Bruny Island

With only a couple of days left in Tasmania, we felt we couldn't leave without seeing Bruny Island. Late yesterday we made the trip back to Hobart and, before making our way to Lea Scout camping ground at Kingston, called into Salamanca Market in Hobart. We were very surprised that this hadn't been cancelled as the news led us to believe that any gathering with over 500 people attending would be closed. Well, this market was packed!

 A soft-top car gathering was also at the market in aid of breast cancer awareness.

 On a cold chilly Autumn day, we arrived at the Kettering Ferry port. The plan was to overnight on Bruny Island at a Parks site, see as much as we could and catch the late afternoon ferry back to Kettering on Sunday.

Not far from the ferry port in Bruny a lookout to view the little Blue Penguins. No sign of the Penguins, they hardly ever show themselves until dusk but how great were the views? 

Found the Parks site at Cloudy Bay. Wow, what a bleak and rugged area and the wind...wild is the only way to describe it.

Apparently, there is another camp site only accesible by driving across the beach at low tide. We were not brave enough to attempt that drive.

And wildlife,

Star fish seen by the harbour.

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Port Arthur

 Oh dear, things are not looking good here in Australia. Covid-19 is playing havoc with crowd gatherings so much so that main sporting events are to go ahead but without supporters, the largest show in NSW, Sydney Easter Show has been cancelled and last night Ian received an email to say our Ghan trip may not go ahead. We have several more flights to take, Queensland, Darwin, Adelaide, Singapore (we should have a 5 day stopover but no idea if that will go ahead) before we arrive home and maybe they too will be cancelled. Crikey....we may become illegals through no fault of our own.

Friday 13th

Woke to rain. Not the best of days to spend wandering a Convict settlement. We had bought the tickets so a little drop of rain would not deter us. Trouble was that the drizzle in the morning turned into a downpour for most of the afternoon. To say we were drenched was a bit of an understatement. A complete change of clothes was necessary. So its a bit of a cop-out I know but rather than write all about the place, I thought it best that you click on this link to read this fascinating piece of history for yourselves. I wouldn't do it justice. Not so many photos today...rain and camera's do not mix.

Penitentiary in the foreground

 
The interior of the Commandant's House

 Inside the assistent doctors house.

The separate prison

The prison. Top R and Bottom R are the exercise yards.

  And wildlife,

Flame Robin

And possibly the female.

Oldest bridge in Australia

 Had a visitor this morning, came a knocking it did. Wanting scraps no doubt, but not receiving any went and ate the millipede I had photographed not 5 minutes earlier!

A more sedate sort of day to day, recovery from that walk will no doubt take a while. Very glad then that the destination was Historic Port Arthur, the best-preserved convict site in Australia where a more unhurried pace would be required. The direct route would have missed out Richmond with the oldest bridge in Australia so as we just had to go and see a detour was planned.

Back on track, a stop at the Remarkable Caves was next. Had no idea what to expect, another cave full of stalactites and stalagmites? but certainly not this.

Another stop was to the blowhole at Fossil Bay. Low tide meant we were to be disappointed as the 'blow' was pretty pathetic. The views were pretty neat though.

 It was mid-afternoon before we reached the historic Port Arthur. This is one place where a day is needed to fully appreciate the old convict settlements and Penitentiary. As we were not sure if we would have enough time to look around the place, on inquiry at the ticket desk we were told the tickets would last for 48 hours. We, therefore, had time in the afternoon to take a 30-minute cruise to the island where some of the convicts had been buried and a taster for the morn.

The Penitentiary

The Law Courts

 
And wildlife

Australian Wood Duck

Sea Eagle

Honey Eater?