Peter Malinuskas: Our family loves to get together at one special place

Continuing our series on favourite holiday spots, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas loves meeting his extended family in one special place.

It’s easy to get lost watching a lightning storm over the horizon at Kangaroo Island’s Emu Bay.

If you pick the right vantage point, there’s nothing anywhere on earth like it.

I remember a night in the middle of winter, years ago, my wife, Annabel and I sat with my parents, brother and sister, and watched the waves crash, and recharge, and crash again.

It’s a far cry from what our family holidays look like now – all the kids in tow, and cousins swapping seats across the convoy of cars, all packed to the brim.

The kids enjoy the journey as much as the destination, the ferry ride for them is half the excitement – except one year when the seas were rough and got the better of a majority of the travelling party.

Same spot, during the same winter months, and the same stunning landscape on Kangaroo Island only gets better since the kids came along, especially as they get older.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas with his wife Annabel and children Jack and Sophie on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Supplied

Each year, normally during the June long weekend, our extended families try to find time to go away together. All South Australians know how lucky we are to have so many stunning regions to choose from.

However, the island is home to some of our most special family memories.

Sophie, our oldest, is six now, and Jack is four – and their favourite spot is Seal Bay. That place is just magic.

Open, pristine beaches, seals so close you can watch them for hours.

KI is a favourite summer spot, but we love rugging up and exploring the island in winter. Long walks, and time spent watching the waves and swell at Pennington Bay, or at Remarkable Rocks, or the natural beauty at Admirals Arch, hits the refresh button.

Then we head back to the holiday rental for a big family meal and board and card games.

There are plenty of eating options right across the island. From the pubs and cellar doors to the many small businesses like the Fat Beagle, Cactus, Davo’s Deli, Millie Mae’s and the Emu Bay Lavender Farm to restaurants such as the Glossy Black where I’ve had some delicious meals.

The Vivonne Bay whiting burger at the general store is hard to beat, and arguably one of the best fish and chip shops in the world is tucked away in the Caltex servo in Kingscote. You can see the fish being brought into the shop by the fisherman before the crew cook it up for you.

Peter Malinauskas with Sophie on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Supplied

When the fires hit the island, in late 2019 and early 2020, it was devastating. The scale of the damage was incomprehensible and every South Australian was heartbroken.

I’ve visited the island a few times since the fires and as locals worked to rebuild they shared their personal loss and heartache.

But the spirit and resilience displayed by the island’s people was inspiring.

In the months and years that have followed, green shoots have replaced the blackened earth and nature is fighting back. Nature’s resilience is just spectacular.

Due to Covid-19 some of our trips have been disrupted, so our youngest, Eliza, 1, hasn’t yet been to KI so I’m looking forward to introducing her to this family tradition soon – I know this place will become just as special to her as to the rest of us.

If you haven’t made it, KI is well worth a visit. Hopefully you can create your own fond family memories.

Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA. Picture: Supplied