Rural Drives, East Falklands

May 18, 2022

Rural Drives, East Falklands - Details

Rural Views of the Falklands

The Falklands is often described by visitors after arriving, as bigger than they imagined.

The Rural tour is thus much about the sense of space and big skies as it is about the history and the wildlife, the drive to Goose Green and then to Falkland Sound and back some 8 to 9 hours in total.

Leaving Stanley in the morning, the tour first stops an hour or so later at the Argentine cemetery, before then visiting the farm areas of Goose Green and Darwin, where there is usually a stop for lunch and or smoko break.

Visitors can view the surrounding areas, which includes the past history of settlement of the islands as well as the battleground areas of 1982.

Continuing on into the 'camp' - the countryside, the next stop is in the Patagonian like plains of Lafonia, and the ruin of Tranquilidad, to take in the superb views. Then, its back into the vehicle before heading further west, in sight of the hills of West Falkland before stopping near the ferry Terminal at Newhaven, and beside Falkland Sound, before walking down to the Gentoo penguin colony.

Then, it's back into the vehicle and heading back to Stanley, in the late afternoon.

From Stanley, passing Bluff Cove and Fitzroy,

to Goose Green and the coast of Falkland Sound.

Port Stanley, and surrounds.

The second tour around the surrounding area and beaches of Stanley - which can be full of wildlfie during summer - and if you know where to look.

Often in the busy summer season, there are also many cruise ships visitors - so even more important to know where and when to look so to avoid the day-visiting crowds, which can be overbearing. If you have paid a lot of money to be in the islands, you don't want to be on a crowded beach!

There are two species of penguin that breed near Stanley - Magellanics, and Gentoos. Beaches to see them on are Yorke Bay, Hadassa Bay and the Rookery Bay area. Lone King Penguins are sometimes seen molting in isolated spots - useful if you know

where to look!

Yorke Bay area.

From passing the Lady Elizabeth, out to Hadassa Bay area, Gypsy Cove,

Yorke Bay and then down to Rookery Bay. Please note - there are sometimes the odd seal down near the Lighthouse. However, the Lighthouse itself is currently covered in scaffolding.

Whale Point, Fitzroy.

The third option, which can be offered if the season is dry, but is unfortunately not always gauranteed. It requires some off road driving, to the Elephant seal colony at Whale Point, which is near the farm of Fitzroy. Please ask nearer to the dates of being in the islands if possible or not.

Bertha's Beach, which is also advertised locally, has a small group of Gentoos nesting at the far end. Personally, I don't recommend the hour long drive out there. It's a nice long beach, but the landscapes/beaches around Stanley are just as nice.