Really enjoyed our day in Victor Harbor today. A lovely relaxed, layback feel to the town - with a population of around 7,750 it is a little larger than the towns and villages we have visited over the last week! A local told us they call it "Gods waiting room" - we can understand why so many retirees choose to live here! - its beautiful and just big enough to have all the facilities and conveniences!
Our explorations today took us across the Causeway to Granite Island Recreation Park in Encounter Bay where we enjoyed a walk around the island - perfect in this gorgeous weather! Great views back to the mainland, Victor Harbor and surrounds. We learnt a lot about the island - its geology and fauna, as well as the history of Victor Harbor - a very informative, interesting stroll! We soon realised that Encounter Bay was very important for lots of reasons! So today was a great "encounter"!
It is still school holidays here in SA so there is a carnival atmosphere on the foreshore, with plenty of activities for the kids.
A stroll through the CBD uncovered that the town is another historical gem with the heritage buildings beautifully preserved.
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| Heading to the Causeway to cross Encounter Bay to Granite Island |
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| If you don't want to walk to the island you can enjoy a ride on the tram. |
That's us........
This is what we do when we are at work......................
These are our workmates - it's their days off.....................
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| Lunchtime! |
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| We enjoyed the walk! |
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Lots of sea grass litters the beaches around the bay.
While it looks messy on the beach the seagrass meadows in the bay are very important. |
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| Looking back to the mainland foreshore |
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| The beautiful seagrass meadows waft to and fro in the gentle pulse of the crystal clear water |
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| The leafy Seadragon loves Encounter Bay! |
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| Welcome! |
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About 2,100 Little Penguins call Granite Island home - don't know how they manage to clamber up the rocks!!!???
But they do!!!! |
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| Love this sign! |
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| The picnic area that surrounds and protects the Little Penguin Centre |
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| A lovely cafe and restaurant, with fabulous views back to the mainland, is a popular venue for some socialising! |
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| The views!............... |
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| Heading off on the walk around the island - the Kaiki Walk |
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| Loved the walk! |
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| How Victor harbor got its name. |
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| The commemorative plaque on the interesting crumbling granite boulder |
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| Great view from the highest point on the Island |
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Screwpile Jetty, on the left, is where goods were brought to and loaded onto the ships.
From the mainland the goods were railed along the Causeway to the Jetty. |
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| The huge granite boulders line the shore around the island - a spectacular sight! |
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| The Island's inhabitants |
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| Great view from the west end of the Island |
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| Elephant Rock (right) |
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The granite boulders are great perches for the Pacific Gull (left) and the common seagull.
Bit of difference in size! |
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| What a bird!!!! Look at that beak! |
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| Wow! |
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We'd discussed this earlier in our walk and wondered how the island was formed. We stumbled upon our answer!
This is how the Island was formed!..................... |
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| Simple! Interesting to learn - how amazing is Nature! |
Man arrives to encounter Encounter!.....................
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| Encounter Bay at Victor Harbor is very important historically - the explorers encounter each other! ........... |
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| Encounter Bay |
The whales, especially the Southern Right Whale, love Encounter Bay ...........
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| The capital of South Australia? - Victor Harbor was hopeful!!! |
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| The positive and negative |
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| As we well know they weren't successful! |
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| Great afternoon! |
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| The Black-faced Cormorant watches over his domain! |
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| Holiday fun! |
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| The camels were kept busy!!....... |
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| ...........and the little Shetland pony |
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Walking through lovely Warland Reserve into the CBD
Effective whale tail water-feature! |
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| We had a laugh reading Murphy's Law displayed in a shop window |
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Victorians and South Australians love their choccy and lolly shops!
Always look so inviting! |
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The local musical is in soon - The Sound of Music
The performance is in the historic Town Hall |
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| The historic Library is now the RSL |
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| Lovely street scapes! |
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| The historic Anchorage with a lovely cafe overlooking the bay. |
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| The barber has a great shop! |
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A historic strip of shops opposite the old railway Station.
The Railway Station only operates when the Cockle Train does the return journeys to Goolwa in the school holidays.
In the past when the town was a busy port the railway was an essential and important form of transport. |
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| The historic house which has been the home of the Customs officer, the Harbourmaster and the Stationmaster |
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| The lovely historic St Augustines Anglican Church in Burke Street |
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