Tasmania – Tasman Peninsula – 15 March 2019

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Dave Noble

This was the last part of our visit to Tasmania. We left Triabunna and drove down to Tasman Peninsula. On the way we stopped off at the usual tourist places – Tesselated Pavement, the Sea Arches near Doo Town and then headed down to the Remarkable Cave.

Tasman Arch

We camped overnight at Fortescue Bay, at the Parks and Wildlife Service campground – which was a very nice place. Then the next day we headed down to Hobart, staying overnight, with a visit to Salamanca and MONA before flying home. Continue reading →

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Tasmania – Maria Island 13 – 14 March 2019

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Dave Noble

On the trip to Tasmania with Wendy, after visiting The Walls of Jerusalem, we were keen to head to the East Coast for some activities that would be a bit more relaxing. Wendy drove the hire car to Swansea, where we checked into a backpackers, that conveniently had a tavern, bottle shop and bakery attached. The weather was fine, and this allowed us to wash all our dirty clothes and then dry them in the Sun.

Next morning, we headed south towards Triabunna. From there, we could catch a ferry to Maria Island. On the way, we visited a quirky bridge – the so called “Spiky Bridge“. Interesting. Continue reading →

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Walking in Tasmania – Walls of Jerusalem Walk 9 – 12 March 2019

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Dave Noble

Our third walk in Tasmania was to the Walls of Jerusalem. On the trip was Wendy and myself. We had farewelled Steph – she was heading up the Arm River Track to climb Mt Ossa.

We headed up to the carpark, and camped the first night there. The place looked quite busy – the carpark was quite full. And it would become even more full – with it being a long weekend in Tasmania. Continue reading →

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Walking in Tasmania – Du Cane Range Walk 1 – 6 March 2019

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Dave Noble

This was the second walk we had planned in Tasmania. On the walk, as well as Wendy and myself, we were joined by Steph, and also, from Pine Valley Hut, by Freddy.

The Du Cane Range is one of my favourite areas in Tasmania. The attractions of the range are many – rugged high peaks like The Geryon and the Acropolis, beautiful alpine gardens, spots of particular wild beauty like The Labyrinth, and also the incredible ancient forest in Pine Valley. I have traversed the range many times. My last trip from The Labyrinth to Falling Mountain was on a trip in 2001. But I have been on more recent trips to Mt Massif – one in 2006, where we crossed Big Gun Pass to Mt Massif and then descended down to Kia Ora, and a trip in April 2004 where we crossed Big Gun pass to camp on Mt Massif and then returned the same way. Continue reading →

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Walking in Tasmania – Frenchmans Cap 25 – 28 February 2019

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Dave Noble

Wendy had invited me to join her on a holiday in Tasmania. Her main objective was Federation Peak, but recent bushfires resulted in that area being closed. To replace it, I had suggested a traverse of the Du Cane Range. Wendy thought that sounded good. In the original plan, the warmup trip was to Frenchmans Cap. That area was open, and it was also close to our starting point for the Du Cane Range.

It had been a long while since I had visited Frenchmans Cap. I had visited the Cap in May 1979 and then a few years later in January 1982. So a new visit was long overdue. In recent years there have been changes to the track. Suspension bridges replace the old crossings of the Franklin and Loddon Rivers. There has been a major track re-routing and upgrading along one notorious section of the old track – a very wet body section – the “sodden Loddon Plains” has been diverted to a new higher level route, partly financed by a generous donation by businessman (and bushwalker) Dick Smith. The new route is very preferable to the old route. And also, recently (April 2018), the Lake Tahune Hut has been replaced. Continue reading →

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Birds at Tempe – 22 February 2019

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Dave Noble

I spent a very rewarding morning at Tempe Wetlands and the adjoining Tempe Reserve wandering around with my camera.

Australasian Grebe with chick

Things started off pretty quietly. At first, I didn’t see or hear too many birds. It had been raining lightly. But patience was rewarded, and as I quietly walked around the three pools at Tempe Wetlands, I gradually spotted more birds. Here are some Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes – Continue reading →

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Dargans Creek Canyon – 21 February 2019

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Dave Noble

It was a wet, misty day up the mountains. I was heading up there with Bob to do a canyon. We had decided on Dargans Creek. It is only a short walk to the canyon and an even shorter walk out of it.

Dargans Creek Canyon is in the Stage 2 Proposal for Gardens of Stone.

At the Clarence Dams, we set off down Dargans Creek. The way down was a bit wet and slippery, and we had to be careful. We soon arrived at the start of the canyon. Continue reading →

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Illawarra Photo Trip – Bass Point and Yallah Bay – 20 February 2019A

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Dave Noble

On a recent rip to the Shellharbour area with Digi Dave, we had tried to drive out to Bass Point, but found the road closed. On that trip, we looked around for an alternative road, but could find none. Another friend however, have recently dived at Bass Point, so we knew that a new access road had been established. Like last time, we drove through the new town of Shell Cove, and this time Google Maps had a route we could follow to Bass Point.

Digi Dave scrambling around to Bushrangers Bay

We stopped first at the viewing platform for Maloneys Bay. Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 19 February 2019

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Dave Noble

This was a fairly quiet day spent in Malabar Headland National Park. It was a hot day and the birdlife seemed fairly quiet.

I walked from Maroubra out onto the headland. I saw a few small birds on the way. Continue reading →

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Nurragingy Reserve – 18 February 2019

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Dave Noble

After my last trip to Nurragingy, I was keen to head back there for some more bird photography. A hot day was forecast, so I got there not long after 8 am. I was hoping to photograph the Pacific Baza and the Azure Kingfishers I had seen the week before.

I went first to the Pacific Baza nest area, and could see the chick doing well in the nest. It was making plenty of noise. One of it parents was perched in a tree nearby, and seems oblivious to the chick’s noise. It was preening itself, and seemed preoccupied with that. Another bird photographer was there and said there had been little action over the past hour.  Continue reading →

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