Kelly-Anne Kidston
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• World renowned hot spot for the vulnerable white shark, who regularly forage in the area for seals.• The Neptune Islands are the most important long nose fur seal pup production site in South Australia (half of the Australian population breed here – distributed evenly over both main islands) 👍• The area also has a small breeding colony of the vulnerable Australian sea lion which feed in the waters surrounding the islands 😊• Seabirds whose habitats are required to be protected under international treaties roost and nest on the islands.• The area also provides breeding habitat for the little penguin, rare rock parrot, rare sooty oystercatcher, rare Cape Barren goose, endangered white-bellied sea-eagle and endangered fairy tern.• The North Neptune Islands Sanctuary Zone represents an entire offshore island and its associated intertidal and subtidal habitats. Offshore islands are not represented well in sanctuary zones throughout the marine parks network, due to their importance as fishing grounds.• Habitat for the endangered coastal stingaree, which is endemic to South Australia.• The area is influenced by the warm Leeuwin Current in winter and the cold Flinders Current in summer, ensuring there is a large temperature difference between the seasons. This has a large impact on the biodiversity of the area.• Spawning for southern rock lobster, Maori octopus, greenlip abalone, blacklip abalone, purple sea urchin, western blue groper and sea sweep.• Nursery habitat for all these species except western blue groper. [1]
We are the only Shark Tour with access to the Neptune Islands. Anchored serenely in one of the protected coves, our large tender boat will transport you around and onto the Neptune Islands. It is an amazing experience. The island is full of wonderful species of mammals, reptiles and birds; some of them unique to the Neptunes. One of the many highlights is watching the rare and elusive Australian Sea Lions interacting on the rocks. Every turn, every direction, there is something new and unique to observe – baby long nosed fur seals learning to swim in rock pools set against the majestic Southern Ocean crashing into megalithic, granite outcrops. (last revised 52 days ago by Anndria Ferrara from Al Mahallah Al Kubra, Egypt) [2]
We are the only Shark Tour with access to the Neptune Islands. Anchored serenely in one of the protected coves, our large tender boat will transport you around and onto the Neptune Islands. It is an amazing experience. The island is full of wonderful species of mammals, reptiles and birds; some of them unique to the Neptunes. One of the many highlights is watching the rare and elusive Australian Sea Lions interacting on the rocks. Every turn, every direction, there is something new and unique to observe – baby long nosed fur seals learning to swim in rock pools set against the majestic Southern Ocean crashing into megalithic, granite outcrops. (last revised 4 weeks ago by Stefan Diaz from Djibouti, Djibouti) [3]
The Neptune Islands Conservation Park was proclaimed in 1967 to mainly conserve the New Zealand fur seal, one of the largest in Australia. Other features that contributed include the small breeding population of Australian sea lions, the heritage buildings and the breeding and nesting of the Cape Barren goose, white-bellied sea eagle, osprey and peregrine falcon. The Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park was created in 2012. Centred on these remote islands, the park includes sheltered seagrass, a sandy seafloor and deep water habitats with a range of marine life. The park is an internationally significant site for great white sharks and befittingly named after two great renowned shark experts and marine conservation pioneers. (a huge thanks to Autumn Magee for telling us). [4]
