Day 270 (Tue 3 Apr) - Adelaide (Cleland Park)
Up early as Brett was taking us into work with him to pick up our van. Said goodbye to a sleepy Katka and headed off.
Got to Rodney where Sarb had a quick look to make sure he still had his tyres, no leaks etc. All okay. Said goodbye to Brett and set off on.
Plan today was to head to the Barossa valley via a little animal park up in the Adelaide hills called Cleland.
Wandered into the park Sarb pausing only to buy a packet of k'roo and bird food. Found ourselves queuing for the first photo session with the koalas. Banjo was the first koala to be brought out and sat happily munching eucalyptus leaves whilst various people wandered over to give him a pat. Unfortunately, Banjo was not feeling too happy this morning so was taken off patting duties and a new koala brought in called Bonnie ( [1], [2] ).
Soon we were up close to a koala. Cute little buggers. Decided to come back at 2pm so that Jo could take the opportunity of cuddling one!
Spent the next few hours walking in the sunshine round the park with smiles fixed to our faces! The park is a bit like a safari park in the UK but without the cars. You can wander round enclosures with wallabies, k'roos and emus feeding them at will with the special pet food.
The fur of the wallabies and 'roos was incredibly soft and they were very trusting as they ate from our hands ( [1] , [2], [3] ).
Saw loads of animals. Wombats, echidnas, loads of birds in the varied aviaries ( [1], [2] ), pelicans, tasmanian devils, rock 'roos etc.
At 2pm we wandered back to the koala enclosure where Jo composed herself for her encounter with a koala. The wardens had chosen to select for the photo shoot a veteran called Osmond, who weighed some 12kg (big for a koala) and had a faintly philosophical air about him. Soon enough it was Jo's turn to hold the varmint and get her official photo taken. Surprisingly to Sarb, Jo released the cuddly Osmond; he'd put bets on that Jo would say she was keeping him!
Afterwards we wandered round the park watching the pelicans being fed and spotting a 'roo mum with her joey. We also saw some potoroos. With the appearance of a rat crossed with a 'roo these surprisingly cute little critters came hopping out of the undergrowth as we walked along a quiet path. Sarb dished out some of the food and soon we were surrounded by them. Jo here chats to a particularly friendly chap.
Left after a fab day headed back to Rodney in the late afternoon; Sarb stopping to feed and say goodbye to his new buddies. Sarb tried to start Rodney with no luck. He then realised that he'd left the lights on. Doh!!! Sarb went into the reception area where a helpful warden came out and jump started Rodney. Said that he was always doing this on account of planks leaving their lights on.
Drove in the late afternoon sunshine to Tanunda in the Barossa Valley where we camped for the night. Had a good dinner and a few drinks.
This is Jo explaining to Sarb after a few glasses wine what it feels like to hold a koala.
Got to Rodney where Sarb had a quick look to make sure he still had his tyres, no leaks etc. All okay. Said goodbye to Brett and set off on.
Plan today was to head to the Barossa valley via a little animal park up in the Adelaide hills called Cleland.
Wandered into the park Sarb pausing only to buy a packet of k'roo and bird food. Found ourselves queuing for the first photo session with the koalas. Banjo was the first koala to be brought out and sat happily munching eucalyptus leaves whilst various people wandered over to give him a pat. Unfortunately, Banjo was not feeling too happy this morning so was taken off patting duties and a new koala brought in called Bonnie ( [1], [2] ).
Soon we were up close to a koala. Cute little buggers. Decided to come back at 2pm so that Jo could take the opportunity of cuddling one!
Spent the next few hours walking in the sunshine round the park with smiles fixed to our faces! The park is a bit like a safari park in the UK but without the cars. You can wander round enclosures with wallabies, k'roos and emus feeding them at will with the special pet food.
The fur of the wallabies and 'roos was incredibly soft and they were very trusting as they ate from our hands ( [1] , [2], [3] ).
Saw loads of animals. Wombats, echidnas, loads of birds in the varied aviaries ( [1], [2] ), pelicans, tasmanian devils, rock 'roos etc.
At 2pm we wandered back to the koala enclosure where Jo composed herself for her encounter with a koala. The wardens had chosen to select for the photo shoot a veteran called Osmond, who weighed some 12kg (big for a koala) and had a faintly philosophical air about him. Soon enough it was Jo's turn to hold the varmint and get her official photo taken. Surprisingly to Sarb, Jo released the cuddly Osmond; he'd put bets on that Jo would say she was keeping him!
Afterwards we wandered round the park watching the pelicans being fed and spotting a 'roo mum with her joey. We also saw some potoroos. With the appearance of a rat crossed with a 'roo these surprisingly cute little critters came hopping out of the undergrowth as we walked along a quiet path. Sarb dished out some of the food and soon we were surrounded by them. Jo here chats to a particularly friendly chap.
Left after a fab day headed back to Rodney in the late afternoon; Sarb stopping to feed and say goodbye to his new buddies. Sarb tried to start Rodney with no luck. He then realised that he'd left the lights on. Doh!!! Sarb went into the reception area where a helpful warden came out and jump started Rodney. Said that he was always doing this on account of planks leaving their lights on.
Drove in the late afternoon sunshine to Tanunda in the Barossa Valley where we camped for the night. Had a good dinner and a few drinks.
This is Jo explaining to Sarb after a few glasses wine what it feels like to hold a koala.
posted by Jo and Sarb at
4/03/2007 06:01:00 am
