Fri, 14th August, 2015 Bass Valley Camping Ground, Poowong to Anchor Belle Van Park, Phillip Island

9am 10 degrees outside and overcast again. Jon rang to say that he took Tash to hospital with suspected appendicitis. Hope she will be ok. Headed off after a cuppa towards Phillip Island.

Meandering through lovely green pastures. Great views as we descend towards to coast.

Passed a Yak but didn’t get the camera out in time. Back over the bridge onto Phillip Island.

Drove down to the track and had lunch there. Decided to go to a van park so we don’t have to lug the van around as there aren’t any free camps here. Only the second time in a year that we have been in a van park. Let the moths out of the wallet as it was $36 a night. The van park is run by the two sons of  Norm Wolfenden. He started his business Wolfenden Highway Homes in the 1934. Very interesting.

Only a small area for tourist vans but we got in ok. No one to watch and laugh as we ‘arranged’ our van!!

Texted Malcolm and Kerry and met them in the Isle of Wight hotel (first one at Phillip Island) near their accommodation on the esplanade at Cowes down the road from where we were.

After a cuppa back at their room Steve and I went for a drive to check out Churchill Island that we didn’t see last time. Just like Tassie – an island off and island off the big island!!

Lots of Cape Barren geese and their chicks.

Across the bridge onto the island.

The farm here was started in 1801 and was the site of Victoria’s first crops and European building which has been restored. It is now a Heritage Farm Nature Park. It is a working farm and you can watch milking, sheering whip cracking etc. The man that started it was from Scotland so they have kept the Highland cattle here too as well as Suffolk sheep and Clydesdale horses.

When we got up to the info centre it was about to close so just had a quick look around. There are lots of walks to do (4.5km around the island). Will have to check it out next time we are around here. Great view back over the bridge to Phillip Island.

Drove around to Cape Woolamai. We did the walk out to the Pinnacles last time.

Further along we turned off at Forrest Caves where all the shearwaters (mutton birds) roost. Climbed up the boardwalk over the sand dunes for another great view back to Cape Woolamai then along the coast towards Pyramid Rock.

Zoomed in on Pyramid Rock.

You can make out the ocean side of the race track too.

Back around the island to the north side and Rhyll. Information about one of the pioneers of the area.

Found a cairn for Bass.

A water well believed to have been sunk by Captain Wetherall in 1826.

Found some history info in the brochure. The McHaffie brothers took out a lease of the whole of Phillip Island in 1842 and grazed sheep here. They lost all bar 640 acres around the homestead when the island was opened up for closer settlement during 1868-69. Conditions were very harsh for settlers and many left because of drought, failed crops and lack of water. Chicory was one of the first crops grown and proved suitable for the island’s climate, a lack of frosts being a main requirement. It was grown here for over 100 years and the remaining chicory kilns with their pyramid shaped roofs are a Phillip Island icon. The tourist industry started soon after subdivision. The first hotel, the Isle of Wight, opened in 1870 with the nearby Phillip Island Hotel soon after. The first regular ferry service began in 1878 making access much easier for visitors. The small paddle steamer Eclipse began running from Hastings to San Remo with stops at Cowes, Rhyll and Newhaven. Motor racing, both car and bike began in 1928 with the circuit around the Island’s dirt roads. The Australian Grand Prix for cars was held for a number of years but the dust from the unsealed roads was a great problem and the major races moved elsewhere after 1938. In 1952 the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club opened up a new circuit on private land adjacent to the south coast. It went into decline in the 60s until bought by Len Lukey who resurrected the circuit. Major reconstruction work was done on the track and buildings to stage the 1989 motorbike GP and it has operated continuously since then. The present bridge was opened in 1971. This allowed increased development as the old bridge was subject to strict load limits. Tourists on large buses had to walk across the bridge and trucks were limited to 6 tons maximum.

Back into Cowes to join the others for dinner at the Fat Seagull – lovely meal and company.

Tash ok after her operation.

10pm 6.2 degrees.