PORT LINCOLN, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Decided to plan a trip for the summer season with featured travel partner in crime Charlene to kick start 2020.
Back when I once worked for the cruise line P&O I found out about a trip that was available to cruisers that has since, always hovered at the top of my domestic travel wish list; swimming with sea lions in South Australia. Yep that. When I would be putting together marketing collateral I would look at the photos of people and this magical experience, and really ended up just selling myself on the idea. Although it didn’t take much of a sales pitch at all, I mean its swimming with sea lions, the friendly, playful, captivating and beyond all cute marine animals in their natural habitat.
In South Australia swimming with sea lions is based out of the town of Port Lincoln, an 8 hour drive from Adelaide. Although trying to limit out time to a 4 day trip, we decided to take the 40 minute flight instead. Of course the first day of our trip was solely planned for travel from Sydney to Port Lincoln. Flight Sydney > Adelaide > Port Lincoln. A small coastal town along the Australian Bite, particularly along the Eyre Peninsula. Most folk travel through for the chance to swim with sea lions or sharks, It’s also very much known for its seafood, often hailed as the seafood capital of the nation - pretty big call for a coastal based country. But Then again this town does host the annual Tunarama festival.
With the sea lions swim planned for our 2nd day in town we decided to hire a car and check out the surrounds for our first full day of Port Lincoln adventures.
To kick off day one I sold us on partaking in the Coffin Bay oyster tour. Coffin Bay being another coastal town a mere thirty minute drive from Port Lincoln, whose oysters are some of the worlds most sought after. Amongst the original Coffin bay oyster farms is Oyster HQ including restaurant and launching point for a one of a kind dining experience where the tour takes you to a semi-submerged salt water pavilion for a some time with oyster farmers for a very sumptuous and informative session learning, shucking and eating oysters. Like did you know oysters are hermaphrodites. After pulling on some waterproof overalls we waded out to the pavilion to take a seat in the water where Ben gave us the low down on all things oyster, particularly Coffin bay oysters and the work they’re currently doing in the industry. The best part though was being taught how to shuck whole fresh whole oysters and of course eating them right there and then. So there we were sitting in the sunshine , amongst the fresh air, in the water , sipping on a glass of Sav Blanc, eating oysters. The whole thing takes just over an hour. One of the charming parts of the experience was at booking you’re asked if you would like to reserve a table at the actual restaurant after the tour for lunch and thankful we did as the restaurant filled up QUICK for lunch, where we continued to sip on glasses of san and eat oysters. We particularly decided to try a dozen of their Jalapeño Sorbet Oysters - a sensation of warm jalapeño chilli served as a sorbet atop a natural oyster, along with another dozen of natural oysters and a side of fries. Wrapping up lunch in the early afternoon we decided to make use of the car and the long summer days to drive through Lincoln National Park and Whalers way. Whalers way is a drive through private land that encompasses a list of viewpoints and landmarks. You can get passes in town at the visitors centre of in Port Lincoln, although during the summertime the entry point is usually manned, by a somewhat ambiguous albeit friendly and genuine gentleman. Highlight being the mermaid pools, some of the best rock pools I’ve ever seen F U L L S T O P.
Our 2nd day in Port Lincoln brought he main event of our trip - S E A L I O N S.
The trip left early in the day, meeting at Adventure Bay main office by 8:00 for an 8:30 departure. After signing the usual waivers and an introduction to the days activities we boarded the boat and were given the low down, it would take a 1.5 hour boat ride out to one of the Sea Lions resting spots, there we would have around 45 mins in the water to swim amongst the Sea Lions.
We met the crew, one of them even being on her day off but explained the sea lion trip was a such a fun and amazing experience even on days off was happy to come into work and be a part of it. We were invited to the bow of the boat, there we got sight of a pod of dolphins that swam along side for ten minutes. Like fireworks, it was mesmerising to watch, even though it seemed like the same scene over and over again, watching them glide through the water along side the boat at such a fast speed was well hypnotic. Sitting along the edge of the boats bow as it sailed out to see reminded me how much I needed to be out amongst the water. I love being aboard boats and ships and around the water. As we got closer to our swimming spot we were suited up in our snorkelling gear. Before we jumped into the water we were given the low down on swimming with the sea lions, primarily we weren’t to touch the sea lions, chase them or swim directly at them. Instead have fun, because they can sense when you’re having fun and they will come up to you. On our particular day we were pretty blessed, as a large group of sea lions were present, around 10-20 odd including a few pups.
We entered the water and began to swim around, I had the Go Pro filming pretty much the entire time. And before long there were sealions popping up all over the place. They kind of snuck up on you, some just sitting around looking at us as we looked at them. I tried to swim around to get their attention, doing a few somersaults attempting to dive a bit lower and coax them out. The Adventure bay girls got into it as well, swimming around and taking photos of the group. The sea lions got closer every now and again, although they swim fast, it was hard to keep track of them the closer they got because they spin and swirl around you in a matter of seconds. You definitely see this in the video footage as they enter end exit frame from all angles so rapidly, I could not keep up. Port Lincoln being in South Australia even in peak summertime the water and weather were a nice refreshing cool, the water being crystal clear.
After spending such an intimate time, observing and being in the presence of the Sea Lions first hand the parting words from Adventure bay definitely rang true. That taking responsibility for ensuring the survival of these peaceful and beautiful creatures is in our own hands. In regards to their environment - being more eco conscious, as well as their livelihood, buying sustainably fished seafood. Sea Lions are currently endangered and when you’ve experienced them in their natural habitat you can’t help but be enchanted by their glee. Knowing you have an active role in ensuring their well being can be daunting - where it feels completely out of your control, or a challenge so much bigger than yourself. But it is more harrowing to know when we don’t make the right choices it can adversely affect these creatures and if their numbers continue to lower there is no other place blame than ourselves. And whilst we can’t save every animal, that there is no quick fix or one stop solution that if we inform ourselves and make the smaller eco-friendly decisions when we can it will be the difference that creates the major change.