Wed, 31st Dec, 2014 The Neck Campground, Bruny Island

Lovely morning, just a few clouds. Off to North Bruny to explore. Up the east side along narrow roads right on the edge of hills overlooking the bays. Very pretty but no places to pull over to take photos. Stopped at the boat ramp at Dennes Point. Looking across to Piersons Point where the lighthouse and gun emplacement was that we watched yachts arrive from.

As we were making a cuppa a chap stopped for a chat. He used to live at Kin Kin and now lives at Cloudy Bay behind that flash place I took a photo of. Gave us some sightseeing and eating tips. Nice chap. Watched a couple put in their boat, travel across and bring their friends back over, and all the party drinks!!

Huon Trail info. Interesting information about Captain Kelly and another little bird to look out for – Forty-spotted Pardalote that live in the white gums.

Followed the road around the coast, looking back over Nebraska Beach.

Looking down NW Bay again.

Through Killora. Spotted this cemetery near Quarantine Bay (late 1800s, early 1900s).

Lots of grazing farms and rolling hills.

Barnes Bay is a huge bay that has smaller coves and bays in it. The Quarantine Station is of course in Quarantine Bay and is open to visitors but not today. Will call back.

Into Simmonds Bay to little town of Barnes Bay. Bob & Judy had said about camping here at the boat ramp but there is a ‘no camping’ sign now.

Lovely spot.

The rocks are covered in oysters. A bus full of Asians was down by the water filling up buckets.

I moved an oyster and there were heaps of tiny crabs and slug thins under it.

Followed the edge of the bay on Missionary Road to join the road down to the ferry. Passed heaps of bee hives. Saw a couple of echidnas on the side of the road too. Drove down to the ferry but there is no room to park. Past the cherry place $10/kg.  Back up the road and turned into Apollo Bay Road where there are blocks of land for sale. Great views but the wind on this side is quite strong from the south west.

Drove down to the block further down the point and it looks like someone was getting set up for New Year.

Cute carved letterbox.

Looking back over the whole of Barnes Bay area.

Stopped beside the Cherry Farm. It is completely covered in mesh. They look delicious.

Heading back south again to Great Bay. Turned into Get Shucked Oyster Bar. Now why would you pay for them when you can get them for free at Simmonds Bay.

Steve checked out the boat.

Drove down the small boat ramp into Great Bay. Windy but lovely in the sun sheltered behind the truck to have our lunch.

An old jetty.

The oyster pots hang off these buoys.

Passed the Cheese Company – popular place.

Pulled into a crowded car park to do the walk to Cape Queen Elizabeth  – it says 3 hours return but looks like it goes to the beach then up the coast so we will see.

Noticed very high fences. Steve said he thought he saw an emu from the road but all I could see was goats – maybe he needs to get his eyes checked too!!

Followed an old 4WD track – Steve said we are being victimised as we have a 4WD and can’t use it anywhere!! We are walking along the edge of the airport.

Turned off the track to check out a lagoon.

Walking through the heathlands reminds me of Cape York.

We took off the jumpers along the way as the sun is beating on our backs but the breeze is still cool.

Came to an intersection – one way headed up a very steep sandy climb onto the top of the cliff area and the other headed down to the beach. We chose the beach!!

Headed onto the sand dunes and walked over the squeaky sand to the sandstone cliffs.

Looking back over Adventure Bay to Fluted Cape.

 Looking down the neck towards the campground.

 This is called Mars Bluff and Moorina Bay.

Walked around the front, Steve squeezed through the crack.

I ran around the front where I found a buoy jammed into the rocks.

The cliffs looked amazing.

Steve’s hoping he found a treasure chest.

Kept walking and through an archway.

Looking back at the arch.

Into another sand beach area. Certainly a lovely area.

We could walk around the rocks and down onto the beach.

We could see other walkers down the end of the beach. They must have done the walk over the top of the cliffs. Glad we came this way.

Looking further around the bay to Cape Queen Elizabeth. We won't be walking to that one.

I think the top formation looks like a croc's mouth.

Lots of caves to explore.

Back through the opening as the tide has come in. Plenty of room!! if I go sideways!!

Headed back. From the top of a dune we could see the lagoon then around to over the neck then round to Fluted Cape.

Near another small lagoon is an area of these white gums with lots of little birds. Tried to see if they are the Forty-spotted Pardalotes, they had lovely songs.

As we passed the high fence we saw an emu in the distance so Steve doesn’t need to get his eyes checked. A bit further down another one was beside the fence. He was trotting along making his “bomp” sound.

The big old goat had just climbed up and was eating the leaves off the tree.

Stopped at the Big Hummock Penguin Lookout & Rookery and read the info about the penguins and mutton birds (short-tailed shearwaters). Will come back tonight to watch them.

It is cloudy and windy now and as I wanted to climb up to the lookout when the view was good we decided to do that another day – too many steps!!!

Walked up the first bit anycase. Peered into one hollow and saw a mutton bird egg.

Looking down over the viewing area.

Information about a famous aboriginal, Truganini.

Found a mutton bird egg.

Back to our camp and Steve got the fire ready.

I went for a walk onto the beach. Some people were fishing so chatted with them. Then we saw dolphins. I didn’t have my camera!!

After dinner we went for another walk on the beach to look at the sunset.  Zoomed back to the steps up the Big Hummock Lookout.

Lovely sunset colours.

Still light enough to take a photo of the van and my fairy lights.

A lot more campers arrived but there is still plenty of room. The group out the front have their music playing but otherwise it is quiet.

9.30pm we headed to the rookery and so did everyone else. It is only a very narrow road and we had to park on one side as the car park is too small.

Glad we had our Bathurst coats on as the wind is so cold. The baby penguins are nearly ready to go out into the sea.

 A group of parents arrive to the chorus of babies calling.

The mutton birds landed with a thump and hurried to their burrows with lots of squawking. I even videoed their sound and then the baby penguins were calling too so lots of noise. Got a photo of one heading into its nest and nestled in with just its head poking out.

Headed back to the van at 11.15pm to watch the telecast. The fireworks in Sydney and Melbourne.

Enjoyed the fireworks show and counted down to midnight. 

Happy New Year, daylight saving time. Sent off heaps of texts then waited for the real New Year to arrive.  Got lots of texts back too. Great to hear from everyone.