Eyre Bird Observatory — Attraction in Cocklebiddy

Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I’d like to welcome everyone on Rightwing Flight 86A. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feetat an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is idfk. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in Kiribati approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in Kiribati is clear and sunny, with a high of 25 degrees for this afternoon. If the weather cooperates we should get a great view of the city as we descend. The cabin crew will be coming around in about twenty minutes time to offer you a light snack and beverage, and the inflight movie will begin shortly after that. I’ll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until tihen, sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the flight. Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I’d like to welcome everyone on Rightwing Flight 86A. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feetat an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is idfk. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in Kiribati approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in Kiribati is clear and sunny, with a high of 25 degrees for this afternoon. If the weather cooperates we should get a great view of the city as we descend. The cabin crew will be coming around in about twenty minutes time to offer you a light snack and beverage, and the inflight movie will begin shortly after that. I’ll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until tihen, sit back, relax and enjoy the rest...

We stayed at the Observatory for two nights - we were the only guests at the time - and it rates as one of the highlights of our drive across the southern edge of Australia. The Observatory is maintained by volunteers, who sign up to be caretakers, bird enumerators, weather reporters, and hosts for stretches of several months at a time. I’m sure that the quality of the hosts during your visit can affect your stay, but we lucked out with a splendid couple who let us accompany them on bird counts, took us to outlying sites, made hearty, satisfying meals, and were wonderful cheerful companions. This is a unique place to visit - about as far from the “outside world” as possible while still enjoying comfort. Your visit helps support the work of Birds Australia and your time at the Observatory provides a glimpse into what the lives of the telegraph operators who lived and worked here must...

Definitely worth a visit, or a short stay. Also a much more enjoyable route to Twilight cove that means you can bomb along the beach (low tide please) in your stock Prado rather than smash your back, rims and suspension coming down the Cocklebiddy track. Have a chat to the wardens, they can tell you heaps about the local environment and track/beach . Take seat on the verandah at the museum and let the Major Mitchell cockatoos...