Baird Bay Seals: Eyre Peninsula in the West Coast Region of South Australia

Baird Bay... about 50 kilometres south of Streaky is surely one of the hidden gems of Eyre Peninsula.

If you're looking for a place to escape from just about everything this would have to be it. But we're not the first to marvel at it's charms... a colony of Australian Sea Lions has known about this place for years.. and with Allan and Trish Payne's help we're about to find them.

All of this is really the shallow western arm of Anxious Bay. It was first charted by Matthew Flinders two centuries ago.. but he was unable to spot Baird Bay from the topmast of the Investigator. He's one skipper missed out on something very special indeed.

But it's a big expanse of water very shallow.. in spots but full of fish and good fishin for the sea lions as well. they travel the whole bay doing a bit of fishing in here.

Good fishing too for the bottle nosed doplhins who follow our progress as we head to Jones Island in the distance.

It's a low flat slab of limestone.. tucked in between the spectacular headlands which sweep away into the distance... and nearby.. spectacular Cape Radstock. All around Jones Island.. lie a series of reefs... providing shelter from the roar of the Great Australian Bight.

"This is where we anchor... and in minutes they respond to a call they've heard many times before."

"C'mon boys we're you goin."

"Oh yeah."

"Everyday."

"Yeah oh it gets better than this."

"Especially if you're prepared to brave the elements and enter their world."

"Not too much of a splash."

"It is cold."

"There's one behind you Ron."

"Nice and quietly mate."

They're a bit nervous at first.. a bit like me... but soon you realise they're as curious about you.. as you are about them... and soon they're calling over their mates... which could include a few New Zealand fur seals from the caves at the other side of the island.

Well it really is an amazing experience because when you're in here you really have to pinch yourself.. because you're in the water with wild animals. and yet they'll come up to your face.. nibble your toes play with your fingers and really treat you like you're one of their own.

But the blokes they're really hanging out to see is Allan. He found this spot about ten year's ago while on a motorcycling holiday and swapped the leathers for the speedos.

"Now you obviously love the place."

"Oh it's exceptional isn't it?"

"It is.. It is an amazing experience."

"People don't expect it to be as good as it is?"

We have a lot of people who come out here and they've got binoculars and telephoto lenses and they think that's as close as they're going to get.. but they get in the water and these things come and lie in your arms. it's just an exceptional experience.. a trusting experience on their part.

An experience not to be missed on the West Coast at Baird Bay. You can book on 61 (0)8 8626 5017. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au