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Kangaroo Island what's there to say? It's been in the news lately due to the horrific fires, it's been on our radar for a while longer. We didn't get to it last year due to our strict budget that we adhere to and that was blown out of the wate4 with our seasick whale watching tour last year. This year we budgeted it from the start and a fire wasn't going to stop us, until an email informed us that the campground we were staying at had burned to the ground. After several more emails we found another campground untouched by the fires. So off the KI we ferried.
Once on island we drove to the town of Kingscote, not seeing any fire damage we arranged a tour of the island. Now that's where we were introduced to the other half of the island. For miles all you saw was burnt landscape, where homes were was now just the metal roofing laying in a heap on the ground. Trucks, tractors and cars burned to a rusty hulk. We spoke with people who lived through the fire, some still teared up when telling us stories of the fires.
In one town that was spared everything was still coated in red flame retardant that was dropped by the planes. The roads we traveled were melted in some spots. We stopped at a wild life park and a couple of first responders now taking a break got applause when they came into the bird show. People had hand painted signs thanking the fire fighters for the work they did trying to contain the fires.
Around the island we heard the same thing again and again that the "Greenies" had prevented the islanders from doing controlled burns and land clearing. Well that's over as local farmers were pulling down many of the trees that were not burned making a fire break between their fields. The roads on KI have trees on both sides making a tunnel like affect and in part a blast furnace as the fires rushed down the roads. That is being taken care of in different parts of the island as locals pull down one side of the roads trees. Sounds like a knee jerk reaction but you'd have to see this place. In one part the nuclear like landscape only stopped at the ocean burning right to the water.
Needless to say the locals were happy to see tourist. On Kangaroo Island nearly everybody does a three finger wave when passing you in thier car whether you are walking, riding a bike or driving the other way. The wave kings looks like a K using your thumb index and middle finger.
Doing her best Joy bought some local honey, local coffee and local eucalyptus oil. I bought some locally brewed beer. Hired a local guide for a night wildlife tour and shopped at the grocery store. Everything here not grown or raised on the island comes by ferry so those items tend to be 10-20% higher then the main land.
Heading back to the mainland we traveled with a huge load of sheep heading elsewhere, as the grasslands had been burned the farmers had to resort to selling off the herds early. Helicopters were being used to drop huge bales of hay to land locked farms until the animals could be relocated. The wildlife was the most threatened as Koalas need eucalyptus trees to eat and they were nearly burned completely off the island and the grass for the kangaroos was in short supply. We actually counted a dozen Koalas in three trees. The real disaster on the island is yet to come for the wildlife as they look for food. They estimate that 50% of the Koala population was lost in the fires but 60% of thier food sources were destroyed.
Luckly after we left it started to rain on KI and reports on the local news stations were encouraging.
- comments
North coasters Again thanks for “eyes on KI. I’m sure just you visiting make a difference to those that live there. Your presence and tourist dolors. Can’t wait for your “fringe” blog.
Michelle Sharp So sad but nice to hear your first hand report. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!
Kathie and Bud thanks for sharing your journey. Love to you both Kathie