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Touring Victor Harbor in style
Rod's 1928 A Model Ford
On our short holiday in Victor Harbor in March we were invited to visit my friend and fellow writer Rod and his good wife. Rod had promised me a tour of Victor Harbor in style – in his 1928 A Model Ford no less.
He dressed us up in a fancy hat – kept strategically at the front door for such occasions – and we were off, complete with picnic basket and thermos and the makings for afternoon tea.
It was a hoot waving royally to strangers as we chugged along in style.
I’ll post more photos in coming days.
Rod's 1928 A Model Ford
Rod's 1928 A Model Ford
Rod's 1928 A Model Ford
A short holiday in Victor Harbor
Our caravan spot at Victor Harbor March 2010
Back in March this year we had a long weekend in Victor Harbor. This is an annual pilgrimage for us a a number of friends. Our wives go to attend a convention while the men do the cooking, cleaning and generally sitting around solving the world’s problems.
It’s a really relaxing weekend for all concerned.
Above is a photo of our caravan site, situated under some shady trees which were in flower and full of very noisy lorikeets. Our caravan is the one on the right – this one with the towels drying on the front. We were sitting around with friends discussing what friends discuss.
Below is a photo of Encounter Bay taken the next day.
Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor, South Australia
The Bluff, Victor Harbor, South Australia
The Bluff, Victor Harbor, South Australia
The Bluff is a prominent feature of the seascape at Victor Harbor on the south coast of South Australia. It is on the edge of the seaside town of Victor Harbor which is about an hour’s drive from the state capital, Adelaide.
The Bluff is a rocky outcrop of granite jutting into the skyline to the south west of the town. There are several walking trails to the top but these can be demanding to the unfit person. There is a road to the top and excellent views can be seen from the lookout, including of Victor Harbor, Encounter Bay, Granite Island and the Southern Ocean stretching to Antarctica.
At the base of the steep hillside there is a small parking area and a spot where there is excellent fishing from a jetty. In the photo above you can just make out several cars and the jetty on the lower right hand side of the photo (click on the photo to enlarge the image).
The Bluff, Victor Harbor, South Australia
Further reading with more photos:
Granite Island, Victor Harbor, South Australia
No Comments »4th March, 2010; Category: Beaches, Birds, Caravanning, Holidays, South Australia, Victor Harbor
Granite Island, Victor Harbor, South Australia
Probably the best known feature of Victor Harbor is Granite Island, shown in the photos on this post. Victor Harbor, on the south coast of South Australia, is about an hour’s drive south of the state capital, Adelaide. It is a favourite day trip from the capital as well as being a popular destination for interstate visitors.
These photos were taken while we had a weekend there last year. we stayed in one of the excellent caravan parks, ours being right on the foreshore of Encounter Bay (see yesterday’s post for more photos).
Granite Island, Victor Harbor, South Australia
Granite Island is joined to the mainland by a causeway. It takes less than two hours to walk out to the island, around the walking track that circumnavigates it and to return to the town. You can linger longer of course for there is a fine restaurant near the jetty as well as some excellent fishing spots.
Granite Island, Victor Harbor, South Australia
A highlight of a visit is to see the Little Penguins which feed out to sea and return to the island to nest and feed their young.
Little Penguins, Adelaide Zoo
Further reading:
The Cockle Train, Goolwa, South Australia
Cockle Train, Goolwa, South Australia
The historic Port Goolwa played a very significant role in the early development of South Australia. When many areas along the River Murray were being settled by farmers there were few ways to get supplies to them. It was just as difficult to get their wool and wheat to the markets.
Cockle Train, Goolwa, South Australia
Port Goolwa was established in the very early years of settlement. Paddlesteamers took supplies up the River Murray to towns and farmers along the river. They then brought back loads of wheat and wool to Goolwa. Although the mouth of the river was just a few kilometres downstream from Goolwa it was generally unsafe for navigation. Their cargo was unloaded at Port Goolwa and transferred by train to Port Elliot where sea going ships carried the goods to other ports in Australia or to the growing European market. Economically this was vital to the growth of the new colony of South Australia. In the 1850s Victoria was in the grip of gold rush fever and South Australia was able to forge ahead supplying the other rapidly growing colonies.
Cockle Train, Goolwa, South Australia
Australia’s first steel railway line was built here from Port Goolwa to Port Elliot a few kilometres to the west. Today this historic line still has steam trains running regularly, but now the cargo is tourists from all over the world. The so-called Cockle Train takes its name from the abundance of the shell-fish cockles found along the beaches near here.
Schedule of services:
The Cockle Train now runs from Goolwa to Port Elliot and on to Victor Harbor. The trains run three times each way every day during Easter, long weekends and during most school holidays. It also operates every Sunday throughout the year.
Link:
- Steamranger Heritage Railway – more details on prices, schedules and bookings, as well as other historic trains in South Australia.