Bruny Island
Trip Start
Aug 18, 2005
1
27
105
Trip End
??? ??, 2006
Tasmania, Australia
Friday, October 7, 2005
The following day, we arrived, in the rain at the dock to go on a chartered boat ride around bruny Island, along with 12 other slightly doubtful people - surely it is too wet and windy to go on this boat - ha! Robert (the captain) was a wonderful guide and skillful boat driver! We boarded a very fast and sleek jet boat and donned some not quite so sleek red cagoules over the top of our existing 6 layers. The plastic windows were zipped down and then we zipped off, around the coast and over the massive swell. I do not think a roller coaster could simulate the white knuckle ride that was this boat trip - brilliant. We headed out away from the coast where we saw what must have been thousands of birds (short-tailed shearwaters) all feeding together, diving down and gliding in and out of the peaks and troughs of the enormous waves. It was incredible, you could hear their wings flapping they were so close. We had seen the birds the night before as they came in to nest, and now it was definitely feeding time, all flying and diving and lifting in unison. This was awesome.
We hurtled along the coast line and saw massive 300m high cliffs from the shore and a massive blow hole that sprayed the 'breath of the ocean' as high as a house. This was made particularly grand as the sea was so rough.
Unfortunately the sea was too rough to go around the headland to see the seal, but I did see one pop his head up alongside the boat as we headed back to the dock. I think the trip was great, but the chap gave us $20 back as we didn't get as far as he wanted to take us, so that payed for a lovely bowl of pumkin soup. He also shouted the entry fee to a nearby museum, which appeared to be someones front room full of artefacts on the 'discovery' and settlement of 'Van Diemens Land'.
A great trip with some lovely people. Thanks for the recommendation Toby.
