Day three from Cowell to Port Lincoln was a much more interesting drive than the previous day.
After checking out the town we back tracked around to look at Lucky Bay. Seeing a sign mentioning a lookout and tourist drive, we decided to check it out. It did also say 4WD recommended. The Subaru Outback is pretty comfortable off the road as it has a second low range gearbox. Where I get a little nervous is on tracks with deep ruts as it doesn’t have the height clearance that a big 4WD does. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been on some pretty rough tracks including sand but that is with a bunch of other vehicles to help you if you get stuck.
We got so far on this sandy track and then decided to turn around.
You can hear the sand brushing the underside of the car. When you see the car almost stop in the sand track, that’s when I slowed to engage the low range gearbox.
After that excitement, we headed back through Cowell and down the coastal road overlooking Franklin Harbour and past Port Gibbon checking out the beautiful coast.
We headed back to the main road and made the dash down to Port Lincoln, stopping via Arno Bay, Tumby Bay and Point Boston.
The Tim Burton like fisherman in Arno Bay.
After a casual lunch on the Port Lincoln foreshore, we found our motel, the Hilton, and checked in.
As we were doing very well for time, we headed down to Port Lincoln National Park. We travelled down to the far end of the park and found a rather modern precast concrete lighthouse and on the way back snuck off on a few little tracks.
I’m surprised to see that the SA parks rely on an honour system for payment of park entry fees.
Fishermans Point – Port Lincoln National Park
Heading north from the park, we reached the far end of the road at Whalers Way. This is supposed to be a very scenic drive but we didn’t realise you need to pay ($20) and fetch a key from the Port Lincoln visitors centre in advanced. Next time.
Winter Hill, looking down across Port Lincoln.
Day 4 commenced with a stop for supplies then onwards out out of town up to Coffin Bay and Coffin Bay National Park.
This National Park park was nice but it was a really overcast morning which didn’t make for particularly good photos. The road in the park was probably my favourite so far, being fairly wavy and curvy. I may have got a little excited and Stephen may have started getting a little car sick.
Back on the Flinders Highway, we headed up towards Elliston stopping at the Leo Cummings Monument lookout and Locks Well along the way.
From the lookout.
Facing the other way, a view across Lake Hamilton.
Locks Well. Would have made a spectacular lunch spot if it were a little sunnier.
In Elliston, it was Steak and Pepper pies for lunch and then back on the road up to Streaky Bay, via a few coastal caves.
At Streaky Bay, we detoured out to the Cape Bauer scenic circuit. This is definitely worth take the drive on with some fantastic coastline and side trails for those happy to go off the road. I could have kept exploring the trails for another hour but we needed to press on to Ceduna before dark.
The road up to Ceduna was starting to get to me. Way too straight, just begging me to put the foot down and get it over with. We went straight through Ceduna and took the easy option of a cabin at Penong rather that tenting it.
Dinner at the local hotel (huge slab of beef schnitzel).