Sunset @ free camp near Penola

After spending the afternoon looking around Penola, we headed out of town to this roadside rest area where we were treated to this gorgeous sunset

Love the colours in this photo

Bob doing his chores !!!

Even the cows came to say good night !!

Penola

Penola is the oldest town in the Limestone coast  & has many attractions to offer the tourist.  It is widely recognised as an historic town.

The Royal Oak hotel built in 1873 to take the place of a slab building, licensed in 1848

Saint Mary McKillop banners flying proudly in the streets

Another cute corrugated iron cottage on outskirts of town

A lonely abandoned farmhouse

Streetscape.  We arrived on Sunday morning & place was jumping, galleries, cafe's all doing a booming trade

 

Father Woods - Bush Priest

On our way into Penola, found these amazing carvings on the side of the road

Father Julian Tenison Woods was the bush priest who inspired Mary McKillop to teach & eventually become a nun

Father Woods tree, apparently he was often seen sitting under this tree, writing or practising his sermons

Naracoorte Caves

Jan & her new friend

Naracoorte Caves National park.  The only World Heritage listed site in South Australia, this 600ha area of limestone ranges is 10km south of Naracoorte.  Granted World heritage status in 1994 for its fossil mammmal deposits.  For more than a century the caves have been famous for their brillant underground limestone formations

We chose to do the tour of the "Bat cave".  Through infrared technology view the rare and secretive
"Bentwing  Bat" colony.  It was great watching the bats through TV's cameras set up in the cave.  These bats are only about 1" in size

Sinkhole into the cave

Our group entering Blanch cave

In years gone by, they use to have dances & picnic's in these caves

Excavating for fossils

Bob enjoying a late afternoon tea !!