Fun fact: Australian sea lions are unique to South Australia & Western Australia. Sad fact: They are endangered, with a total population of about 12,000. Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island is the third largest colony & a place you can see them without any enclosures in their natural habitat. It’s also the only place in the world where you can see them at close range & walk on the beach where they eat, rest & play. It is part of a National Park – entry is free but tour fees apply. Make sure you follow all signage & guide instructions to keep the sea lions safe & keep the environment pristine.
Stunning views of the dunes & coastlines greet you, before you’ve even had a chance to see any sea lions – it’s worth stopping by for the vista alone! But of course the main attraction is the sea lions & by taking a stroll on the 900m return boardwalk (pram friendly, yay!), you will see plenty of sea lions lounging around, feeding or playing. Their behaviour largely depends on the season & you will be able to find out all about it the Visitor Centre, along with educational info on the evolution of sea lions, marine pollution & more. Toilets are available at the Visitor Centre, but not food – if you are stopping for lunch, you’ll need to bring your own.
Along with the Boardwalk, which includes interpretive signage with information, there are a couple of tours to choose from (fees apply) – the Seal Bay Guided Tour which allows you to go onto the beach with a guide & find out all about the sea lion behaviour, or the Research Tour which is a fantastic behind the scenes insight into the colony & the research happening at the time. This one is recommended for people over 16 years, so if you have a science loving teen, definitely give this one a go!
At Bales Beach picnic area, a very short drive from Seal Bay, you’ll find picnic shelters, free gas barbecues, public toilets and a beautiful beach to explore. A great way to finish your Seal Bay experience!
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Find it at: Main S Road Yankalilla The Lions Youth Park in Yankalilla includes a fully fenced playground, covered exercise equipment, a skate park and BMX track, public toilet, two basketball hoops, a covered area with two BBQs and picnic tables, lots of grass to play on, and is adjacent to the youth and community centre. The fenced playground area includes a covered picnic table, a bubbler, some bench seats, and some tree shade. There is wheelchair access to parts of the play equipment, and the path within the perimeter of the fenceline is suitable for prams. The playground has various swings, a small slide and larger twin slide, steps and walkways, plenty of things to climbs up and down, and hidey holes. Parking is ample and the playground is accessible by a bike path from the carpark.
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Find it at: Princes Highway, Meningie Opened in 2016 this playground came as a welcome pit stop on our recent Limestone Coast adventure. A modern and spacious playground with stunning views of the Coorong it's got some great equipment for kids of all ages to run off some energy. The park has a nautical theme with a real boat to climb in and explore. There's a huge climbing slide, climbing net, balancing logs, swings and some work out equipment (so you can burn off the donuts you bought from the bakery next door) With toilets at the playground, seating galore and cafes across the road for coffee and snacks it's a great spot to stop if you're staying or travelling through Meningie.
