{"id":49781,"date":"2022-08-19T09:46:59","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T00:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/?p=49781"},"modified":"2023-06-30T10:13:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T00:43:28","slug":"whale-watching-on-the-eyre-peninsula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/whale-watching-on-the-eyre-peninsula\/","title":{"rendered":"Whale Watching on the Eyre Peninsula"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The funny thing about trips is if you really want to go, you\u2019ll go.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a year or two, I\u2019d been meaning to get back to the Eyre Peninsula, and possibly the Head of Bight, to see the whales\u2026 but as usual, had plenty of excuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, it was COVID restrictions\u2026 then work, then COVID restrictions again, then something or other, then the price of fuel\u2026 then <\/em>I went. That\u2019s the funny thing about trips: if you really want to go, you\u2019ll make time, find a way, and just go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what I did.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Wildlife ahead!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loaded up the car and my little cubby house on wheels (as I call my little 10-foot Eagle off-road hybrid van), grabbed all my favourite Snowys bits and pieces (plus a few new ones), and just took off. In fact, I took off in such a hurry that I left my front door wide open (which I didn\u2019t find out about until I arrived home two weeks later. Turns out I live in quite an honest suburb)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop was to see the Silo Art in Snowtown, before my mandatory \u2018bird nerd\u2019 stop at Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in Port Augusta, then onto Whyalla to catch the tail end of the giant cuttlefish migration. I\u2019ve been a few times, and it\u2019s always great \u2013 even if my pics weren\u2019t, this time around.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Silo Art in Snowtown<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, Port Augusta<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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An Australian Kestrel: Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, Port Augusta<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A crow eating a mouse<\/em>: Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, Port Augusta<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a little overnighter on the cliff at Point Lowly, I braved the cold and hit the water at sunrise for a bit of a splash. I was actually a bit late in the season this time (June or July is best), so there weren\u2019t as many as usual \u2013 but the Cuttlefish were amazing. I saw a giant ray (which snuck up from behind and scared the bejeezus<\/em> out of me) and lots of fish, so it was definitely worth the stopover.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Point Lowly<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A giant ray snuck up from behind and scared the bejeezus out of me!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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So many Cuttlefish!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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The Cuttlefish were amazing!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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The Cuttlefish were amazing!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I then jumped onto the new glass-bottom boat they have out there, to see what that was like. I\u2019m happy to report it\u2019s not only a lot drier and warmer, but an excellent alternative for people who want to see the giant cuttlefish without having to squeeze into a wetty and brave the cold. Plus, we saw dolphins \u2013 which is always a nice bonus!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cuttys Glass Bottom Boat Tours<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Cuttys Glass Bottom Boat Tours<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My plan from here was to spend a few days driving along the coast to Fowlers Bay for a whale-watching tour with EP Cruises\u2026 but when Captain Rod called to give me the heads up about how prime the incoming whale-watching weather would be if I made it there in time, my leisurely drive turned into a mad long-distance dash!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was also my first time giving my new GME UHF Radio<\/a> a proper go, instead of just eavesdropping on the local urban truckers. I\u2019d been told it could come in handy when wanting to overtake some of the longer trucks on the highway (some of those trucks are REALLY long) and I\u2019m happy to confirm that, while I only used it a couple of times, it was super useful. Not gonna lie, I also find listening in to the truckers quite entertaining\u2026 so, pretty happy with that recent purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first afternoon in Fowlers with EP Cruises was bloody brilliant. Lots and lots of whales, lots of fin and tail slapping\u2026 it was everything I\u2019d hoped it would be. When a bit of drizzle rolled through, out came the Sea to Summit dry sack<\/a> to keep my camera equipment nice and dry. That bag has saved my bacon so many times, it\u2019s not even funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026By \u2018bacon’ I mean \u2018cameras\u2019. I don\u2019t actually take bacon with me. <\/p>\n\n\n

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EP Cruises – Fowlers Bay Whale Tours<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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The first afternoon in Fowlers with EP Cruises was brilliant.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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…Lots of fin and tail slapping!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Lots and lots of whales!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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My experience with EP Cruises was everything I\u2019d hoped it would be.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As good as that afternoon was, I decided to go out again the next day. I was so lucky I did, because right at the start of the tour we saw a sunfish! I didn\u2019t even know we had these in SA, and seeing one of these weirdo fish was bucket-list stuff for me. The weather that second day was even better than the first, with lots of whale action including a baby white whale breaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After two days of whales, you\u2019d think I\u2019d be all whaled out\u2026but no, I decided I\u2019d go a few more hours onto the Nullarbor and hit the Head of Bight. I fluked a small window of good weather to see even more whales at what is Australia\u2019s biggest whale nursery. As good as the boat tours were, seeing the whales from a higher perspective was definitely worth the extra hours of driving\u2026 and the extra five million dollars of fuel (diesel is not<\/em> cheap out that way)!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Head of Bight<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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After two days of whales, you\u2019d think I\u2019d be all whaled out…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Seeing the whales from a higher perspective was definitely worth it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even more whales at Australia\u2019s biggest whale nursery.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the \u2018whale\u2019 box well and truly ticked, I spent a few days coming back down the coast, stopping at Venus Bay, Streaky Bay, and others \u2013 as well as Talia Caves, the cliff sculptures at Elliston, and the nice, full Lake Gilles. I even stopped at the Big Galah in Kimba to do my regular spot on ABC radio and, of course, spent time looking for birds. This involved another stop at Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in Port Augusta, where I was lucky enough to spot my first ever Barn Owl and<\/em> get a decent shot of a bird I\u2019ve been trying to for ages: the White Winged Fairy Wren! <\/p>\n\n\n

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I spent a few days coming back down the coast<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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With the \u2018whale\u2019 box ticked, I stopped at many bays as well as Talia Caves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Talia Caves<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Elliston<\/em> Coastline<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Elliston<\/em> Coastline<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Lake Gilles<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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A Barn Owl: Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, Port Augusta<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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A White-Winged Fairy Wren: Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, Port Augusta<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Bird watching in Lake Gilles<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Bird watching in Lake Gilles<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, I ducked across to Melrose to run the \u2018short\u2019 15-kilometre course at the Melrose Running Festival. This runs up and down Mount Remarkable (where I think a Snowys-sponsored runner won the 50km long course in a ridiculously fast time), and smashed a post-race pizza at the new Jack Brothers Brewery. The next day, I headed for home.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Running the \u2018short\u2019 15-kilometre course at the Melrose Running Festival!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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After smashing a post-race pizza, I headed for home the next day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear that made my trip easier and more comfortable includes:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. My Coleman sleeping bag<\/a>: it\u2019s nice and big so I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m in a straitjacket, and it kept me toasty warm in the van on some VERY cold mornings. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. My little Coleman table<\/a>: it might be basic, but it makes a great dinner table or office desk.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. My new Dometic Fridge<\/a>: this was my first longer trip with it and, while I had to MacGyver the fridge hutch to fit it in, oh my \u2013 it was so, so <\/em>good. It was great to be able to take extra food and drinks with me! <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. After lots of research on power consumption, I also went for a little pop-up kettle<\/a> \u2013 perfect for boiling water for my pot noodles! There was a really comprehensive review about power consumption on the Snowys website that made my decision much easier. Snowys\u2019 customers really are the best when they share their knowledge like that. Thanks, Rodos from Castle Hill \u2013 whoever you are! <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. I\u2019m not exactly a gourmet cook, so my little Sea to Summit Camp Set<\/a> was great too! Perfect for my Weetbix in the morning, and whatever else I might eat later in the day. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Even though my little van has a decent solar and battery set-up, my Companion Power Station still comes in handy when I\u2019m trying to manage power consumption \u2013 even if it\u2019s just to top up my phone or iPad when I\u2019m watching embarrassingly bad TV shows at night. But seriously, how good is Seal\u2019s Team? (I had the 70Ah version, but this is the 100Ah<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Finally \u2013 at the risk of the ol\u2019 TMI (Too Much Information) \u2013 after much anxiety and putting off using it for as long as I could, I\u2019m happy to report that my Thetford dunny performed admirably. I picked up all my<\/a> chemicals<\/a> and the special bog roll<\/a> before I left, and was pleasantly surprised at how easy the whole process was. Can I just say (please, please, please), when you go camping somewhere without facilities \u2013 have a plan for what you\u2019re going to do at toilet time. The amount of toilet paper and associated \u2018stuff\u2019 I see out there is just gross and sad. Please be awesome, and not one of those people. \u2639 <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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    When you camp somewhere without facilities \u2013 have a plan for toilet time!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Have you ever been whale watching?<\/strong><\/p>\n