Sea Kayaking - Mark visits the Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia

The South Coast is pretty spectacular especially some of the iconic images like the Bluff and Victor Harbor and the causeway to Granite Island.

And though many of us think we know this stretch of the Fleurieu Peninsula pretty well, there are a few secrets waiting to be discovered as I found when I hooked up with Luke Talbot-Male from Surf and Ski on one of his sea kayak expeditions.

“You need to work you're back a lot more than just your arms. So you won't get as tired.” Advised Luke as I climbed into my kayak.

Soon we're motoring through the chop. A slight head wind makes the going a little difficult but within minutes we're into a steady rhythm. We cross the stretch of water between the Bluff and an inshore island.

“In the old days they used to tie a big rope or chain around a giant boulder on the shore and run it out into the channel,” explained Luke. “That’s where they'd tether the whale carcasses before they chopped them up.”

Obviously, the thought of sharks coming in to nibble on the blubber began running through our minds as we paddled through what’s known as Shark Alley! But that was back in the early part of the nineteenth century when the Bluff and nearby Granite Island were key sites in the State's first industry, Whaling.

Back then they were out here in open whaleboats waiting for the call of "thar she blows" before heading off to harpoon their prey. Thankfully that's all a thing of the past but the whaling days have left their mark on the coastline. We dragged our kayaks onto the shore of an island the name of which harks back to the days when a motley crew populated the area.

Back in the 1830s others would quietly come ashore on Wright Island with, shall we say, much needed supplies.

“Captain William Wright used to be a sealer in the area,” said Luke. “He used to be known for smuggling tobacco and rum from Tasmania.”

Once a hideaway for smugglers, Wright Island is now a haven for birdlife. And if you visit with Luke, he’ll show you a secluded rock pool - a great place to relax.

“We try and go where no-one else is - that’s the aim,” said Luke. “There are lots of places throughout the Fleurieu Peninsula that are like this - little undiscovered secrets.”

A little known secret in a well-known strip of water, Encounter Bay. It takes a bit of getting to, but the journey with Surf and Ski is well worth it. You can contact Luke on 1800 786 386.

Surf & Ski
Contact Luke Talbot-Male -1800 786 386