and pepper calamari and Ray had seafood trio, King George Whiting, prawn cutlets and salt and pepper calamri. It was all delicious and very fresh.



After lunch Ray went for a fish out on the jetty and caught a squid which he cleaned and put in the freezer. We might enjoy it for an entree on Good Friday.

On Thursday we left Point Turton after Ray took photos of aa incredible sunrise.

 We drove across the Yorke Peninsula to Port Vincent which is on Gulf St Vincent and nearly straight across from Adelaide as the crows (Ha Ha, Adelaide crows) fly. A very pretty spot, right on the water. Our campsite is on a corner and we have water views on both sides. Not bad for $26 per night. We are staying here for 3 nights. I have been watching the people hunting for crabs out in the water. They wade out to groin height and then rake the sandy bottom and scoop up the crabs and put them in a container which they have floating behind them attached to a cord around their waist. Very interesting.

Today, Friday after another glorious sunrise we went for a drive around the area.
Sunrise at Port Vincent

Port Vincent from caravan park

 First we drove south down to Stansbury which is another fishing village on Gulf St Vincent and another beautiful spot. The water was crystal clear and plenty of people were out crabbing and squidding on the jetty.
Stansbury


Next stop was Wool Bay and more of the same and then to a town called Edithburgh.
Ray on Wool Bay jetty

The area is starting to gear up for the Easter weekend. All of the caravan parks are going to be filled to capacity. We have spoken to some travellers who had forgotten it was Easter coming up and they are having to move inland for the weekend and then come back to the coast after Easter. I am glad we have booked at Goolwa for the holiday weekend.