{"id":3590,"date":"2020-01-22T12:59:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T04:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?p=3590"},"modified":"2020-05-10T08:56:14","modified_gmt":"2020-05-10T00:56:14","slug":"into-the-blue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/01\/22\/into-the-blue\/","title":{"rendered":"Into The Blue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Back on Australian soil, we headed to the booked Air BnB as\nwe still needed to pick up Tinfish &amp; Minty from their respective storage\nplaces. We\u2019d been keeping a close eye on the fires while we were in the UK, but\nuntil we were back in the country, it was hard to determine the full extent of\nthe reality. Hanging around South Australia for a while seemed a safe bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, there may be a few confused people wondering why we\nwere contemplating where to \u2018hang out\u2019 given we\u2019d left Sydney with a year\u2019s\ntravel ahead of us, and by my recollection, a year has passed\u2026. Well folks,\nwe\u2019ve decided to take another year off and continue our adventure around Oz!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6025-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3652\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6025-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6025\/\" class=\"wp-image-3652\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">School with a view<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6022-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3651\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6022-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6022\/\" class=\"wp-image-3651\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Concentrating!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200131_101250-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3597\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200131_101250.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200131_101250\/\" class=\"wp-image-3597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200131_101250-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200131_101250-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Car schooling<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there needed to be a few rules \u2018reset\u2019 after last year\u2019s somewhat debacle with home schooling. I\u2019d had stern words with my 3 children (Alex, Lexi &amp; Reo for those a little confused), and recommended that \u2018little &amp; often\u2019 would be the way forward. Let\u2019s see how that strategy goes\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200124_100629-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3653\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We needed a couple of days to get ourselves organised and\nwait for \u2018Auntie\u2019 Chrissie who was flying down to hang out with us for a few\ndays. We couldn\u2019t venture too far as Chrissie needed to be back on a plane in 5\nday\u2019s time. Once fridges were stocked and all the nooks and crannies filled\nwith a few cheeky bottles of wine, we headed out of town and over to Yorke\nPeninsula. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-3 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_104633-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3595\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_104633-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200128_104633\/\" class=\"wp-image-3595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_104633-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_104633-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Camp neighbours<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200125_163850-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3598\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200125_163850-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200125_163850\/\" class=\"wp-image-3598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200125_163850-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200125_163850-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">&#8220;Helping&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With planning being a strong part of our expedition, <em>not<\/em>,\nwe were winging it a little given it was Australia Day long w\/e. However, we\nmanaged to find our self a nice little spot at a place called The Gap, named as\nit\u2019s a rare break in the near continuous dunes that extend around the local\narea. We parked in close distance to another family who also had a 9-year-old\ngirl and 6-year-old boy. Superb! Childcare taken care of, (kids are great at\nentertaining themselves for hours with others) the catch up with Chrissie could\nbegin. YAY. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-5 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_130614-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3650\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_130614.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200128_130614\/\" class=\"wp-image-3650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_130614-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200128_130614-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Relaxing<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0002.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3616\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0002.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200125-wa0002\/\" class=\"wp-image-3616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0002.jpg 768w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0002-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 768px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Camp<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With our feet firmly in boots for the last 6 weeks, it was\nnice to feel sand between our toes again. Last time we were at the beach, we\nneeded to be croc aware, now we were down south we swapped to Great White Shark\naware! You\u2019ve got to love this country where you live by the saying, \u2018it\u2019s not\nwhether a creature kills you, but how fast\u2019!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-7 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_181132-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3593\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_181132.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200127_181132\/\" class=\"wp-image-3593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_181132-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_181132-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Dinner time<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_234333-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3594\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_234333.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200127_234333\/\" class=\"wp-image-3594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_234333-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200127_234333-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Winning game!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_9476b476676f48e8_1580030844000-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3620\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_9476b476676f48e8_1580030844000.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_9476b476676f48e8_1580030844000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_9476b476676f48e8_1580030844000-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_9476b476676f48e8_1580030844000-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">The  Gap<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Days were pretty relaxed. Paddling in the sea, teaching\nChrissie Monopoly Deal, we whiled away the hours chatting. I must admit, she\nwent down on my friends list after choosing to take a long walk instead of\noffering to take over the schoolwork. Still can\u2019t understand why. &#x1f914;\nHooked on Monopoly Deal, we played many games throughout the day and\nwell into the night. Chrissie takes no prisoners when it comes to Monopoly and\nLexi gave her a good run for her money. After such a busy six weeks in the UK,\nit was really nice to change down a couple of gears. Before we knew it, our\ntime was up, and we needed to get Chrissie back to Adelaide for her return\nflight. With Chrissie safely dropped off, it was Fasta Pasta for us before\nheading back out of town again, towards Eyre Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-9 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0009.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3611\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0009.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200125-wa0009\/\" class=\"wp-image-3611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0009.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0009-980x736.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0009-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Great company<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0010.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3612\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0010.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200125-wa0010\/\" class=\"wp-image-3612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0010.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0010-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200125-WA0010-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Sun downer<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_ba90a691290f603a_1580031308000-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3618\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_ba90a691290f603a_1580031308000.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_ba90a691290f603a_1580031308000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_ba90a691290f603a_1580031308000-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_ba90a691290f603a_1580031308000-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Inherited kids<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We were meeting our friends, James &amp; Tammy and their two\nchildren Henry &amp; Charlotte, who were already down there (you may recall we\nvisited Kangaroo Island with them last year and stayed with them just before\nleaving for the UK). We took a couple of days to get there and stopped in Port\nLincoln for water and food top up before finding them splashing in crystal\nclear waters off Richardson\u2019s beach in Port Lincoln National Park (NP). The\nweather was hot and humid and it took the kids about a nanosecond to jump out\nof the car and race to the beach. We spent the arvo cooling down and playing in\nthe water and sand, and the evening greeted us with an amazing sunset over\nBoston Bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-11 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200130_155831-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3596\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200130_155831-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200130_155831\/\" class=\"wp-image-3596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200130_155831-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200130_155831-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Cool down<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6036-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3631\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6036-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6036\/\" class=\"wp-image-3631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6036-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6036-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Beautiful<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The following day we moved again to the other National Park of the peninsula, Coffin Bay, as James and Tammy had been in Port Lincoln National Park for a few days already. We stayed for a couple of nights at a camp with a great nature park which the kids loved to explore and play in. Known for its remote coastal scenery, the bays and coastline around the park are just that. We took a drive to explore the area and a potential camp we might return to after the others headed home. Great excuse for a nudey nip in the sea for the kids followed by a roll around in the sand&#8230; well, why not hey! It was straight back down to the sea befoire being allowed into the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dirty tyke\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8upvyBw987M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You cannot visit Coffin Bay NP without nipping to \u2018town\u2019 and sampling a few oysters washed down by a glass of Chardy. Not really my thing, but James, Tammy and Alex guzzled about 3 dozen between them! It was becoming quite the seafood camp as the following night, they cooked up an extravaganza of crayfish and sesame seared tuna, both caught by James\u2019 fair hand. Thank you so much guys, it was absolutely delicious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-13 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200202_113245-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3603\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200202_113245-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200202_113245\/\" class=\"wp-image-3603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200202_113245-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200202_113245-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6117-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3623\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6117.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6117\/\" class=\"wp-image-3623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6117-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6117-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-15 wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6091-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3621\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6091-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6091\/\" class=\"wp-image-3621\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6089-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3632\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6089.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6089\/\" class=\"wp-image-3632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6089-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6089-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6093-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3622\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6093.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6093\/\" class=\"wp-image-3622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6093-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6093-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was then time to venture further up the coast as James,\nTammy and family began to make their way home. We drove up towards Elliston\nwhere we camped near to a beach and took in a pleasant cliff top drive with\nimpressive \u2018sand\u2019 sculptures. Upon reading about the sculptures on Wiki, I\u2019d\nimagined huge, carved blocks of sandstone perching on the edge of the cliff, like\nthe sand sculptures created by artists on beaches. The \u2018huge\u2019, \u2018carved\u2019 and \u2018perched\u2019\nwere all spot on, but the sculptures were made out of blocks of concrete and up\nclose looked more dilettante than the creations I\u2019d envisioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-17 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_105331-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3599\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_105331-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200203_105331\/\" class=\"wp-image-3599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_105331-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_105331-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_110154-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3600\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_110154-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200203_110154\/\" class=\"wp-image-3600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_110154-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200203_110154-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Watchful eyes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Reo made pancakes for brekkie, he and Henry played trucks and flew kites, the big &amp; little kids fished off a pier and the beach and Lexi tried to have Charlotte permanently attached to her like last time, but as she is now a proper toddler, Charlotte wasn\u2019t having any of it! It was nice to just hang out with the Manna\u2019s. After 5 days together, it was time to bid farewell as they headed back to Adelaide and we drove back south to Coffin Bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-19 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200202_190949-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3604\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200202_190949-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200202_190949\/\" class=\"wp-image-3604\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">So happy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6173-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3661\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6173-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6173\/\" class=\"wp-image-3661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6173-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6173-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0008-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3697\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0008.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200507-wa0008\/\" class=\"wp-image-3697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0008-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0008-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0006-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3695\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0006.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img-20200507-wa0006\/\" class=\"wp-image-3695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0006-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200507-WA0006-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200201_161103-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3602\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200201_161103-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200201_161103\/\" class=\"wp-image-3602\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We decided to venture farther in the NP than before, into landscapes of high windswept cliffs and massive dunes, pounding surf beaches and sheltered sandy bays. Once over the sandy tracks, we found camp, perched on a low brow of limestone covered in Mallee-eucalypt woodland and nestled nicely out of the wind. No one else was there apart from a few curious kangaroos, so for camp we had the pick of the bunch; we could not have got a better vista, looking across the bay to the sentinels of Marble Range, Mt Dutton and Mt Greenly. Our view really was picture perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-21 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_bb6bacba31807d29_1580966860000-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3636\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_bb6bacba31807d29_1580966860000-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_bb6bacba31807d29_1580966860000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_bb6bacba31807d29_1580966860000-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_bb6bacba31807d29_1580966860000-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Camp<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6272-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3625\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6272.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6272\/\" class=\"wp-image-3625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6272-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6272-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Perfect<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With the emerald green waters lapping on to the sandy shores\nand the blue silky skies radiating down, we weren\u2019t sure how long we\u2019d be able\nto suffer these torturous conditions! We had a couple of lazy days while Alex\npottered around the car getting on with jobs he\u2019d been meaning to do for a\nwhile and we took a drive to Sensation Beach which was rather, <em>sensational<\/em>. The kids loved driving up\nand down 7-mile beach, past the wind-sculpted sand dunes, where we had a play\nwith my new drone and dipped our feet. We could have stayed much longer hanging\naround the NP, but there was a swarm of bees just a little too friendly for our\nliking. Alex had already been stung since being here and they seemed to be\ngetting braver by the day, so we decided to leg it before they got the rest of\nus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-23 wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6305-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3637\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6305\/\" class=\"wp-image-3637\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Friendly neighbours<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200205_193257-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3608\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200205_193257\/\" class=\"wp-image-3608\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Less friendly<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6386-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3638\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6386\/\" class=\"wp-image-3638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6386-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6386-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Sensational<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/DJI_0132-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3666\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/DJI_0132.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=3666\" class=\"wp-image-3666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/DJI_0132-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/DJI_0132-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6348-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3667\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6348-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=3667\" class=\"wp-image-3667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6348-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6348-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200207_111548-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200207_111548-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200207_111548-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Black Springs Bees\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oJRkwc1EYCE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We were returning to Lincoln NP with its granite headlands,\nsheltered bays and scenic offshore islands, but made a quick detour into town\nto restock with water first. We had also reached a new levels of feralness (is\nthat even a word!?!?), the kids had run out of undies, and instead of stopping\nat a laundrette, I just bought them some more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"7 mile beach\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eebwYyHPrEk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kids driving\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5F9lco1MxI0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was dusk before we arrived at September Beach and as soon\nas we found our camp, the kids disappeared to explore. Within minutes they\u2019d\nmade new friends in Hunter (6) and Blair (3). It was dark now and the kids had\nbeen gone a while so I took a wander to find them and introduce myself to the\nfamily they were playing with. The boys \u2013 who I swear are soul mates when it\ncomes to their mixture of cheekiness and naughtiness \u2013 had been playing with\nNerf guns, ganging up on Lexi and had shot her in the face. The guns had been removed\nfor a little while. I was chatting with Clint and Kali (Hunter\u2019s parents)\nexplaining what we were up to, when Clint, playing around with said gun, went\nand shot me in the face! Clearly, some South Australians have strange customs\nof introducing themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Undoubtedly, this unique way of saying hello sealed our\nfriendship, as we hung out with them for the rest of the w\/e! More friends\nturned up; Lauren with her 2 children, Aston and Taris, and then Raffy and her\n3year old son Pepe. This was perfect for Lexi as Aston was 8 and the girls\npaired off immediately, the 3 year olds did their 3-year old thang and the\ngirls gave the 3 boys a run for their money. I felt a little abashed that we\u2019d sling-shotted\nourselves on to these families who\u2019d planned chilled time out together, yet they\nwere so embracing you\u2019d have thought we\u2019d been friends for years the way they\nshared food, fun and laughter over the weekend. Water play, chilling on the\nbeach, kids fighting over which floaty donut and body board they wanted, it was\njust like your typical family holiday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-25 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6556-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3680\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6556-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6556\/\" class=\"wp-image-3680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6556-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6556-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6555-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3641\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6555-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6555\/\" class=\"wp-image-3641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6555-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6555-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We dug a huge fire pit on the beach and toasted marshmallows\nover it, and of course the weekend included the obligatory late nights; one\ntime we\u2019ll actually follow through on the \u2018early to bed\u2019 thought! By morning,\nall evidence had been washed away by the sea. I love the idea that you can have\na fire between the high and low tide markings, as fires are illegal in many states\nthis time of year. It felt very illicit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-27 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6487-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3639\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6487-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6487\/\" class=\"wp-image-3639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6487-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6487-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6505-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3640\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6505-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6505\/\" class=\"wp-image-3640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6505-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6505-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Sunday wore on and it was time for them to pack up,\nthe kids schemed a plan, telling all who\u2019d listen they wanted a play date. We\nwere heading into Port Lincoln to <em>finally<\/em>\ngo to the laundrette and I think Kali and Lauren took pity on the kids and\noffered up their houses while we did our jobs. Sunday afternoon play and dinner\ndates \u2013 kids were in utopia. It was hilarious on the way home as they compared\ntheir experiences, trying to outdo each other on the best time had. &nbsp;Thank you Kali &amp; Clint and Lauren for\nhaving Reo &amp; Lexi over for the evening. I think it was a welcome break for\nus all! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-29 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200209-WA0001-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3670\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=3670\" class=\"wp-image-3670\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Nerf wars <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"994\" height=\"896\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200209-WA0000-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3675\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200209-WA0000-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/?attachment_id=3675\" class=\"wp-image-3675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200209-WA0000-1.jpg 994w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200209-WA0000-1-980x883.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG-20200209-WA0000-1-480x433.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 994px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\"> Quiet time?!? <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Animal highway\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t0VsAJVq4Ns?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"September Beach\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ew1XwCGJq-A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The following day threw incredible blue skies and warm seas\nat us, yet everyone was a little tired and moods were crabby at times. After\nschool and time on the beach, we decided to move on to another gorgeous spot in\nthis NP. This place is such a secret you need a special key to enter! The NP\u2019s \u2018Jewel\nIn The Crown\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All advice was to give plenty of time to get there as the\ndrive was slow, and there were <em>many<\/em>\nmixed opinions on whether a van could get down there. The drive itself was not\nespecially difficult. The exposed limestone and water-diverting culverts across\nthe narrow track demanded slow speeds, yet as we emerged from dense scrub to\ncross windswept headlands offering spectacular views of the Southern Ocean,\nonly to descend into the scrub again before arriving at the Cove, our sense of\nanticipation grew. Our destination was Memory Cove, a magnificent and secluded\nbay with a pure white sandy beach, cradled between densely vegetated headlands.\nOur own private piece of paradise. Well, it would have been if there wasn\u2019t\nanother couple there when we arrived! The most difficult part of the drive was\nactually navigating the camp with its low lying branches!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Track to memory cove\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h_57cAE3t1o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Having said that, there are only 5 camp spots, yet you are\nsufficiently spaced to think you are all by yourself. The weather was\nparticularly average for the whole time we were there, which removed a bit of\ntwinkle from the aura, but nevertheless, the magic of The Bay still holds a\nspecial place in my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-31 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_c47a21dd9c6aa661_1581473276000-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3619\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_c47a21dd9c6aa661_1581473276000.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/org_c47a21dd9c6aa661_1581473276000\/\" class=\"wp-image-3619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_c47a21dd9c6aa661_1581473276000-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/org_c47a21dd9c6aa661_1581473276000-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Memory Cove<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131419-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3610\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131419-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200212_131419\/\" class=\"wp-image-3610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131419-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131419-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Exploring<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The calm, clear\nwater of the bay belies the treacherous currents beyond the headlands and the\nstory behind the naming of Memory Cove. Explorer Matthew Flinders reached this\narea in 1802 and at the time, fresh water supplies were so low that he\ndespatched eight of his crew in the ship\u2019s cutter to search for water. The\ncutter never returned and was eventually found floating bottom upwards with no\nsign of the crew. The cove is named in honour of those men and the offshore\nislands carry their names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-33 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131843-1024x853.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3607\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131843-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200212_131843\/\" class=\"wp-image-3607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131843-980x817.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131843-480x400.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131619-1024x760.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3606\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131619-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200212_131619\/\" class=\"wp-image-3606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131619-980x727.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131619-480x356.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131528-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3605\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131528-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200212_131528\/\" class=\"wp-image-3605\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131528-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_131528-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Memory cove\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y-jWpw3DpiU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We had a relaxed couple of days (if you excuse all the fighting and shouting over school work between Alex and Reo). Reo honed his cooking skills by treating us to a fabulous breakfast of \u2018toad in the hole\u2019. I\u2019m sure all my British compatriots will now be wondering why on earth we\u2019re having sausages in Yorkshire pudding for brekkie, or even, can Reo really cook this on a BBQ in the middle of nowhere!?? \u2026Well, a year ago, while we were on holiday with James and Tammy on Kangaroo Island, we had an interesting mis-communication about toad in the hole. While in my mind the dish is a British institution, the same over here is an egg fried in a hole made in the middle of a slice of bread! Not quite the same, but bloody good as a breakfast bite. Quiet walks on the beach and a scramble round the rocks was the order of the day, not even the overcast skies could put a dampener on that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-35 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_132833-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3614\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_132833.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200212_132833\/\" class=\"wp-image-3614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_132833-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_132833-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 768px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_132839-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3615\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200212_132839-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200212_132839\/\" class=\"wp-image-3615\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6639-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3679\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6639-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6639\/\" class=\"wp-image-3679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6639-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6639-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We needed to return\nto Port Lincoln as we had an exciting trip planned which would be filled with\nexcitement and adrenaline! Sh sh sh..SHARK diving! We had ummed and ahhed about\nthis activity which appears in as many nightmares as it does bucket lists, wondering\nif it would be too overwhelming and confronting for the kids. In addition,\nCalypso divers have been charting shark sightings since 2011 and they have been\ndeclining over this time. It would be 12 hours on a boat, a tonne of money and\nthe biggest adrenaline rush the kids had ever had \u2013 and let\u2019s be honest, they\u2019ve\nalready had quite a few in their young years! Lexi was begging us to do it. The\nenticement for Alex and I was too much, we were in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An early 6am start &#x1f631; found us camping outside the office the night\nbefore to ensure we made it on time! The anticipation was high. Greeted with\nhot coffee and disclaimer forms, it wasn\u2019t long before we were on the boat,\nmaking ourselves comfortable for the 3-hour ride out to Neptune Islands marine\npark. Surprisingly the time went quickly, and Captain Reo soon took over the\nreins as we got further out to sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-37 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6740-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3643\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6740-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6740\/\" class=\"wp-image-3643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6740-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6740-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Captain Reo <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once anchored, the\ncage was dropped into the ocean and the waiting game began. Thanks to a\nthriving tuna industry and nearby seal colonies on the Neptune Islands, this\narea has been classed as \u201cthe best restaurant in Australia for great whites\u201d by\nRodney Fox, and if anyone knows a thing or two about these creatures, he does!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-39 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6751-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3644\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6751-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6751\/\" class=\"wp-image-3644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6751-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6751-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Cage in<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019d been grouped\nwith Bruce and his son Will (11) who we\u2019d been chatting with on the outward\njourney, the only 3 children on the boat. Reo had been undecided about whether\nhe was going to enter the water, yet with slow steps and an apprehensive look\non his face, he was determined to get in the cage. Wetsuits, weight belts and\nmasks on, we climbed down the steps with our breathing regulators in and\nplunged into the chilly waters. The kids had a few issues with their buoyancy\nand needed a little more weight to hold them down, and then it was action time.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-41 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200213_111502-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3627\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/20200213_111502-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/20200213_111502\/\" class=\"wp-image-3627\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">The Gang<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4338-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3628\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4338.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dcim101goprogopr4338-jpg\/\" class=\"wp-image-3628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4338-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4338-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4338-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">In<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"988\" height=\"988\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72961.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3689\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72961.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_72961\/\" class=\"wp-image-3689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72961.jpg 988w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72961-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72961-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 988px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">We<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"822\" height=\"822\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72951.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3690\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72951.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_72951\/\" class=\"wp-image-3690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72951.jpg 822w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_72951-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 822px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Go!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was eerily calm\nunder the water, with hundreds of Trevally and Yellowtail Kingfish darting\naround nervously as if sensing our temperament. It was hard to know which way\nto look, which direction would this creature from the depths spring from? Would\nit even come? We could see the chum being thrown in and the fish going wild\nevery time as it was dragged back again and rethrown. But the question\nremained\u2026.was it enough to lure the deep-sea, untamed varmint?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-43 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4479-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3630\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4479.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dcim101goprogopr4479-jpg\/\" class=\"wp-image-3630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4479-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4479-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4429-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3629\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4429.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/dcim101goprogopr4429-jpg\/\" class=\"wp-image-3629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4429-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GOPR4429-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After what felt like\nhours, the wait was finally over. Out of nowhere, the almighty beast rose from\nthe depths, it\u2019s strong powerful jaw, trying to snatch a bite of the bait floating\nprecariously on the surface. O. M. G. It was incredible. The shark circled\nback, then disappeared as we all strained our eyes to see where it went, when\nsuddenly it flashed back from a different angle. Blink, and you could have\nmissed it. I love high octane activities and from all account so did the kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-45 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"924\" height=\"924\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7326.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3687\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7326.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_7326\/\" class=\"wp-image-3687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7326.jpg 924w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7326-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 924px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7284-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3688\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7284.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_7284\/\" class=\"wp-image-3688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7284-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_7284-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Great White Shark Dive #1\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ghy0d7LyZd0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Great White Shark Dive #2\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VjID9V-0i9c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Great White Shark Dive #3\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pVmnMuABtII?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We were called out\nof the water to allow another group to enter and continue with the excitement.\nYou never know how long a shark will hang around and they had to be fair to all\nof us. Lexi would have jumped straight back in again if she was allowed, but\nReo had decided that 20 minutes of underwater excitement was enough for one day\nand was happy to continue watching the sharks from the surface. Everyone was\nreally impressed that he even got in the cage, and I do think he enjoyed the\nexperience, but the reg was a little bit big for his mouth, the buoyancy was a\nchallenge to manage and coming face to face with a 4m shark is a huge\nadrenaline rush for the bravest of folk, never mind a 6-year-old!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-47 wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"955\" height=\"955\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73281.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3686\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73281.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_73281\/\" class=\"wp-image-3686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73281.jpg 955w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73281-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 955px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73031-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3685\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73031.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_73031\/\" class=\"wp-image-3685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73031-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73031-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_73031-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the day we were\nlucky enough to see 3 different Great White Sharks and as guests began to stop\ngoing in the water, the rest of us keenies managed to get more time with the\nKing of the sea. I think Lexi and I clocked up the most time underwater! It\nreally was an incredible experience. Alex and I had been cage diving 20 years\npreviously in South Africa and it was as good, if not better, than I\nremembered. The 3-hour steam home flew by as we all chattered about the day\u2019s\nevents and we proudly sailed into harbour with 3 pennants flying to represent\nthe sharks. After such an exhilarating day, we all slept soundly that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-49 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6797-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3645\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6797-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6797\/\" class=\"wp-image-3645\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Good job too, as we\nhad exciting plans the following day. Tinfish went for a service while I took\nthe kids to the library for some Friday fun. It happened to be free cakes and\ncoffee Friday, what more could you wish for? Well, a little bit of schoolwork\nmaybe?! However, the motivation for quick completion was going to his new\nbestie\u2019s house for an early birthday day party. Kali had kindly offered to host\nthe party and Lauran, Aston and Taris also joined us to celebrate. Reo, Hunter\nand Taris soon started to terrorise the girls with Nerf guns and while screams\nand shouts mounted around us, party food was being prepared. Pizza, &#x1f355; Reo\u2019s all-time favourite food was the special of\nthe day, followed by birthday cake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-51 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/476f39e8-5bdc-41fc-976e-91beac6b19fb-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3626\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/476f39e8-5bdc-41fc-976e-91beac6b19fb.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/476f39e8-5bdc-41fc-976e-91beac6b19fb\/\" class=\"wp-image-3626\"\/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Library cakes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6831-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3646\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6831-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/img_6831\/\" class=\"wp-image-3646\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6831-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6831-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Party time!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The evening ticked\non and as we said our goodbye\u2019s to Lauren and family, we continued to relax\ninto the night. The kids jumped in the spa and Clint cracked open a very nice\nbottle of wine. I had been on a dry spell since Chrissie\u2019s departure, but I did\nweaken for a glass later; I didn\u2019t want to appear as rude! As we were all\nhaving such a good night, Kali and Clint kindly offered up their home for us to\nstay over and continue to party. And just like that, firm friendships already\nestablished, fused together forever more. Trip life at it\u2019s finest. &#x1f495;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6847-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6847-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_6847-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back on Australian soil, we headed to the booked Air BnB as we still needed to pick up Tinfish &#038; Minty from their respective storage places. We\u2019d been keeping a close eye on the fires while we were in the UK, but until we were back in the country, it was hard to determine the full extent of the reality&#8230;..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3590"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3590"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3700,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3590\/revisions\/3700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsontour.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}