Tasmania Trip (4)
Bruny Island
Tasmania is geologically part of Antarctica. When the continent drifted apart, Australia ripped off Tasmania from Antarctica because it was glued to the mainland with the granite under Bass Strait. As a consequence the landscape is quite different. Dolerite (an igneous rock) abounds and there are extinct volcanos dotted around. Mainland Australia is characterised by limestone, sand and flat plains whereas in Tasmania roads go up and down and around bends. Tasmania is true beemer country. Bruny Island is no exception but if I had a choice I would probably have chosen a mount which was more suited to dirt roads. The 1100 s does not feel at home on dirt roads. Most of the roads are bitumen but some are dirt.
Bruny Island is 64 kilometres long from Dennes Point in the North to Cape Bruny in the South.
To the North of the island there is a cafe perched on top of a hill which is run by a German guy, Helmut and his wife. The food is a tad pricey but delicious fare mainly of Bavarian type. Helmut is quite a character and rabbits on with his thick Teutonic accent in such a way that the atmosphere is complemented. His wife helps him run the cafe and this delightful couple makes this cafe a 'must stop'. If the food is a tad pricey, the view is priceless and makes it all worthwhile.
These are snaps of the view from there. Those two girls snuck into the frame of the pic at right just as I clicked the shutter. Pity about that.
Just near this cafe I had a chance encounter with this chap. He is a
Superb Fairy-wren. In the west we get a different sort of
blue
wren and it was a rare treat to see one like this
I then headed to the South end of the island and passed this place on the way. Please excuse the quality of the picture but I had to paste a series of photos together. That is mainland Tasmania you can see across the water. This picture is not a thumbnail.
The Black Swan is the symbol of Western Australia but is widely distributed over the Western and Eastern Seaboards, the South East of the continent and in Tasmania. This pair was part of a small flock. This picture is not a thumbnail.
Heading
South the road passes along a narrow isthmus. This is where I saw the
flock of swans cruising in the bay. As one heads further south towards
Cape Bruny the road enters a national park. On the left there is an
interesting view of a cliff with a pale 'V' shaped section which looks like the
foresight of a rifle. In fact it is a gap in the cliff which permitted a
view of a cliff behind which was lighter.
Cape Bruny is just lovely. There is a short but steep walk up to the lighthouse which is hard work when clad in full motor cycle protective gear but well worth the effort. Some hardy flowers on the way up provided a pleasant interlude. The views from the lighthouse were breathtaking.
Then it was off to the ferry and back to Hobart for some more of Jim's beer and fine wine.