D'Estrees Bay is located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island. The southern end of D'Estrees Bay is part of the Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park while the northern portion is accessible by a private road open to the public. The beaches offer spectacular scenery and are suitable for surfing and fishing while bird watching, hiking and trekking are also popular.
Existing camp sites at this location includingTea Trees, Wreckers Beach, Big Dune and Sewer Car Park have been upgraded, including the following works:
Tea Trees:
- Vehicle access upgraded to a new one-way access road plus a small number of day parks
- A new small shelter with a picnic table and new central toilet block
- 5 new camp sites easily accessed by all types of campers including caravans, RV’s, camper trailers and tent users
- Boundary fencing to protect existing vegetation and where revegetation will be undertaken
- Two beach access points will be defined through the use of directional signage to prevent multiple access points being created by campers
Wreckers Beach:
- Vehicle access upgraded to a new one-way access road and some day parking to be provided
- Shut off and revegetate existing access road
- 14 new camp sites
- Boundary fencing to protect existing vegetation
- A new additional toilet facility and large shelter structure, with multiple picnic tables and BBQ’s
- Two existing beach access points to be retained, upgraded and defined to prevent damage to surrounding dune vegetation
Big Sand Dune:
- Upgraded vehicle access to a new one-way access road
- No day parking to maintain the site as private and secluded
- A total of 9 new camp sites and new toilet facilities
Sewer car park:
- 6 additional vehicle parks together with appropriate parking bays for coaches / mini-buses or RV’s / caravans
- A new toilet facility
- Two existing beach access points will be retained, upgraded and defined to prevent damage to surrounding dune vegetation
It was identified that Wheaton’s Beach camp ground and parking should be left as is given the surrounding vegetation, topography and site access.
These upgrades took into account community feedback on the orginal concept plans which were released in 2020,
The feedback received was taken into account in the development of final concept plan. The main changes include:
- A reduction in the proposed number of new campsites across the locations from 29 to 8
- Relocation of new campsites at Tea Trees to ensure they are further away from the Osprey nest
- The current campsite at Wreckers Beach will be closed and redeveloped with a barbeque shelter with two picnic settings. No camping will be allowed at this site
- The proposed turning circle and parking for buses at the Sewer Car park will not proceed. The number of carparks will be increased from 10 to 20
- A sign at Wreckers Beach will advise larger vehicles not to proceed past that point
- The proposed toilet at the Sewer Car Park has been shifted to a more discreet location
- No works to take place at Big Dune – the site will remain as is.