Pages

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

A Trip to Hobart, Part 4: Bruny Island

On the penultimate day of our short holiday Shane and I took a cruise that circumnavigated the rugged coastline of Bruny Island, situated off the south-east coast of Tasmania. We travelled by bus to Kettering, 45 minutes from Hobart, where we caught the ferry to North Bruny. Here we boarded the yellow boat that would take us on our wilderness adventure. We had already been advised to dress warmly. In addition, we were provided with woolen beanies, gloves and bright red floor-length waterproof outfits that we slipped over our own clothes. For safety reasons, we were also asked to wear seat belts when the boat was in motion.

For someone like myself, who has clearly seen way too many old movies, the word ‘cruise’ has always had connotations of sleek 1930s ocean liners effortlessly gliding through glassy-smooth seas, peopled with ladies and gentlemen in formal evening wear sedately sipping cocktails on the upper decks.

Our own cruise was far more exciting, a breathtaking, exhilarating joy ride quite unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. The island’s towering, fortress-like cliff faces, punctuated by numerous caves and natural archways, are the stuff that legends and adventure stories are made of. The rocks, which are predominantly Dolomite, were formed 165 million years ago.

Bruny island is a haven for wildlife, including the fur seals and black-faced cormorants featured in this post.

To learn more about Bruny Island, go HERE.

Shane on the beach at Kettering

Waiting to board the Bruny Island ferry

An excited Shane on board the Mirambeena

Myself on the Bruny Island ferry 

 A Dolomite cliff on Bruny Island looms 200 metres above sea level 

Black-faced cormorants, AKA black-faced shags

A natural archway



The Monument

The Monument (right) now stands alone. Originally it was part of an arch, the top of which has long since fallen away

Bruny Island cruise boat 

Shane decked out in waterproof gear

An enormous cloud of water indicates the presence of an underground cave




Shags on a rock

A sunbathing seal colony 











The Friars

A cluster of Dolomite columns, looking for all the world like a Medieval fortress



Bruny Island at dusk. We waited here to board the ferry back to Kettering