Day 10 (31-Dec-12) - Adelaide (260 km)

Given the intense cold experienced the previous two days diving with a 5mm wet suit, the thought of entering the water with just a T-Shirt to go snorkling at Edithburgh was deemed less than desirable. Consequently, we elected instead for more overland adventures. Departing the hotel at 08:00hrs, we first drove to Lake Alexandrina, via Strathalbyn. This very large and shallow lake was named after Princess Alexandrina, niece and successor of King William IV, who of course ultimately became Queen Victoria. It is located to the east of Fleurieu Peninsula and drains the Murray River, with the lake emptying into the sea near Goolwa (the channel is known as the Murray Mouth), but when the river flow is low the entrance is often blocked by a sand-bar. Though connected to the ocean historically the fresh and salt water flows mixed very little, with the lake area remaining fresh over 95% of the time with normal river inflow. The lake is now maintained as fresh water by a series of barrages across the islands near the Murray Mouth. The lake is a haven for marshland and sea birds, with Astrid at one point able to capture pelicans, indigenous geese, ducks, shags, ibis, terns and Gulls - in the same photo!

We then headed to Mannum via Murray Bridge for views of the paddle steamers that still ply the Murray River, although these days they carry tourists rather than cargo. Captain Sturt sailed past the present site of Mannum in 1830 and proved on that trip that the Murray Darling system terminated at the sea.William Randell, who worked at his father's flourmill in Gumeracha, was the first to build a paddle steamer on the Murray. He, and his brother, Thomas, together with a carpenter, built the frame and transported it to their father's river property by bullock cart. There, they finished it in 1852 and named it the ‘Mary Ann' after their mother. Within a decade paddle steamers would trade goods along a 1000km stretch of the river, transforming the economy of South Australia, much as paddle steamers had transformed the economies of the states bordering the Mississippi in the USA.

 

Following brief pit stop we returned to Adelaide via Palmer, Mount Torrens, Lobethal, the Forest Range, Basket Range, Ashton and Magill, before finally reaching our intended destination - Adelaide Zoo. Though we have visited many safari parks and nature reserves over the years, this particular zoo is home to two very special animals, the only two in the whole of the southern hemisphere, and belonging to a species that is now synonymous with animal conservation - the Giant Panda :-). We had fully expected the Panda enclosure to be packed with visitors hoping for a glimpse of these cuddly critters. However, given the date, and with air temperatures hovering at a brutal 36C, the zoo was very quiet. Incredulously therefore, for the last half hour prior to closing, Astrid and I suddenly found ourselves alone with the two Pandas - what a way to end the year!!! During that half hour Astrid interacted and took photos of Wang Wang, while I took video of Funi. We were eventually 'evicted' from the zoo at 16:45hrs - the last two visitors to leave. We then drove the short distance back to the Hotel to reflect on an amazing day, a fabulous holiday and a hectic 2012.