BAIRD BAY: On the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia
Just inside the breakwater that separates Baird Bay from the wild expanses of the Southern Ocean you'll find a place that can truly lay claim to the title of nature's playground.
These whiskered wonders are Australian Sea Lions…nine years ago the colony here numbered barely a dozen, now more than 70 of these marvellous marine mammals can be found frolicking here every day.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the whaling boats that mercilessly patrolled these waters decimated the Sea Lion population, bringing it to the brink of extinction.
Protection came just in time to save these creatures from oblivion but it's taken something truly special to make possible such intimate interaction between the one time hunted and their hunters.
Alan and Trish Payne run Baird Bay Charters, they provide holiday makes with very up close and personal encounters with the Sea Lions…since 1992 they've built a very special relationship with the bay's spectacular inhabitants, watching three generations of the animals repopulate the area.
Their efforts have been recognised not only here in Australia but also overseas, in fact around a third of the visitors to this fascinating, if not famous, aquatic wonderland travel here from Europe and the United States.
Especially when they take the short boat trip across the bay.
The dolphins occupy the deeper waters of the bay, and visitors are also welcome to swim…if you can keep up.
The atmosphere at Baird Bay is very relaxed but there's one very strict rule…do not feed the animals…unlike the stars of Monkey Mia and other commercialised ventures these spectacular creatures come for the company not the food.
Baird Bay is about twenty minutes drive east of Streaky Bay.
A two and half to three hour trip to swim with the sea lions and dolphins cost seventy dollars for adults and thirty five dollars for children and includes morning or afternoon tea.
For more details contact Alan and Trish Payne on 61 (0)8 8626 5017. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
