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Published: March 9th 2008
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6th March 2008
Woke up in Auchmithie in our bed to the most amazing sea views looking out from the North end of Bruny Island towards Hobart on the mainland. There are plenty of boats to watch coming and going and lots of sea birds. There was bright sunshine but also some dark clouds about. It was cool first thing at about 11 degrees but soon warmed up with the sun. The weather here can change rapidly and as someone told us you can have four seasons in one day.
We arrived early for our boat trip from Adventure Bay, so enjoyed a cup of coffee with one of their home made muffins.
People had travelled across from Hobart for the day to do this trip and by the time we were ready to go there seemed a lot of other people to get on board. There were three boats all setting out at the same time and each boat probably had about 40 people on board.
By the time we had boarded and we were ready to go the sky was overcast and a wind had started blowing. We were issued with very sturdy waterproof coats which reached your ankles
in a fetching red. On the outward journey we were travelling into the wind and swell and the boats were very powerful with three 275hp turbocharged 4 stroke motors on the back capable of doing 50 knots. So once we were out of the bay the boat was cresting the waves and slamming into the troughs. A very bumpy ride but really exciting.
On the way out of the bay we saw some white wallabies. They are unusual but there is a whole colony of them surviving in Adventure bay. Along the coast there was some spectacular rock formations and sea caves which the boat guide would stop and point out.
We stopped at a cave and watched the swell crash in and out, so you could appreciate how the landscape is formed. Some of the cave rooves' have fallen in creating great free standing pillars. The boat does a seemly impossible swoop through two of these pillars which was exciting. As we got out to the point the Tasman Sea joins the Southern Ocean and the wind was wild and chilly. There were several colonies of Australian fur seals basking on the rocks making sleeping on rocks look really
comfortable. There were all male seals just messing about, playing in the breakers and play fighting while the females were away looking after the pups on another island miles away. Typical really!!!
We saw a little blue fairy penquin sitting up on a rock while he moulted and as the boat came closer he turned his face to the rock and crouched down so we couldn't se him. Didn't want to be seen looking a mess!
As the boat turned for home we saw little black sheawaters who had flown from Alaska to breed in the southern ocean . When they have reared their chicks they leave them and head back to Alaska, and the chicks follow later. Must have built in GPS for that journey.
We also saw a white capped albatross gliding over the waves a fraction of and inch above the crashing waves with never a flap. They are so gracefull and love the windy conditions as they can use the currents and just soar and glide.
We arrived back wet and cold and ready for a lovely pumkin soup and rolls and ham sandwiches.
After lunch we went to the cheese shop for local cheese for
supper then did a short walk along the peninsular to try and see more white wallabies as I had missed them that morning!
We never saw a wallaby but I met an echidna waddling along the path and digging for insects. What a treat as he took no notice of me while I took his photo from every angle before he bumbled off into the bush.
After that we decided to go back to Auchmithie and make some supper and try and catch up with the diary. After a relaxing evening except for Quentin the quoll, who seemed to be moving furniture in his lodgings before he went out for the night I hope he doesn't make so much noise coming in!!, we crashed out. Another fantastic day in our adventures. Tomorrow another road and another town. This time to Huonville to catch up with Keith and Beth Ruc at Ranelagh.
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