Heart-melting moment an endangered sea lion reunited with her pup on Kangaroo Island

What could be cuter than the sight of an Australian sea lion reuniting with her pup after several days? We see the scene unfold just moments after arriving on Seal Bay in South Australia. Part of the Seal Bay Conservation Park on Kangaroo Island's rugged and windswept south coast, Seal Bay is home to the third-largest colony of endangered Australian sea lions. There are about 12,000 of them in South Australia and Western Australia, and about 800 of them call this location their home.

It is a must-stop for anyone visiting Kangaroo Island - regularly ranked one of the world's best travel destinations by outlets such as The New York Times and Lonely Planet. And I can see why within seconds of arriving here. As soon as we walk past the information centre and on to the boardwalk that leads visitors to the beach, I can spot them in every direction. A duo is basking in the sun on a large rock on one side of the walkway; on the other side a little one is catching four winks under native bush.

At the end of the boardwalk, 180-degree views of the Southern Ocean and dozens more sea lions greet us. Mostly bulls lolling on the beach and a few pups blissfully playing in the sand. It's all fairly inert until a mother sea lion emerges from the ocean - like a Bond Girl - and just like that things spring into action.

Curious eyes - both of humans and of the wild creatures on the beach turn in her direction - and one of the pups, who was until now clumsily rolling in the sand with his mates, starts waddling towards the returning parent as fast as it can.

Mum's back after three or four days of foraging in the sea, and she's got milk! A bull makes its way to the reuniting mum and pup, too, making me squeak rather ignorantly: "That must be the dad." But my guide, Zoe of Kangaroo Island Touring Company, is quick to correct me. "No, that's just a bored curious bull." While mothers retain strong ties with their offspring, bulls just want to eat and laze on the beach ... and mate. And fight to defend their territory.

There are many ways to explore Seal Bay. You can opt for the 45-minute Boardwalk Self-Guided Tour, which only gives you access to the boardwalk. For a more immersive experience, sign up for the Seal Bay Guided Tour, as part of which you'll follow a guide right down to the beach - the only place in the world where you can meander through Australian sea lions: pups frolicking in the sand, males battling for dominance and mothers nursing their offspring.

The writer was a guest of SATC