Tumby Bay, South Australia, AustraliaIt rained overnight and was still raining this morning, so we were in no hurry to get on the road. We were only going another 115 kms down Lincoln Highway to Tumby Bay. We called into Arno Bay for morning tea and another look. We managed a walk on the jetty before another shower came across the bay. Some more display panels had been placed in the historical Super Shed, but it seemed little else had changed in the last eight years. The seaweed on the beach was still as bad as it was in October 2014.
We called into Port Neill, parking near the Jetty and foreshore area. We did another jetty walk! The SA Jetty Walk photos will have to become a scrapbook page one day. Well hopefully that is! I’m always full of plans! I was impressed with the foreshore area of this small seaside location. Especially the mosaic Snakes and Ladders game for the kids. The kids had to find a shell, rock or leaf as a counter. Then they took turns to spin the dial. The squares of the game had something relevant to protecting the nesting beach birds of Port Neill. No 12 was Beach-goers set up nearby, so you go into hiding and can't find food. Go back to the start.
Onwards then to Tumby Bay to be settled at the Discovery Park by lunchtime, giving us plenty of time for the Street Art photo shoot in the afternoon. There was one large family group walking the streets, but Peter wasn’t as interested as me, so he drove and followed me in the car. It was a bit of a challenge for him at times, especially when I spotted another one that I wanted to capture!
The caravan park had provided us with the town tourist map, which had recently been updated. It did include a small street map of the street art locations. The first Colour Tumby Festival was held in 2018 when nine walls in were painted with street art. In 2019 eleven more were painted. Covid stopped the 2020 festival, but it was held again this year.
The Discovery Caravan Park was on Tumby Terrace near the Channel of water coming into a large area of Mangroves. There is also a marina with some lovely homes on it and blocks for sale. I can't find when this area was developed but major work is being done on the Graham Smelt Causeway that is going to let more water into the tidal creek. This end of Tumby is a very nice are to live with great views over the bay and 4.5 km foreshore walk along the waters edge. The Sir Joseph Banks Group of Islands is a unique marine sanctuary located 12 nautical miles east of Tumby Bay. The famous chain of island have beautiful sheltered bays, golden beaches and reefs teeming with marine life.
Pete found a track that we could take to Ski Beach, the Back Beach, Tumby Island and a Walking Trail. We ended up taking the walking trail which took us to a nice fishing beach and close to Tumby Island. There were a couple of boats out fishing, but we didn’t see any fish reeled in!
To complete our afternoon we drove out to the Viterra silos on Lincoln Highway to view the silo art. It was a little late in the afternoon for the best photo shoot. We called in on Friday morning for another photo shoot as we left the town. Argentinian artist Martin Ron was commissioned to paint the Tumby Bay Viterra silos. Ron paints all over the world. His brief was to create an art piece that reflected the impression of what was unique to Tumby Bay. He spent several days in Tumby developing the mural concept. During that time he watched people swimming and jumping off the jetty and even joined in himself. This is an iconic Tumby Bay tradition for community members. Martin Ron chose to paint the mural horizontally across all the curved surfaces and gaps. It was a unique and artistically challenging undertaking. The mural represents Tumby Bay's past, present and future.
By the time we got back to the caravan park it was getting quite cold. Peter shucked the rest of the Cowell oysters. We took the Oysters Kilpatrick down to the front of the park to eat them, but the cold evening drove us back to the van after entree. Young children were swimming though! I think they were from the camping group nearby and I thought it was lovely that their tent was all decorated for the child’s birthday party.
We both decided we could relax and spend a few days in Tumby Bay, but tomorrow we are off to Port Lincoln to join up with the eight others from Geraldton, who we will be playing bowls with.
Jenny
2022-05-08
We loved those murals at Tumby Bay. Glad we took the diversion and spent another couple of days on the road to see them. The poppies and stamps were there in 2019. I see the trailer hasn't moved far from the one on the wall of the Yacht Club. It was right in front of the face when I tried to get a pic. Hah! The silo art was very impressive. I loved how it joined as you walked along the fence line. It's been quite warm here these past few days, rain coming mid week though. Keep enjoying, although the bowls are either over or nearly over now.
Heather Allen
2022-05-09
The street art in some towns is as good or better than some of the Silo art. But love this one on the Silos.
Shirley and Barry
2022-05-09
A niceday to day just got home from the meeting went well hope you had a good mother's day we did went down the foreshore for tea Quite a nice evening
Sandra H
2022-05-09
Nothing better than a man’s nice big raincoat, ha! It suits you Pam, I bet it kept you warm. 😃
pamandpete
2022-05-10
Fancy that trailer being there for your photo shoot too Jenny! I found it very annoying! It must be its home when not in use. Thanks for the help in identifying the poppies & stamps. I really like that one. The silo art in Tumby Bay is really very special Heather. There is so much meaning to the stories that go with them. Nice to get your comment Shirley & Barry. Glad you had a nice Mother's Day and that the CWA meeting went well. That raincoat did keep me nice and warm Sandra.
Pam J
2022-05-17
You certainly enjoyed your journey south towards Port Lincoln. Those snakes and ladders must be new so I will have to look for them next time. Tumby Bay ticked all of the boxes as a perfect retirement location for Graham and I - sounds like you got your exercise there and some great mural photos too!!
pamandpete
2022-05-18
Hi again Pam. Yes Tumby Bay is a favourite on the Eyre Peninsula as is Cowell.