Beautiful Bruny Island

 I have just spent four delightful days on Bruny Island, camped in a caravan park on Adventure Bay, South Bruny (there were limited places that took dogs ... actually, very limited ... in fact only one).  When I arrived, there was drizzle and gusty winds, the sky full of threatening clouds and I thought all my great weather was at an end.  But this was short lived and most days I looked out the window of the van onto a long beach of fine sand and gentle waves, the water and sky competing blues, the sun glistening on the water.

To make Bruny even better, Merran and Warren (friends from Mansfield) were there as well.  They had already been there for some days and had extended their time so that we could overlap.  This was fantastic because Merran and I planned to do some walks in the National Park, while Warren and Maggie May could spend some quality time together! 

Sooty oyster catcher

The tide was out along the Neck and I watched the black swans and sooty and pied oyster catchers looking for food in the shallows.  I have been surprised and disappointed by the limited birdlife in Tasmania so far.  Apart from swans, wrens and the Tasmanian Native-hen, birds have been scarce.  A flash of a green rosella wing or a lilting song in the bushes have been tantalising but I've seen more blackbirds and sparrows than native birds.

Just up from the campground was the Grass Point Track which diverged onto the Fluted Cape walk.  Merran and I walked up to a vantage point that showed the crenulated shoreline and massive cliffs of the Fluted Cape.  The bush is a delightful combination of eucalypts, casuarinas and banksias - the she-oaks making a soft brown blanket on the ground.  But no birds.

The next day was sunny and warm - perfect for a walk.  Merran and I set off to walk the Labillardiere Track that was near the Cape Bruny Lighthouse.  The walk crossed coastal heathland that was full of surprising and beautiful flowers - fringed lilies, everlasting daisies and lots that I didn't recognise ... oh, for a book on Tasmanian native plants.  I took lots of photos (some of which came out!) and plan to do some research when I'm home (or buy a book while I'm here!).  Down we walked through a eucalypt forest and out onto a beautiful pristine beach.  There were rocks at the shoreline that were covered in enormous oysters ... most were larger than the palm of my hand, and I have BIG hands ... as well as clumps of mussels.  Merran and I daydreamed of camping on the beach and feasting on seafood for dinner.

Round-leaf rice-flower (Pimelia nivea) nestled amongst the lovely Necklace She-oak (Allocasuarina monilifera)

After the walk, we visited the lighthouse and enjoyed the magnificent view.  It looked idyllic - what a beautiful place to live - but I think we were fooled by the stunning weather.  It would have been an isolated, bleak place when the gales were blowing and the rain drove you inside.  But in the bright sunlight, the white cottages with their red roofs looked so welcoming and comfortable.

By the way, Maggie thinks (a) she likes Warren, (b) her paw is better and (c) she LOVES the beach.  I think that (a) Warren has been very good to Maggie, (b) her paw isn't totally better and (c) she can chase a ball into the water but not on dry land (sand).  So she has had a wonderful time diving into the ocean to get her ball and then rolling in the sand.  The van is FULL of sand.

So tired that she's using the water bowl as a pillow.

Merran and I drinking cider in the sun

I decided to stay an extra day on the island and do a walk to a rather beautiful rock arch.  It was only about 3 hours so I left Maggie in the van and set off.  I was doing rather well time-wise and thought that I'd be back a bit earlier than planned until I realised that I'd forgotten to check one very important thing ... the tides.  Unfortunately the beach was not accessible and there was no way to get to my arch.  Oh well!  There was nothing for it but to go to the cheese place and order a yummy brunch of prosciutto wrapped cheese, baked in the oven with some delightful chewy and dark sourdough bread.  Yum yum!