My mother had remembered a road trip she did with my older sisters and brother before my time. They had stopped at some caves past Adelaide, so after consulting with Kirsty, we decided on Naracoorte being our next place of rest.
But first we had to get to Kingston, because there is a 'big' there. Not just any 'big' either, but a big lobster – and while I'm completely phobic with exoskeletons, I love to eat all of the seafaring kind. Kingston SE was a double win. The big, and the lobsters.
It was my definitive must-see!
Even before that though, we just had to (all too briefly) experience The Coorong.
Ah yes. I love an area that is titled as a definite article.
Even more so when it's been made famous by a movie that is dear to me. Storm Boy is an iconic Australian movie about a boy and a pelican (Mr Percival), and if you haven't seen it yet, you should.
The Coorong wetlands support a wonderful ecosystem, and the stunning natural landscape plays host to migratory birds from the northern hemisphere, as well as offering a food source for birds from other parts of Australia that may suffering from drought.
It's another place I would have loved to linger in, but school holidays are never as long as Australian roads.
Pelican flying v…. Mr Percival! Mr Percival!
It was well past lunch time when we got to Kingston S.E. and the grand lobster,
perhaps this is why the adjacent restaurant was closed.
But to my relief, a nearby sign directed us to Lacapede Seafoods.
We shouldn't have passed the service station advertising prawn sandwiches, but I wanted my lobster….
…and I did get it, but..
Holy shit! What's with the price?
Aren't you the guys who catch the lobster? There's no middle man here!
They gave us some confusing explanation about the prices at their little shopfront in Kingston being determined by overseas prices. Huh?
The lobster was good – but it wasn't that good.
Back on the road, a deer crossed in front of us, and then we stopped for this little guy
Lucky for us, it wasn't the shy kind of echidna, and didn't seem to mind the audience
Cape Jaffa, on the Limestone Coast is a lovely area of sand and shrubs, and to make up for the disappointing lobster, we pulled into Cape Jaffa Wines. Yes, it's also a lovely area because it has wines.
Wines and crustaceans.
I could live there!
I love their quote, "our wines are sunlight held together by water".
As we arrived, they were packing up after what appeared to have been a busy market day on the property. A happy crowd was left there and they beckoned us to stay a while, but we needed to taste and leave.
Though, we didn't leave empty-handed. I grabbed a chardonnay and a pinot gris before we finished our leg to Naracoorte, and we arrived on dark.
The Country Roads Motor Inn at Naracoorte had a acres of room – and electric blankets – aaaah!
And our Best Family Dining of the Trip Award goes to The Naracoorte Hotel Motel.
I know, the name doesn't lure you in, but the food and the value for money (kids ate well and free that night), as well as the staff friendliness and warmth make it a hands down winner.
If you're in the area…
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