It’s our last day on Kangaroo Island and we have free time with which to explore the large island. With the mantra of “never underestimate how large an island Kangaroo Island is” and “make sure you are at the airport at 5:30pm” we slide my P Plates on the Audi and I take the wheel. And when I start driving around Kangaroo Island I keep thinking to myself why on earth did I not get my license here as we pass the occasional car and the roads are smooth and mostly straight lines? None of this tight reverse parallel parking here!
The ad for Kangaroo Island promises getting close to nature and when you drive around the island what you see above is pretty much what you will see. We never saw any houses although we did see a lineup of fifteen mail boxes. For those who want to escape to nature, this may be heaven.
Andermel Marron
Our first stop is the Adermel marron farm which is a fascinating place to visit particularly as we had eaten marron only the night before at the lodge. Marron are only found in Australia and originally came from Western Australia. Fifty years ago, someone brought some marron to Kangaroo Island and they promptly dispersed and populated. Unlike yabbies, they’re a species with a low tolerance to pesticides and the wrong temperature conditions so they’re considered harder than others to grow. They only breed once a year in August and give birth in January.
Regular marron (dark brown colour, like chestnuts)
Marron were so named by the French because of their chestnut brown colour similar to a chestnut or marron in French. However, there is an incredible version of them that comes in a range of hues from purple to blue as well as pink tinges. Caused by a recessive gene, they call these the albino versions. I couldn’t help but tweet a picture of these beauties. I know some people were recently outed as being paid to tweet things from Kangaroo Island but they failed to disclose that they were paid tweets. At no stage was I paid or offered to be paid to tweet anything.
The beautiful blue marron
They harvest 6 tonnes of marron a year and these are sent off to the local market and restaurants as well as overseas to Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia. They are all exported live and they can even send these to Sydney (although sending these to Victoria is problematic). The meat is prized because of the texture. Said to be similar to prawn, it can be less chewy or tough than lobster and Martin who is showing us around reminds us that a 3 kilo lobster is 30 years old so the meat is going to be tougher. Here they sell them no more than 1 year old from 60grams to 700grams. Also marron have a good meat to shell ratio at 43% and they also have some meat in the pincers.
Marron salad $16
Prices here for the live marron range from $36-$48 and their cafe also sells cooked marron as well as marron meals. The marron salad above is $16 and features a tail of marron on a bed of salad with their own signature dressing. Also part of the marron business is the Two Wheeler creek winery where Mr NQN tries a very nice sauvignon blanc (I couldn’t try it as I was driving).
And they’re great climbers too! Martin tells us that he once found one in the car park!
Island Pure
Our next stop is a short one at Island Dairy where they make four kinds of cheeses: a brine cured feta which is less salty than regular feta, kefalatori, halloumi and cygnet. The cygnet is similar to a parmesan. It starts off as a soft curd cheese and they coat it in salt and mature it for 5 months to produce the cygnet cheese.
There are 1,500 sheep all on the property and we grab ourselves a little snack for the plane ride home. For $9.95 you try three of their four cheese, some slices of their salami, a tiny pot of beetroot relish and a packet of crackers.
KIS (Kangaroo Island Spirits)
Not far away from Island Pure is Kangaroo Island Spirits who are a multi award winning gin and vodka distillery that produce their gin using a variety of ingredients including a local juniper berry. On the eve of our visit, they had just won silver medals at the San Francisco spirits show for their Zenzerono (ginger and orange version of a limoncello) and their anisette (aniseed vodka). Their London style gin is award winning and sublime when served with the caviar beads of finger limes.
Jon gives us a quick history of tonic and quinine which is made from cinchona or “fever tree” bark powder. They found that in large doses it created effects similar to malaria but in small quantities, it treated it. For their tonic syrup, they add citrus peel and sugar and the tonic is actually delicious (and I’m not a tonic water fan normally). The tonic’s effects are enhanced by drinking gin as it requires gin or alcohol to make the alakaloids more available to the human body.
Apart from vodkas and gins, there are six liqueurs in the range and they feature locally sourced native juniper (boobialla, Myoporum insulare), samphire (lending the vodka an unsual salty flavour), lemons, honey, wild fennel and herbs. And his bestselling product at the store? The divine sound honey and walnut liqueur which is an alluring shade of dark caramel.
Island Beehive
No visit to Kangaroo Island is complete without trying some honey. The bees at Kangaroo Island are said to be the purest strain of ligurian bee and it is known as the oldest bee sanctuary in the world. This is because other bees simply cannot get across to Kangaroo Island from the mainland due to the distance. In 1884-1885 the government passed a legislation to preserve the current strain of ligurian bees.
Their lugurian bees are so prized that they sell the queen bees to other countries like France, Denmark, Sweden, America and soon Holland. The bees themselves are gentle and they try and breed for hardworking and gentle bees. This year has been amongst his most challenging as there were large weather variations with cold followed by hot days which is not ideal.
Island Bee Hive owner Peter Davis was a former sheep farmer that had hives of bees but has now swapped life with sheep with bees. There are several honey types and they all sell well and given the sunny weather the ice cream doesn’t do too badly with many of us craving the honey ice cream. There are ribbons of honey throughout the ice cream as well as little crunchy hokey pokey crunch explosions. It’s our last taste of food on the island.
If you’re looking for nature encounters of the animal kind rather than food, there is a sea lion colony about a 90 minute drive from Penneshaw wharf. Here a large group of sea lions sprawl all over this conservation area. This is the only place to find this particular type of sea lion and they are considered endangered and only 14,000 remain in Australia. Out of 200 sea lion pups, 70 won’t survive and they have a 18 month gestation period.
A mother and sea lion pup. The mother will stay on land for 2-3 days after spending 2-3 days in the ocean feeding
You can either walk down the pathway and watch the sea lions from a distance or take a guided tour which takes you closer to the sea lions and costs $30 an adult. Did you know that sea lion mums leave the pups for periods of 2-3 days when they go into the water in search of food? At this time, the sea lion pups are the most vulnerable.
As if to illustrate this point a sea lion pup follows and watches his mother go into the ocean and lets out several plaintive bleats to her. Without looking back, she disappears into the water and the pup sits on the beach for 10 minutes staring out at the water looking for his mother to return. She doesn’t and he makes his way back to the beach.
The now alone sea lion pup makes its way back to the beach
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like holidays where you get close to nature or do you prefer city escapes?
NQN and Mr NQN travelled to and explored South Australia as a guest of the South Australian Tourism Commission and Audi
Andermel Marron
Harriet Road, Central Kangaroo Island, SA 5223
Tel: +61 (08) 8559 4128
Cellar Door & Marron Shed
Open Daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm
Island Pure
Gum Creek Rd Cygnet River SA 5223
Tel: +61(08) 8553 9110
Tours available at $6.50 per adult
KIS
856 Playford Highway, Cygnet River, SA, 5223
Tel: +61 08 8553 9211
Cellar door open: 11am-5pm Wednesday to Sunday, seven days during school and public holidays
Island Beehive
59 Playford Highway , Kingscote, SA, 5223,
Tel: +61 (08) 8553 0080
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51 Comments | Add your own
Ok, now I know why my husband wants to go to Australia and beyond so bad (he talk about it if not every day, every other day for sure!). It is beautiful, I enjoyed reading this post. Thanks Lorraine! Now, help me to decide: shell I show this post to my husband or hide (we do like to read your posts together sometimes)?
Have a great weekend, Lorraine! 
I love different vacations: escapes to the nature and city travel as well. It’s gives me different experience: nature calms and rejuvenates, city energizes.
I am quite taken with KIS which I had never heard of before. I will be saving up to buy some bottles in the future
Great post!
What a lovely place; I’ve always wanted to go there. The blue marron looks like it’s from Avatar! LOL
This is interesting to read as the contestants on masterchef just visited in the Friday episode. Have you been following it?
Hi Ashly-Oh great! I haven’t been watching Masterchef unfortunately!
How is this season?
Hmmm, tricky question. I’m heading to NYC in Sept so I guess you could say I love city breaks, but Kangaroo Island looks like my idea of heaven – gorgeous sea lion pups, beautiful scenery and gourmet food. That marron salad looks amazing!
I went to the island many years ago, a day trip only with a group of food journos and your post reminded me of some of the highlights. I hope Tasmania’s tourism body gets you to our part of the world in north east Tas sometime soon.Roz
That poor little sea lion pup. Life is so harsh and certainly no Garden of Eden for some of these animals. I have never seen sheep in a milk shed before. I think the albino marrons are much more pretty. How will we celebrate when you are finally off your P’s??? xx
So envious of your travels and experiences but it also wonderful to sit and read your blogs about it all…Thank you for sharing your great times.
My eyes stop and start at the blue marron. I guess here I’ll have settle for lobster.
I saw it on Masterchef the other night and thought it looked amazing! I would love to visit some day . Thanks for sharing
Another fascinating Australian locale. And that blue marron–jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I really must get to Australia one of these years.
City–country—I love them both. But a mix is nice.
That marron looks so moist and yummy in the salad!
This looks like a beautiful place – and what magnificent marron! Oh to be a sea lion on Kangaroo Island -why is the cub mortality rate so high? I like holidays full stop – take me away!
Kangaroo Island’s wildlife is so wonderful that you don’t need the allure of brilliant food to enjoy the visit (though obviously it’s the icing on the cake!) I did a one-day tour from Adelaide about 10 years ago, and have always wanted to go back and spend more time there. There’s a place where koalas gather in the trees; seeing the delight and amazement of the OS tourists on the tour as they saw the trees festooned with hanging koalas was worth the trip in itself. We heard about the then fledgling food industry, but didn’t experience any of it, and had an appalling BBQ lunch! Must get back!!
I like to get away anywhere … .last year we went to New York for my birthday holiday and this year I am hoping we will go to Kangaroo Island as it looks just so very lovely.
I wonder why the Marron can be shipped to Dubai but not Melbourne, that seems very strange.
Hi Ladybugfunk-re the marron, it’s the quarantine laws
Kangaroo Island looks so lovely – and there are SEALS! :3
Now I’m intrigued by what they have on offer at King Island Spirits; the anisetto, in particular, is making me think of how amazing it would be in a vodka martini.
Kangaroo island is a must on my bucket list! I was so close last year as I travelled with a friend to SA but there wasn’t enough time to visit, I cried and now I know why.
The produce is amazing, I was salivating at that Marron salad, will they ship to private homes Lorraine?
I like both types of holidays, city or nature, as long as there’s lots of yummy food!
Thanks for the trip around K.I. I haven’t been there since I was in high school. It looks as beautiful as it did back then
KI is an amazing place and deceptively large – there is so much to see there, hence the warnings, I guess.
The moment I saw the ‘KI’ heading I burst out laughing. Yes, of course I am one of the ‘Masterched’ addicts too and saw/heard a lot about the marrons and ligurian bees in Friday night’s Masterclass. Actually that is my very favourite part of the week and I have learned so much from Gary, George and Matt + the others. Well, that was the ‘prologue’ [yup, Tour de France had it's first night last night in Liege, Belgium > one sleepy but happy lady this morning!], you provided a memorable main course! Thanks!!
KI Marron, on the list to experience, TRUE!
LOVE reconnecting with nature and our wonderful aquatic friends too!
Adds to the experience, second to none,
KI has GREAT local produce, wines, LOTS to to and see and about FUN!
This was so interesting! That blue lobster made me gasp it’s so beautiful. Keep the pictures coming – loving it!
Lovely post! Thank-you for giving us an insight into this lovely island.
I love marrons and didn’t realise they were only from Australia!
I’m always the designated driver, so I feel your pain at not being able to try the wine, hehe.
Such a vivid blue colour of the marron… He really would look quite delicious on a plate.
Kangaroo Island does seem like a foodie paradise, oodles of things to try!
hehe…being told that you HAVE to drink gin with the tonic to make alkaloids more available to the body is such a good excuse….gotta use that one next time I’m not feeling the best or have cramps as quinine is good for relieving cramps.
Currently on a boat on the Great Barrier Reef, so I guess I like nature – so long as I can stay somewhere nice with 5 stars preferably!
As we live in SA we should go to KI and soon!
Honey and sea lions. That sounds like magic to me.
Those marron cookies look so cute, thats one Cookie cutter I don’t have in my collection!
I’d love to visit kangaroo island one day, it sounds like a complete foodie paradise
That little sea lion pup reminded me of my daughter watching me fly off into the distance to Sydney, going to feed at a swanky restaurant with my friends! Leaving her behind coughing plaintively…. Bad mummy! Luckily, she too survived to mug me of brownies on my return
The place itself looks so gorgeous that even a packed sandwich lunch bag would work. The awesome food would definitely be welcome though.
The lobster / marron cookie looks too cute! Is that a gingerbread? and those sea lions! Wish I could sprawl on the beach like them all day long…. :p
I like both but I’m not happy doing nothing but shopping or sitting on a beach. I need to be seeing and doing.
What a lovely visit to Kangaroo Island!
My husband and I prefer nature holidays. We are off to Tasmania at the end of July for a week, I can’t wait! It will be cold, but we’ll have a spa and fireplace so we’re set! Plenty of wildlife around too even in winter.
Love this post. I’m thinking of doing some interstate traveling later this year. Sounds quite relaxing!
You always introduce me to an Australia that has before now never existed for me!
I am a constant hounder of my parents now to try and visit new places -there is so much beauty out there!
Thanks for sharing my friend
Cheers
CCU
All of the above looks amazing, a peaceful environment to explore indeed. My partner and I love a few days in the city to explore the sites, but sometimes that can keep you feeling quite busy. A getaway to the beach and nature in general is always wonderful. We both love animals, so anywhere you can get close to them and see them interacting is a very special and enjoyable experience. However, we still like to holiday in comfort, so not too much camping!!
Lovely post lorraine. I do love KI. Its just such a hub of activity behind all those quite fences and roads
I never drink even a drop if I’m driving! It’s a personal rule I established way back when I got my license at 16 years old! The law tolerates 1 or 2 drinks (specific blood alcohol level).
Yet again I’d love to experience this place, thanks for sharing it with us. I’m going to look out for the marron.
This place is definitely on my bucket list – quintessentially Australian – unique – and a foodie’s paradise to boot!! I love both city and rural holiday destinations. Although sometimes I have been in touch a little ‘too close for comfort’ with nature. A couple of the more notable experiences are being stranded while snorkeling on the great barrier reef back in the 80′s and oh yes being stalked by a dingo
one night on Fraser Island. So please don’t blame me if I admit to favouring cityscapes slightly!!!
Masterchef re-wind episodes convince me that honey and marron form KI are worth to try. If only these are available to Sydneysiders…
Your post maybe weeks after Masterchef been there as they always recorded it weeks ahead.
Love your photos and description of marron in there, sound nice and seem better than lobster?
I have been wanting to ask you where to get more cake ingredients and equipments closer to Sydney CBD? I want to browse a shop, not shopping online. Is there are any other shop than Essential Ingredient? You can email me.
Hi Lilia! There is a place in Camperdown called An Iced Affair. There is a story on the blog about it here: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2008/06/15/iced-affair-cake-supplies-at-camperdown/ I hope that helps and happy shopping!
Aww poor little pup. That reminds me of watching the penguins. It was the cutest thing seeing the parents come back from feeding. They would run at each other from either end of the beach and it was just adorable!
I think it’s good to get close to nature on holidays.
I like both types of holidays
city escapes and also those close to nature ~ I miss South Australia! They have so much amazing produce!
LOL I love the lobster cookie the most!
I would love to go to Kangaroo Island….one day.
The blue marron looks out of this world. So beautiful! I have not been to Kangaroo Island but I do hope to make a trip there someday! looks beautiful and they have so much of their own produce!
Oh I love love marron!
What a pretty place, I really need to see more of SA.
I have always wanted to go to Kangaroo Island it looks so welcoming and the sea lions look adorable.
How gorgeous are those seals!!
Emu Ridge eucalyptus oil distillery is also a must do.
Hi
Jon here from Kangaroo Island Spirits (not King Island) great blog and we’d love to bring our spirits to Sydney or elsewhere. If you know any little places that like something different or anuy other excuse we’d be over in a flash
cheers
JL
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