April 27th - Maria Island cruise and walk then Hobart

Got up early and had a marvelous brekkie at our B&B. we were planning to walk for 4-5 hours on an island with no food, so breakfast was supposed to be the major meal.  We had booked the Maria Island Ferry for a 10 am crossing.  So off to Tribunna.  Being Sunday, we listened to Mark Shepard on the way down. 

We arrived early and went into talk with the Visitor Center people.  We learned that there was another company going out that offered a cruise as well as a crossing,  that was what we originally wanted, but the company we booked with wasn't offering it that day.  So after some debate, we decided we wanted to switch companies, but we couldn't get a refund for the first one.  At that moment, two people showed up wanting tickets on the Ferry we had tickets for and it was sold out.  Divine intervention?  We offered them our tickets, they ought them and we bought the tickets on the cruise we wanted.  Wow!  Meant to be.  Plus, it was a gorgeous blue sky day!

The boat and crew and passengers were great.  The crossing was about 30 minutes.  We no sooner got on the water and we found our first pod of dolphins.  The boat whisked around and we were playing with them!  Shoot, shoot, shoot!  We saw our first albatrosses of the trip.  We dropped a  group got off on the island.  Six of us stayed on board for the cruise and were treated to amazing sights!

Maria Island is made up of three distinctly different kind of rocks...sandstone, limestone and granite.  We started in the sandstone portion and saw their painted cliffs.  Then off to the limestone where they have something called a green waterfall that is limestone dripping down the outside wall...it's like being in a cave with stalagmites, but nit being in a cave.  Amazingly, after seeing the cavelike formations outside a cave, the skipper took us into a cave, boat and all!  We saw two sea eagles at the enterance.  The were lots of cormorants aka shags in the water and on the rocks. 

Before we knew it we were crossing the sea to seal rock.  On the way we ran into another pod of dolphins.  Shoot, shoot, shoot!  Then we got to seal island and it lived up to its name.  They were all over it and all around it in the water.  The light was that perfect salt water light that I often think of as glory light because you can do no wrong in it!  Whites, yellows, greens, blues, browns and the compositions were endless!

After awhile we dropped anchor and the crew fixed lunch for us.  Smoked Tasmanian salmon, salad, and Tassie cheese.  Delicious!

After lunch, the took us into another cave by boat.  This skipper was really amazing!  Inside of the cave were many colors and at the bottom, just below the tide line was a red.  There was an old er gentleman on the boat who lived on Maria Island in the 60s.  A soon as he saw the color, he told us that he used to be an abalone diver and that when you saw that color it meant there were abalone there.  Shortly there after the skipper told us the same thing.  Pretty cool!  It made his day. 

From there it was back to Maria across bumpy seas and yet again...you guessed it....a pod of dolphins!  This time it was really rough and I have the bruises to show for it, but it was worth every bruise!

We got back to the island and had a walk where we searched for Tassie Devils. They've nearly gone extinct due to a virus killing them off.  The ones on Maria have been spared.  Being nocturnal, we didn't see one.  We did see a wombat with a kid in her pouch, Barron geese, parrots, and a wallaby. 

We're in Hobart now in a spectacular room that overlooks the harbor.  Decided for a seafood tonight.  The hotel recommended the Drunken Admiral on Hunter St.  Absolutely what we had in mind!  Cheri had fresh scallops (with the pink part) seared on a hot rock with a greek salad.  John had the fisherman’s platter also seared with fries and a salad.  We tried some local gin that was surprisingly good in our G+T’s.  John had a chocolate extravaganza for dessert. 

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

Painted Cliffs

Green Waterfall

April 24 – Hamilton to Halls Gap – The Grampians!

It rained and blew like crazy all through the night.  It sounded as if there was a hurricane outside our hotel.  Hopes were low until we opened the curtains and lo and behold – sun and blue sky were making their way into view!  The day was fresh as the Aussies say.  Clear, blue sky and about 15 deg C.

We had a quick bite at McCafe for breakfast, the fastest thing we could find and then hit the trail for Halls Gap and some hiking.  It took about an hour from Denkeld and the scenery was great.  Once we got to Halls Gap we stopped at the visitor’s center to get the lay of the land.  We were quickly informed that if we wanted to see wildlife, the best bet was to walk the 2.5 km loop right there at the visitor’s center.  We had already picked out some hikes for later in the day and they showed us where to start.

That loop around the visitor’s center was a jackpot!  Kangaroos resting and willing to let us walk up close.  Parrots were in the trees and on the ground.  Two Kookabara’s in trees and again willing to let us come close.  A nice little wallaby hanging around!  Jackpot!

We grabbed a meaty pie for lunch and then headed to hike the sundial.  This was a nice meandering walk that had a steep part at the end with superior scenery.  The woods were alive!

Do you remember when you were a kid and you got your first box of 64 color crayons?  I remember there being many shades of green and at the time wondering what they were for.  Today, if I had any doubt, I know what they are for because every color green was in the rain forest we walked through.  The ferns were healthy and a main part of the forest.  The smells were amazing!  There was eucalyptus at one point and it made my nose tingle.  The sky was blue, blue.  The trees ranged from white to brown to burnt black from previous fires.  The rocks were all bumpy and interesting;  some grey, white, red, orange and more.

After we hiked the Sundial pinnacle we drove to the Reed lookout and hiked to the Balconies.  Stunning views.  In fact, we plan to head back there tonight to capture the Milky Way!

Enjoy!

Cheri & John

Red Kangaroo

Kangaroo

Grey Kangaroo

Kookabara

Pied Crow

View from Sundial

View from Sundial

The Balconies

April 23. Mt Gambier to Hamilton and the foothills of the Grampians

The Barn was spectacular. We were sorry to leave such a fabulous place and sent some extra time there in the morning downloading images, blogging and just relaxing.  The food was all locally sourced and oh so delicious. That included the wind. 

Now on the road again, it feels and looks fall like as we see giant sheep, elk, and cattle  ranches.  It's lonely, but beautiful country.  The light makes everything look like its a water color painting. 

We finally made if to Hamilton around 2 PM and checked Into our hotel.  Quickly we threw our hiking and camera gear into the car and headed to the base of the southern Grampians.  There was a very helpful woman at the info station who helped us with choices of which hike to make. 

We headed off for Picciny and ended up doing Mt. Sturgeon. It was a beautiful hike with ups and downs and ups and downs.  As we got to the steeper final section we were hiking quietly along and Cheri looked up into the eyes of a Wallaby!!  Holy cow...there she was....right in the path watching us intently chewing on a piece of grass.  She looked as if she was a toll collector and had her hand out for a $1 coin!  Cheri had her small lens on and she shot so as not to miss her.  John quickly changed out his lens to the 100-400 mm while Cheri kept her focus.  John shot away!  Cheri changed lens, but she hopped off into the brush.

We kept hiking and before we knew it we had found another smaller one.  This time we were both loaded for bear and got some great shots!!how exciting!!

The hike was about 8 km and took about 2.5 hours.  Glorious!  When we got back to the car and headed off and quickly found a large group of kangaroo in the fields.  We stopped for some picies.  Next thing we saw was a goshawk all lit up by the sun.  Cheri grabbed him in the air!  Next the sunset was spectacular!  What an end to the day light hours!

Off to dinner now!

Plover

Goshawk

Enjoy!
Cheri & John