RickInOz

Vacation. Having not been on holiday for over a year, it was about time we “got away” for a change.

In fact, we just got back yesterday from a quick jaunt down to the Coonawarra.  For those who aren’t aware this is an established wine-producing area, benefiting from relatively good rainfall, cool winters and warm summers. The key aspect is the terra rosa soil that adds a unique flavour to the wine.

So, on the first day we drove down from Adelaide and,  after a quick lunch in Naracoorte, visited some of the less well-known wineries like Punter’s Corner as well as established names like Wynn’s.

Normally these vineyards are known for their rich, earthy reds, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. But instead, we tasted some surprisingly good whites including an excellent Riesling at Katnook.

Then, the following day, we took the opportunity to see the World Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves. These limestone caves were formed naturally by groundwater erosion with some stretches some half a million years old. There were some truly beautiful formations including actively forming stalactites and stalagmites.

We were also surprised by how cool the air in the caves was. Even though it was over 40 degrees outside and a bright sunny day, the caves were still a pleasant 18 degrees. Apparently they remain this sort of temperature all year round, rarely getting warm in summer nor cold in winter.

The cave system is also host to a diverse ecology, most important of which is the Southern Bentwing Bat. I was under the assumption that the only indigenous mammals in Australia were marsupials, but this bat is placental yet never introduced. Unfortunately we weren’t actually allowed to see the bats in person as they and their habitat are carefully protected, however we were able to watch their activities remotely by infra-red camera.

The last, but more important feature and reason for Heritage status, is the fossil load. The sedimentary rocks have preserved the bones of many hundreds of species over the past couple of hundred thousand years. This includes many marsupials that are now extinct and have never been seen by homo sapiens.

Although we were only down there for two days, we still feel like we got a lot out of that time. If nothing else, it was a good opportunity to run in the new car and get some kms on the clock. So, we’ve finally started getting out of Adelaide and doing different things. This change in lifestyle was a while coming, but now we’re making the most of it.

Rest of the photos here.