Victor Harbour, SA

Tue 3 Mar 1998

Travelled to Victor Harbour to replenish fresh water tanks and to empty grey and black water tanks.

Arrived early and after lunch we took the horse tram to Granite Island, a one kilometre trip over a jetty and part way round the island.

The tramway has been in operation since 1894 with only 28 years from 1964 to 1986 a tractor was used to pull the trams. The horses were re-instated in 1986 and add a great deal to the attractiveness of the service. The horses are Clydesdales and are so well trained that they don't need a driver except, perhaps, for emergencies.

The island is quite extaordinary because it is an almost pure granite outcrop.

One time a whaling station, its main claim to fame now is that it is home to many fairy penguins.

We returned to the island, after dining on fish and chips out of paper, for a ranger-guided evening walk of the penguin rookery. We saw penguin returning to shore, penguin walking to their chosen nest burrows, and penguin just sitting around moulting. The most extraordinary nest site was in the middle of a garden bed surrounded by roads. Some were still and quiet, while others were active and noisy. While there were not as many as one hears are seen on Phillip Island, we came away feeling that we had seen all aspects of penguin behaviour on land.