• December 10, 2009
• Australia, Coodlie Park, Lake Gairdner, Nullarbor Traveller, South Australia

Up early for the sunrise. Everywhere remains quiet. With the size of the site we’re at everyone is spread out. First coffee of the day from water heated over the fire. There’s a toilet and shower here but there’s little need to use it and it’s a little on the dirty side. Plus you never know what else is living in there.

Off on the road again and we’re off to Pildappa Rock, a wave rock, created by soil which eroded the rock inwards. As the soil level lowered the rock became exposed leaving the concave surface.

After a quick lunch nearby we head down to Baird Bay for one of the most enjoyable times I’ve ever had. The Ocean Eco Experience allows visitors to swim with wild sea lions and dolphins off the coast.

With a quick change into a wetsuit we’re whisked off to one of the small islands by Alan and Patricia Payne, who run these trips. It’s a windy day and there’s a strong current in the water but it doesn’t stop us heading into the water and away from the boat.

The sea lions take a while to come and join us. These are wild sea lions and should be treated with respect and some care but they are playful and we had a fun time diving down into the water and generally playing with them. The sea lions react well with Alan, they’re used to him coming out. It’s hard work because of the current in the water but this is one experience I’ll never forget. All that rolling, turning, diving and going in again was fun but damn tiring. I didn’t even mind so much when one sea lion started nibbling my toes then swam over the top of me.

The dolphins prove tougher to bring out to play. Heading out into the sea a little more Alan gives strict instructions. He’ll be circling us in the boat while Trish comes in the water with a shark repellent. The brief is to be quick into the water and quicker getting out if a shark is spotted. I elect to stay on the boat because of a touch of cramp after the sea lions.

However, the dolphins aren’t too keen today and the waters are murky.

Much of this area of the Eyre Peninsula is given over to farming. The owners of the Nullarbor Traveller, Hassie and Jo, live on a farm called Coodlie Park, near Port Kenny, and it’s there we are staying for the second night. Before that we leave the trailer at the farm and head on over for a spot of sand boarding, something else I can’t easily partake of.

It’s here that two groups meet up for one big barbie (the other group nearing the end of their trip from Perth). It’s a fun night and after some Kiwi bashing by the camp fire Hassie takes us out to see the best parts of his land, the wombats, their holes (of which there are many big ones) and the kangaroos that live there. The kangaroos are sensible buggers and have a tendency to freeze when caught in the spotlight which lets us take a look before they hop off. It’s a good thing Hassie has a big spot lamp on his beat up old car and torches are essential, the wombat holes really are big!

---