From the coast to the forest - Kuipto Forest Reserve, SA

 Days 23 and 24

It was a bit chilly for a swim this morning, so we left Rapid Bay and headed towards Adelaide with no firm plans. Stephen had managed to book Izzy in for her 5,000km check‑up and service on Tuesday, which meant we had a few days to fill.

We stopped in Normanville to stock up on supplies and were delighted to discover a gorgeous beach and beautifully designed foreshore walk. By then it had warmed up enough for a swim in the clear water - brisk, but refreshing - followed by a coffee. A good start to the day.

We’d heard there were markets on in Willunga, so we headed back into the McLaren Vale region. Missing the turn‑off, we took a nearby road to double back, which resulted in an unexpected (and very steep) climb up Willunga Hill — Izzy was not impressed. Once at the top, though, the views were spectacular: hills in one direction, coast in the other. Worth the detour.

The town itself was lovely, but we’d missed the famous Growers Markets by an hour. The remaining markets were fairly ordinary, so we had lunch in a nearby park at the start (or end, depending on direction) of the Shiraz Trail, an 8km shared path between Willunga and McLaren Vale. We briefly considered getting the bikes out, but it was simply too hot.

Instead, we climbed yet another hill into the Mount Lofty Ranges (Izzy again registering her displeasure) and made our way to the Winter Wetlands Sanctuary in the Kuipto Forest Reserve, where we had booked a couple of nights. Despite being a little close to the road, it was a delightful spot — tucked among pine trees and completely ours. The landowner popped in to say hello, and after that it was serenity.

Kuipto Forest Reserve covers around 3,600 hectares, about 60% of which is plantation. Established in 1898 to ensure a sustainable timber resource for South Australia, it’s now managed as a community forest that balances recreation with conservation of native flora and fauna.

We settled into full relax mode — reading, updating the blog, and doing very little. I went for a long walk through the forest and was rewarded with the sight of an echidna ambling across the trail. Very cool. We really are seeing an incredible array of wildlife on this trip.

On our second evening, rain set in, and the next morning’s pack‑up was a little damp — but not enough to cause any issues and soon we were on the road to Adelaide.