Kangaroo Island

Vic · Guru

Kangaroo Island

Vic · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
OMG!!! What a lucky escape. I think I remember when that happened.
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It was a few years ago Granny, can't remember the exact date offhand, the idiot driver (local) was told there was smoke coming out the back of the bus by the passengers, he stopped and got out to have a look and then told us it was just a bit of oil burning off the engine, got back in and took off until the bus started filling up with black smoke coming up through the floor.
Apparently the fire had burnt through the door electrics/hydraulics and he couldn't get the door open and couldn't find the manual release for awhile, in the meantime the bus was full of smoke inside people screaming etc, one couple managed to break a hole in the window with one of those small hammers which are pretty useless on those windows and his wife and he managed to get through with a few cuts etc. Others using those small hammers found they just bounced off the heavily tinted windows.
He eventually managed to find the manual release to the front door and we all got out, some had smoke inhalation problems but luckily no deaths. The trouble with those big busses is they have no push out windows like the smaller busses have.
Fire and Ambulance turned up after awhile and when the bus burnt out it was dragged off the road to that roadside stop you see in the picture. As our tour was cut short, my wife wrote to the tour operators of the boat over and bus and they refunded our money.

-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 17th of March 2012 10:40:43 PM

cannylass · Senior Member

I was wonder if any one has taken there caravan to Kangaroo Island in SA and what did they think of the place and what was the camping like I expect there would only be caravan parks to stay in Thanks

Cruising Granny · Guru

OMG!!! What a lucky escape. I think I remember when that happened.
It's well worth the trip on the ferry, although I believe it's a bit pricy.
I lived on KI for a year a long time ago, but they tell me very little has changed except their management of tourism and the tourists.
There are caravan park in the major towns, but I think you can camp at parts of Flinders Chase, maybe at Vivonne Bay on the south coast, and Stokes Bay on the north coast. Everything else is pretty well controlled by council and national parks and wildlife.
It's a great place to kick back and enjoy the world around you.
I worked at the Kingscote Council Office and the Ozone Hotel, and lived at the Kingscote Caravan Park.

golivers travels · Guru

Cannylass, Travel Auctions has an auction at present on a return ferry trip to Kangaroo Island. Auction finishes on March 30 and you have 12 months to use the auction if you win. May help with costs. www.travelauctions.com.au Cheers Glenda

Muso · Veteran Member

My wife and I spent 9 day working/holiday on the Island (I used to do Handover Maintenance on Transportable Homes.)

We used Stokes Bay free camp as a base. I liked American River because it reminded me of my younger days in Fishermans Bay (Port Broughton).

The ferry was very expensive and though its a nice place, we don't have any intentions of going back.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

OMG what a fright, as a bus driver myself I can only imagine how the driver must have felt but I must say I think I would have checked the original smoke a little harder. I remember one day a similar thing, I was driving the bus and noticed in the mirror smoke out the back so pulled over, asked all passengers to get out away from the bus, grabbed the fire extinguisher next to the door, went around the back ready, slowly lifted the back up and found the fan belt had melted and was causing the smoke. This all happened very quickly I might add. One passenger reckons I did over kill by getting everyone out before checking. I didn't and still don't think so. My boss agreed. I have spoken to other drivers since and they also agree, NO over kill. My number one priority all the time is my passengers and their safety, then FUN.

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round etc etc.

jimricho · Guru

I was there 12 months ago and the weather was very ordinary for this time of year when I understand it is normally very nice.

I stayed at Western KI Caravan Park http://www.westernki.com.au/ and found it quite ok with lots of wildlife right there.

Also stayed at the Penneshaw caravan park and would not recommend it. Have not stayed at the one at Kingscote and I have heard varying reports about it but can't comment further as I don't have first hand knowledge.

http://www.southaustralia.com/regions/kangaroo-island.aspx may have more info on other campsites.

The Sealink website http://www.sealink.com.au/ will have costs and details for getting to KI. Make sure you're sitting down with a suitable sedative when you check the prices.

Vic · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
My number one priority all the time is my passengers and their safety, then FUN.

I agree totally with your actions Doug, apparently our bloke had arranged to catch up with a mechanic at out next scheduled stop but we didn't make it.

What annoyed me most was when the police and ambo's turned up the passengers were kept hidden in a rest area where we had ourselves taken refuge and the police did not interview any of us and I had to go and ask for the ambo's to come and help the passengers with smoke inhalation.

There was a definite attempt to cover up the drivers role in the incident and collusion with a relief driver and bus that turned up later to pick up up. Our driver was first out of the door by the way with his bag.

When the bus was burning and I was taking the shots, there were things exploding and pinging etc and some idiots in cars before the police etc turned up were actually passing the bus on the road, they must have had a death wish. They were that close their paintwork must have got scorched.

If I was a driver of these buses I would be carrying a 2LB sledge hammer, those little pointy safety hammers they have are useless on those types of windows. I don't know why the driver didn't try to break his front window with a fire extinguisher or something, I was about half way down the bus and couldn't move because of the other passengers, I had to call out to them and tell them not to panic as he was panicking himself.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

That was a very terrifying experience Vic, As a bus driver I am always aware something could happen at any time. I might mention that one to my boss, I think she used to have something to do with King Island and the ferry service. Sounds like it was not that long ago. She probably already knows about it anyway.

cannylass · Senior Member

golivers travels wrote:
Cannylass, Travel Auctions has an auction at present on a return ferry trip to Kangaroo Island. Auction finishes on March 30 and you have 12 months to use the auction if you win. May help with costs. www.travelauctions.com.au Cheers Glenda

Thanks for that Im not sure how it works is there an any amount you can bid to or is there a minuim price

golivers travels · Guru

cannylass wrote:
golivers travels wrote:
Cannylass, Travel Auctions has an auction at present on a return ferry trip to Kangaroo Island. Auction finishes on March 30 and you have 12 months to use the auction if you win. May help with costs. www.travelauctions.com.au Cheers Glenda
Thanks for that Im not sure how it works is there an any amount you can bid to or is there a minuim price

Cannylass, You have to join first which is free, your email and a password. With bidding I usually start just over half the price stated, if not successful move up in small amounts until you have a successful bid. You can check in regularly to see if you are still in the runnung with your bid. If not you can make another bid. This has never happened to us, always been successful. Travel Auctions send you an email if successful and you need to pay in 7 days. They then send a voucher in pdf to print off. There is 12 months to use the voucher but not during school holidays, Easter, Christmas. Whatever you save would be worth it. We were tempted but just cannot fit KI in the next 12 months Glenda