Cape Gantheaume in the Kangaroo Island region of South Australia

The South Coast of Kangaroo Island is known for it's sweeping vistas and the sort of coastal scenery that strikes respect and a little fear into the heart of any sensible sailor.

The Coast was charted by the French Navigators Nicholas Baudin and Louis de Fryecinet in January 1803. When he mapped the coastline, de Freycinet certainly had his French patrons in mind giving it exotic names like Cape du Couedic, Vivonne Bay and Cape Gantheaume. And on this journey along the south coast, de Freycinet sailed close enough to name D'Estrees Bay after a vice Admiral back in his homeland.

Today it one of the lesser known spots on KI - a place where you're likely to find a lonely isolated beach and one which, back in the early nineteenth century might have been populated by whalers and sealers.

The whalers gave up here in 1851 but the sealers continued for many more years - after all, Seal Bay is just around the Cape. This is a remote part of Kangaroo Island and it would have been even more remote back then. But according to our guide, Brian Yates, that didn't stop some hardy individuals having a crack at growing a bag of wheat or two.

"It's hard to believe but people tried their hand at farming this rotten limestone coastal country," said Brian. "There used to be a little one room stone cottage here," he said pointing out the stone ruin.

"There's also a threshing floor that can be reliable dated back to the early nineteen hundreds."

As a graceful Osprey cruised overhead we paused to consider just what a lonely existence it must have been.

This craggy stretch of coastline is the very start of Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park - an untamed stretch of coastal wilderness and mallee, which is a haven for lovers of solitude and nature. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Cape Gantheaume is on Kangaroo Island's dramatic southern coast.

Cape Gantheaume Look for signs to D'Estrees Bay On Kangaroo Island's South Coast