It’s an early start. We arrive at the dock at 6:30 am, its dark.
We board the boat, we are introduced to our friendly hosts and given our safety talk. We then head out past the protected coastline of Port Lincoln making a direct line for the Neptune Islands, a protected marine park 3 hours away.
The journey takes us out into the Australian Bite, beyond the horizon lies Antarctica. Luckily today the ocean is reasonably calm. Not having great sea legs I survive just fine.
We arrive at the Neptune Islands and the cage is lowered, our groups formed, we descend into the cage. Fish arrive almost instantly and within 30 minutes our first shark arrives, then another and another. We sight 3 bronze whalers outside the safety of the cage, we are totally safe. Unfortunately, the day goes by without seeing a Great White Shark.
This is nature and though expectations were high, I’m still in awe of the fact we are actually here and that we managed to see 3 magnificent huge bronze whaler sharks in their natural environment doing their thing.
Approx. reading time: 3:09 minutes
Interested in 360 VR?
I also caught the Sea Lion swim underwater in 360
What we discovered left us speechless.
We came to Port Lincoln intentional for the Great White and Sealions, I planned a few extra days “just in case”. What we discovered left us speechless. We spent an entire day at Whalers Way, which is private property only accessible with a permit and key collected from the tourist office. Let us just say the various noted points of interest are all amazing for different reasons, from the epic rockpool, the sheer cliffs, various lookouts, or the gigantic caves carved out by millions of years being beaten by surf and harsh conditions. The list goes on and on. The drive there equally as stunning with aqua blue bays and white sand beaches everywhere, a pristine coastline with plenty of spots to stop and take in a swim or the view.
Our Sealion swim is changed due to bad weather conditions, we decide to visit Coffin Bay National Park instead. We didn’t do our homework and only had our 2wd, but managed to spend the entire day exploring everything we could without going 4wd. A few days camping here with a 4wd is noted for our next visit.
Again we are spellbound by the natural beauty, but so different to the day before. We encounter some locals on the road, they dart past us and off into the bush. My very first encounter with Emus in their natural habitat, tick.
They dart, they dance, they’ll come within centimetres of you from all directions. Then poof gone.
I’ll leave you with this last amazing adventure, our swim with the Sealions. One of the most fun things I’ve ever done. You will be left with a grin on your face for days. These puppy dogs of the sea will keep you and themselves highly entertained. They dart, they dance, they’ll come within centimetres of you from all directions. Then poof gone. You swim a short distance. There they all are, sitting calmly at the bottom of the reedy sea floor looking at you with there big innocent eyes. Then just like you’ve thrown a dog a ball, they are off again! Way too much fun!
As for coffee, food and accommodation, we found all the amazing places, had such great service and we’re looked after by the lovely locals. It was a great escape from the bustle of the big smoke and had way more on offer than expected.
We’ll be back as we still need to see a Great White.
