Bruny Island

Bruny Island Rainbows

2012-01-27T03:11:00.000-08:00

This little video is a rainbow-scape on bruny island

The atmosphere on bruny Island is perfect for rainbows & the aurora borealis can often be seen.

Sunsets & Sunrises over the Bruny Island beaches & bays are

always stunning.

Rural scenes of Bruny Island Tasmania

2012-01-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

I was looking through my backlog of great Bruny Island photos when I came across this old photo of some local cattle herding. Herding cattle along the beach is not an every day sight on Bruny but it has been known to happen over the years.

This photo was most likely taken during the 1950's on the neck beach. What a way to travel.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF BRUNY ISLAND TASMANIA

2012-01-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

The scenery is so beautiful on Bruny Island that its hard to point a camera without getting a great photograph. This photo was taken at cape Bruny on south Bruny Island.

There are a lot of rainbows in the Bruny Island sky's.

Bruny Island is a fantastic part of Tasmania. The approximate dimensions of Bruny Island are about 70 kms by 24 kms at the widest points. There are about 300 kilometres of roads to explore.

THE UNEXPECTED BEAUTY OF BRUNY ISLAND

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This is an incredible view from my mothers garden on Bruny Island. The garden is filled with wild growing flowers & native grasses & overlooks this amazing bay. The variety of scenery & plants on Bruny Island is surprising & lovely.

Here is one of many stunning rock formations that are scattered along the coast of South Bruny Island.

The Breathtaking Bruny Island Lighthouse is one of the oldest in not only Tasmania but Australia also.

This rock sculpture has been slowly built by local Bruny Island folk, over time passers by have added rocks to the piles when they go walking on Grassy point on South Bruny Island.

Sunrise over Simpsons Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia

Moonrise over Simpsons Bay, South Bruny Island.

THE WATER IS THE PLACE TO BE ON BRUNY ISLAND

2011-11-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

Dolphins are frequently spotted off the coast of Bruny Island you can see them jumping in the bay at Adventure Bay. They swim along next to local boats along the coast. I even know a man who's dog swims with the dolphins.

Bruny Island has some of Tasmania's most beautiful surf beaches & Cloudy Bay even has its own surf
competition.

Bruny Island is home to some lovely wild ducks who make their homes on ponds & in rivulets.

IF BY SEA the Bruny Island Ferry

2011-10-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Bruny Island is not far off the coast of the Australian Isand state of Tasmania. A ferry runs regularly from the seaside village of Kettering to the Bruny Island ferry dock at Roberts Point. The ferry takes approx 10 to 15 minutes to cross the channel. The ferry transports cars, caravans & bicycles as well as walk on commuters. The ferry is occassionally flanked by dolphins that glide through the water thus the painting of the dolphin pod on the side of the vessel which is proudly named the Mirambeena.

During the 1950's the ferry docked at Barnes Bay. The old vessel was named the Mangana in reference to Bruny Island's own beautiful Mangana mountain.

The newer Vessel the Mirambeena has all the mod cons, two motors, lights at night, toilet facilities, what appears to be hundreds of life jackets & an alarm system. The ferry is extremely safe & undergoes a regular service & inspection once a year. However small inconvenient mishaps have been known to happen & in one case the ability of the ferry to successfully dock was impaired & a cute little ship was employed to help the ferry into dock ( see picture below )

Below is a fantastic picture of the old ferry at the dock.

It's delightful to see the men in suits & the women in gloves for their trip on the ferry.

Alonnah views on Bruny Island Tasmania

2011-10-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a stunning spring view from Alonnah Bruny Island. Looking out across the blue waters you can see satellite Island which sits off the coast of Bruny Island. Satellite Island is a perfect example of Australia's Island formation, it is an island off an island off an island off an island.

A beautiful sunset sky over Alonnah Bruny Island. A small twinkling light can be seen in the distance emanating from satellite Island.

Beach combing on Alonnah beach is a great way to spend an afternoon. Alonnah beach is scattered with seashells & is nice & shallow if you would like to go wading, the shallow waters make it a safe beach option for small children & there is a playground by the beach.

SPRING ON BRUNY ISLAND TASMANIA

2011-09-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

This Bruny Island orchard is about to spring into bloom. The tree's are sprouting little buds that will soon become blossoms & pears.

This stunning water Lilly is growing wild in a little dam at the edge of an orchard on Bruny Island.

These native birds eggs will soon hatch & little birds will take flight on Bruny Island.

This Daffodil is loving spring at the bottom of an orchard on Bruny Island Tasmania

Kookaburra, Echidna and Other Animals of Bruny Island Tasmania

2011-08-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

This kookaburra was spotted sitting in a gum tree at a local Bruny Island park

This echidna was seen wandering about in Simpsons Bay Bruny Island.

My dear cat SNUFFY was a little curious when he spotted this Echidna in the front yard. He kept his distance though. Like all clever Tasmanian cats he knew that Bruny Island echidnas are full of spikes & are very very prickly.

There are so many wallabies & kangaroos sneaking into our garden in Simpsons Bay Bruny Island that we have to fence off the vegetable patch or they munch on our produce.

These two seagulls are just hanging about at Adventure Bay, they seem to be having some kind of dispute as the one on the right appears to be sticking out his tongue at his fellow bird.

These two wild Bruny ducks have definitely got each others back.

The Bottom of the Garden on Bruny Island Tasmania

2011-08-03T03:11:00.000-07:00

Bruny Island like the rest of Tasmania is not only beautiful but full of surprises. Today I wanted to share with you some snap shots from Bruny Island Gardens. These gardens are nothing like a small suburban yard!

This is a delightful boat house on a private pond, perfect for picnics. This photograph was taken on a stunning Bruny Island property called HIBA.

Sheep grazing on green Bruny Island grass, overlooking the

d' Entrecasteaux channel.

Geese and daffodils in Simpsons Bay Bruny Island.

A gnarled tree overlooking the sea at the bottom of the garden in Adventure Bay Bruny Island.

A bell shaped pink flower growing wild at the bottom of the orchard in Simpsons Bay Bruny Island.

Bruny Island Perfect in Any Season

2011-06-17T04:40:00.000-07:00

Bruny Island Tasmania is a great place to get away & reflect. At any time of year Bruny Island has great things to see & do.

You can see stunning Australian fur seals when you take a local boat tour of Bruny Island.

Take a walk through the forest or on one of many Bruny Island beaches.

Winter on Bruny Island Tasmania

2011-06-03T00:27:00.000-07:00

Bruny Island in winter is absolutely stunning. The colours of the island transform into varied winter hues. Bruny is unique in that it changes so beautifully with the seasons. You should see Bruny Island at least once during every one of the four seasons.

Bruny Island is a unique & exotic piece of Tasmania.

In the winter time when you just want something fresh to look at, Bruny Island is a true sight for sore eyes.

Fresh blue waters of Bruny Island

Bruny Island the Lush Season

2011-05-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Boating on Bruny Island is popular all year. The above photo was taken from the Roberts Point ferry terminal as the season was turning from summer to autumn.

The water was clear & reflective of the blue sky that day at Roberts point ferry terminal Bruny Island.

I love this little fenced in garden. The garden is planted atop a very steep slope behind the Roberts point kiosk & coffee shop.

The greenery is plentiful all through the year on Bruny Island but Winter brings everything to life. My favorite time on Bruny is winter because I love new life.

Everything is so fascinating if you take the time to look a little closer.

The Isthmus, Bruny Island

2011-04-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

The isthmus also known as the neck is a long narrow neck of land almost like a giant sandbar. The neck joins together North Bruny Island & South Bruny Island.

At the centre of the neck is a stunning lookout known locally as the hummock.

There are beaches on either side of the neck. There are stunning views of the surrounding beaches & coves from the hummock lookout.
It takes a little aerobic exercise to climb the wooden steps of the hummock but it is well worth the effort. The air is bracing at the top, the view is great & there are wooden benches at the top, so you can take a break & catch your breath.

SUBLIME BRUNY ISLAND a Tasmanian treasure

2011-03-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

Bruny Island, Tasmania is both quaint & exotic. The island has a richness of colour & culture & a fascinating mix of exotic & rustic flavour.

Bruny Island boasts a huge number of beaches. The sea water is crisp & un-polluted.

On Bruny Island the night sky is clear & unfettered by pollution & bright city lights.

Every house, cottage & villa has a view.

This local cafe is located inside a hothouse & occasionally the local wildlife give a little parade for the customers.

CAPE BRUNY LIGHTHOUSE

2011-03-03T16:28:00.000-08:00

The Cape Bruny Lighthouse is an imposing thirteen metres high. The Lighthouse was established in 1838, after a series of shipwrecks in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. The Cape Bruny Lighthouse was built using locally quarried stone at a cost of 2,500 pounds for materials. The labour cost nothing as the Lighthouse was built by the hands of convict labour.

The legacy of all the backbreaking work of the convicts who brought the lighthouse to fruition lives on to this day, although the light was decommissioned in 1996, when it was replaced by a solar powered tower.

The Cape Bruny Lighthouse is enjoyed by sightseers & revered by historians as the oldest continuously manned Lighthouse in Australia.

Australia's longest serving head lighthouse keeper, Captain William Hawkins, served at the Cape Bruny Lighthouse for 37 years & 232 days from 1877 to 1914.

Getting supplies to the lighthouse was a difficult job, prior to the Lighthouse Rd being carved through the bush.

Until 1915, steam ships & sailing vessels served the light. Stores of food, livestock, wicks, sperm whale oil & glass chimneys were all needed to keep the light house keepers & their families fed & the light burning.

On occasion, assistance has been given to ships which have suffered mishaps of varying degrees of severity. Often crews were given stores from the keepers' private supplies.

The original parabolic reflectors used approximately half a litre of sperm whale oil for every hour that the light burned.

The lighthouse reserve consisted of 184 acres of land that was used by the early keepers for grazing horses and other livestock. Vegetables, were grown by the early convict lighthouse keepers. There are still the remains of the convict garden on the sheltered side by the beach.

Wireless telephone apparatus was installed in 1930 and a pedal wireless set on 28 March 1938.

http://brunyisland.net.au/Cape_Bruny/Lightstation/lightstation_accommodation.htm

Some of the Animals that live on Bruny Island

2011-02-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

This Kangaroo was photographed in a field by the side of the road.

Bird life flourishes on Bruny Island.

This very friendly raven was photographed sitting on the banister outside a coffee shop in Adventure Bay, Bruny Island.

Stunning eagle soaring above Bruny Island, Tasmania.

This slow & friendly lizard was photographed in my mothers driveway in Simpsons Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania.

This white wallaby was snapped munching on some grass in cookville, Bruny Island.

Everybody seems to find echidnas irresistibly cute, spikes & all.

The Merry Kookaburra

2011-02-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

Kookaburra

Kookaburras are territorial in their nature, which could explain why this same Kookaburra keeps flying into our orchard & sitting sentinel on a colonial wooden post.
Our orchard in Simpsons Bay on Bruny Island, attracts a lot of native birds.
Bruny Island is extremely well known by bird watchers as a perfect location to pop out the binoculars & bring out the pocket book of bird life.
The coast, bush and open pastures of South Bruny Island National Park, are filled with bird life.
Over 120 species of native bird have been recorded on Bruny Island. Below is listed a small cross section of birds that live on Bruny Island: The tawny-crowned honeyeater, Australasian gannet and ground parrot.
Wedge Tailed Eagle - regularly patrols the forests behind Adventure Bay and nests on Mt Cook overlooking Adventure Bay;
• White Bellied Sea Eagle - regularly seen above the estuary and forests behind the Bay;
• Grey Goshawk (white morph) - nests and feeds in forests more than 50 years old and is regularly seen in forests behind the Bay;
• Swift Parrot - nests and feeds throughout the lower slopes of the forests behind Adventure Bay.

There are a lot of birds living in the national park at cloudy bay. Sometimes birds can be seen in the sand dunes behind Cloudy Bay Beach.
If you are a keen bushwalker & enjoy a little hiking then you might enjoy the East Cloudy Head walk, check the link for more details http://www.brunyisland.net/Walks/cloudybay.html

Bruny Island History

2011-02-19T20:20:00.000-08:00

Bruny Island was first sighted by Abel Tasman in 1642. Bruny Island takes its name from Rear Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux who dropped anchor off the coast of Bruny Island in 1792-93. Bruny Island is of national significance in the European exploration of the southern seas. Captains Furneaux, Flinders, Cook and Bligh all anchored in Bruny Island's Adventure Bay which takes its name from Furneaux's ship.

The Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration at Adventure Bay http://www.brunyisland.net.au/Adventure_Bay/blighmuseum.html and the Alonnah History Rooms are open to the public daily http://www.brunyisland.net.au/Alonnah/historyroom.html .

Take a walk out to Variety Bay on open days or follow the walking track to Grassy Point to see the site of one of Bruny Island's ex whaling stations and find out about the whaling history from the information boards along the way http://www.brunyisland.net.au/Walks/brunywalks.html.

For more information about Bruny Island http://brunyisland.net.au/

Historic Cape Bruny Lighthouse. Check out this link for more information about the Cape Bruny Light station http://www.brunyisland.net.au/Cape_Bruny/Lightstation/lighthouse.html

View from the Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

Cape Bruny Lighthouse lamp

The variety of Bruny Island

2011-02-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

From sunrise to sunset Bruny Island has so much to see & do.

Bruny Island offers relaxation & enervation. Bruny Island is a great place for strolls on the beach, bush walking, swimming, boating & fishing.

The Island is large & sparsely populated in many areas, which means there is always a quiet place to retreat to if you need some time out. There are however all the amenities a person could need such as a general store, pub & restaurants.

The Island has beautiful national park areas for sightseeing, camping & bush walking.

Many of the beaches are suitable for surfing & the water is amazingly clean & crisp.

All the housing on the Island runs on rainwater or bore water & many locals live an Eco-friendly lifestyle. As far as an Eco-friendly Tasmanian holiday goes I think Bruny Island is one of the best places you could possibly visit.

Eco Tourism is a big part of the Bruny Island economy. There is a lot of Eco-friendly accommodation available on the Island. There are also Eco cruises & penguin watching tours. The Island is also a popular spot for bird watching. If you fancy a luxury Eco holiday find out more at http://brunyisland.net.au/ or phone 1300 889 557 toll free

The Bligh Museum

2011-02-10T21:19:00.001-08:00

The Bligh Museum is situated in Adventure Bay on South Bruny Island.The Bligh Museum was constructed in 1954. The foundation stone was laid on the 9th of September in commemoration of the 200-year anniversary of Vice Admiral William Bligh.

Portrait of Captain Bligh. The convict-crafted bricks from which the building is built were made in 1846 at Variety Bay on North Bruny Island. Later twenty-six thousand of these bricks were transported from North Bruny Island, making the journey across the Isthmus (Neck) & through the winding Adventure Bay Rd to their destination at the Museum site. The Bligh Museum houses a variety of interesting & quirky exhibits from Bruny Island, Tasmania & Polynesia. Polynesian & Australian war weapons in the Bligh Museum.

For a small museum the Bligh offers a lot to look at. The Museum houses memorabilia for Captain Bligh & Captain Cooke enthusiasts, as well as a liberal smattering of interesting paintings & artifacts, which hold a more general appeal. Vintage ship in a bottle at the Bligh Museum

BRUNY ISLAND IN WIDESCREEN

2011-01-31T20:38:00.000-08:00

Tasmania is Australia's only Island state & it is stunningly beautiful. A little less commonly known Australian Island is the stunning & surprisingly vast Bruny Island, which is situated off the south-eastern coast of Tasmania. Bruny Island is 362 km² (139.8 sq mi) in land mass & is home to approximately six hundred residents. Although in tourist season the island swells with people.

Much of the Island remains an untouched wonderland of native plants, blue seas & sky. The air is clean & the feeling of escape from the city when you board the Bruny Island ferry is matchless.

South Bruny national park is a key feature in the epic landscape of Bruny Island & is a true asset to Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife.

Geologically Bruny Island is comprised of two islands - North Bruny Island & South Bruny Island - these two Islands are irrevocably joined by a long sandy isthmus of land, like a sandy bridge between the two Islands.

Bruny Island also has a traditional Aboriginal name which is Alonnah Lunawanna. Two hamlets on the Island have taken these names. The township of Alonnah is situated on South Bruny Island & overlooks satellite Island. There is also a township named Lunawanna which is also situated on South Bruny Island.

No matter how much you read about Bruny Island, no matter how many panoramic photographs you see, nothing can quite prepare you for the real place, the sights, sounds & smells.

COASTAL ROCK FORMATIONS OF BRUNY ISLAND

2011-01-30T04:15:00.000-08:00

This stunning rock formation stands like a statue in the coastal waters of South Bruny Island.

Australian fur seals regularly congregate on this craggy rock which juts out into the cool waters of the south Bruny Island coastline in Tasmania. The fur seals almost blend into the rock as if they were one with it.

There are several ecologically friendly boat charters that will take visitors to Bruny Island, on a voyage of true beauty to see the many coastal wonders of Bruny Island.

Bruny Island is a true jewel in the Australian state of Tasmania. There is so much too see on the Island & on her coastline.

As you are cruising through Bruny waters you will most likely spot a dolphin or three if you can take your eyes off of the more imposing scenery.

When the conditions are right sea water comes spraying through this natural blow hole carved by nature into the rock face.

Someone was so into the scenery here that they failed to notice their finger was on the lens! Good scenery will do that every time.

DOLPHINS ALONG THE COAST OF BRUNY ISLAND

2011-01-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

Dolphins are a familiar site on Bruny Island. Dolphin & whale pods often cause excitement in Adventure Bay. When dolphins or whales are seen in the Bay word seems to spread by osmosis & quick as a whip people are peeping over the sand dunes with binoculars.

There are plenty of great opportunities for boating & yachting on Bruny Island & friendly dolphins often swim alongside the boats.

Oceanic Dolphins are highly intelligent mammals & members of the Delphinidae family. Dolphins are closely related to whales & porpoises.

Dolphins have a simple palate with their preferred dinner menu consisting of fish & squid.

The Delphinidae family which includes oceanic dolphins is a relatively new species in the scheme of the world, having evolved around ten million years ago.

Dolphins are happy in shallow water & generally feel at ease with other humans & animals.

Echidna on Bruny Island

2011-01-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

Echidnas are only found in Australia & in the highlands of New Guinea. Echidnas live in relative peace on Bruny Island & can regularly be seen ambling about at an incredibly slow pace.

Together with the platypus, echidnas are the world's only monotremes, or egg-laying mammals. There are two species of echidnas, one which can only be found in the highlands of New Guinea, and one which lives in Australia and New Guinea.

Echidnas are frequently spotted roaming along the roads in Adventure Bay on Bruny Island. I have seen rows of cars banked up waiting for these little creatures to cross the street.

According to the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife literature Tasmanian bred Echidnas are said to be bigger than those living on the mainland. Adult Echidnas generally weigh approx between 4 & 5 kilos for females & approx 6 kilos for males.

Echidnas rely heavily on their snouts. The entire length of an Echidas whole body is in the range of 35 to 53 cm long while it’s snout comes in at a whopping 7 to 8 cm.

With a keen sense of smell, an echidna uses its long, hairless snout to search for food. The strong forepaws are used to open up the ant or termite nest and the echidna then probes the nest with its sensitive snout. The snout stiffens in order to facilitate this job. The Echidna uses it’s long sticky tongue to ensnare the termites then grinds them between its tongue & the bottom of it’s mouth as the Echidna has no teeth.

The spines on an Echidna are actually modified or evolved thick prickly bristle like hairs & grow to around 50mm in length.

Bruny Island in Blue

2011-01-16T22:54:00.001-08:00

View from the dock at Roberts Point Bruny Island Tasmania in sunny Australia.

A blue day never felt so good. View from Simpsons Bay Bruny Island.

A beautiful blue artichoke flower, found growing wild in a paddock on Bruny Island.

The blue Tasmanian waters really sparkle on a summers day at Roberts point at the Bruny Island ferry terminal. This wooden barrier is part of the ferry docking station.

Stunning cloud formations over Simpsons Bay & Cape Queen Elizabeth Bruny Island.

Beautiful fresh grown Bruny Island blue berries. There is a great berry farm on Bruny where you can buy juicy berries of all different varieties & they make their own stunning berry ice cream. http://www.brunyislandberryfarm.com.au

WHALE POD SCULPTURE ADVENTURE BAY

2011-01-14T00:10:00.000-08:00

This lyrical sculpture is a three dimensional globe of the world. Inside the globe is placed a sculpture within a sculpture. look closely & you will see floating within the globe a majestic whale with her calf.

This sculpture is situated on South Bruny Island in Adventure Bay. Whale pods regularly visit Adventure Bay where they are very much admired & beloved by the local community.

A significant backdrop to this sculpture is Penguin Island which was home once to one of Tasmania's shore based whaling stations during the 1820's & 1830's.

This remarkable Bruny Island landmark is an initiative of the Bruny Island Art Adventure society. The work was conceived by the local community & skillfully brought to full fruition by well known Tasmanian sculptor Matt Carney.

Offerings of the Ocean

2011-01-12T18:01:00.001-08:00

This seahorse was found washed up on the beach in Adventure Bay on South Bruny Island.

This net holds the plenty of the sea surrounding Bruny Island. These scallops were harvested by an amateur fisherman in the waters near Alonnah beach. These scallops are from fresh clean waters & taste sweet & fresh.

These fresh Bruny Island oysters are freshly shucked & full of the flavour of the sea.

These Bruny Island Mussels cling to rocks & can be collected at low tide.

Bruny Island Kelp can be collected & used on the garden as a mulch. Kelp is full of nutrients & is an ingredient in Seasol.

Kelp is fast growing & grows as fast as half a metre a day. Kelp makes it's home in Kelp forests in shallow nutrient rich water.

BRUNY ISLAND RUSTIC GARDEN

2011-01-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

Bruny Island Tasmania has a very European climate. The plants that grow best here are a mix of native & classic English plants.

Native man ferns grow strong & green alongside nasturtiums & lavender & Daisy's.

Roses grow well in the Tasmanian climate.

This rustic country garden on Bruny Island Tasmania utilizes driftwood & ghost gum logs alongside local quarried rock. Graceful native grasses run riot alongside sunset orange nasturtiums.

No country garden would be complete without a sturdy tin watering can.

Hidden in the back of an old shed is a straw broom.

A TASTE OF BRUNY

2011-01-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

Budding purple pears in early summer. Growing in a hundred year old orchard on Bruny Island in Tasmania. Bruny Island pear & vanilla butter is made from these pears each year when they ripen.

Tasmanian produce is known for its freshness & flavour, due to the exceptionally clean air in this part of the world.

Bruny Island pear & vanilla butter has a runny consistency quite similar to brandy butter. It can be used as a sauce for ice cream, scones or even as a spread on beautiful bruny homemade bread as a substitute for bread & honey.

Pear & Vanilla butter is really tasty as an Asian style cooking sauce. It is sweet & flavourful & can be used in stir fry. If you add a squeeze of lemon or lime it makes a nice sweet & sour sauce. Due to the strength of it's flavour you only need use a very small amount. It is great with chili, rice & chicken.

You can also serve Bruny pear butter on the side as a dipping sauce.

These beautiful nasturtiums are an edible flower & great for decorating stir fry or salad. They have a slightly peppery flavour.

Bruny Island Poem

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Passing down gently winding roads.

The tracks of Bruny Island.

Passing by an ancient windmill.

A gnarled eucalyptus tree.

An Island of rustic beauty.

Anchored in the Southern Ocean.

The Island life for me.

Bruny Island Sky

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Bruny Island is a dream in shell pink, blue & orange. If you have ever had a yen to try your hand at photography then Bruny Island Tasmania is the place to be. If your an amateur shutterbug or a professional you will find something stunning to point your lens at!

The fresh Bruny air & clear sky prompted me to get out of bed at dawn & capture the morning in a series of photographs.

The sight of the rising sun over the Bruny Island landscape is a sight worth getting out of bed for.

This view is from Simpsons Bay on Bruny Island.

This is a view of Cape Queen Elizabeth. The Cape can be seen from the Neck, Simpsons Bay & Ocean Beach.

Rainbow over Simpsons Bay

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There are a lot of rainbows on Bruny Island. This rainbow is arched over Simpsons Bay on South Bruny Island in exotic Tasmania.

This rainbow came peeping out of the clouds just before sundown.

Rainbows usually show themselves after a light rain shower.

Sights from Home. Bruny Island Tasmania

2011-01-06T22:01:00.000-08:00

I'm spending a week at my mum's house in Simpsons Bay so I thought I'd take a few photos around her property. This is the front deck of the house. The house has been painted in a combo of bright colours.

This is the view of Simpsons Bay from the colourful porch.

This is the lovely view from the slightly overgrown cottage garden down the side of our house.

While I was picking blueberries this morning this little moth landed on my hand. Luckily I had my camera around my neck at the time & I got this shot.

These gorgeous flowers run riot in my mums orchard, later in the year we should get some pink ones. I think these Lilly like flowers were imported from Asia many moons ago & they have made Tasmania their home.

I like to think of this lady as our protecting garden nymph. No matter how many bushes plants & shrubberies grow up around her she stands strong.

POSTCARDS FROM BRUNY ISLAND Tasmania

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Sunset over Simpsons Bay & the marshland. Bruny Island, Tasmania

Stunning view from one of the many lookouts on lighthouse road. Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia

Stunning blue waters in one of Bruny Islands many stunning swimming & surfing bays

Captain Cook Creek Bridge. Bruny Island Tasmania

Fresh Tasmanian mussels growing on a rock at low tide.

If you know how to prepare fresh mussels these would make a great Gumbo.

Fresh Bruny mussels taste great however you have to eat them fresh & avoid green ones & ones with pre-opened shells. You will need to boil them in a pot of boiling water to get them to open.

All the photographs on this post & more are available to send as free virtual postcards & they are really easy to send as long as you have your friends & family's email addresses & follow this link http://www.brunyisland.net.au/send_a_postcard.php

Sandcastles in the sky

2011-01-02T05:39:00.001-08:00

Whilst walking on Adventure Bay Beach one early evening I came across these lovely sandcastles. The castle above looks like a frog with shell eyes

This delightful castle above is a mud crab sculpted from mud & sand.

Even on Bruny Island there is no escaping popular culture! This sandcastle is a replica of the popular cartoon character Sponge Bob Square Pants.

This cute little character is a timid sand creature. He has a shell for a hat.

The Road to Adventure Bay

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The Bruny Island Ferry leaves from kettering & arrives at Roberts Point - a great fishing spot - on North Bruny. The trip takes fifteen to twenty minutes depending on weather & traffic conditions. North Bruny has a lot to offer however there is a bigger population on South Bruny. Adventure Bay is nestled on South Bruny & is a popular holiday destination. The car trip from the ferry to Adventure Bay will take approximately 30mins, travelling over both sealed & dirt roads.

This native tree covered in a yellow native creeper & a frilly fungus was photographed at the base of Mount Mangana on South Bruny Island.

The sleepy main street of Adventure Bay at dusk is pictured below

Adventure Bay Beach at Dusk

A seagull enjoying the water on Adventure Bay Beach a little before dusk

Australian Black Swan

2010-12-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

Bruny Island is one of the natural habitats that provides a home for the Australian Black Swan. Black swans make their homes in coastal areas, nesting in swamps, estuaries & enclosed lakes. However it is fairly rare to see swans gliding through the oceans & tends only to happen near Islands such as Bruny.

Swans feed on plants that grow in the shallows. Black Swans are frequently seen floating gracefully in the shallow salty waters of Isthmus Bay situated on the Bruny Neck. Locals say that when the Swans are out you can be guaranteed to catch flounder in the bay - most likely because the flounder feed on similar food to the Swans so local mythology goes.

During times of excessive rain Swans will inhabit flooded fields & riverbanks.

Swans build their nests from pieces of coarse reed, which makes swamps, lakes & even small water dams on farms appealing places for these graceful birds.

Birds of Bruny Island

2010-12-27T06:04:00.000-08:00

Bruny Island is a mecca for serious bird watchers & casual visitors alike.
Whether you like to feed chips to the seagulls on the beach or get out the binoculars & do some serious bird watching Bruny Island is the place to visit.

The above pictured Wren is a female bird, photographed in close up by local photographer Warwick Berry.

Take flight in the early morning light

There are many Eagles & Hawks seen soaring in the blue sky above Bruny Island. They are majestic & a little predatory.

This sneaky kookaburra hangs out in my mums orchard in Simpsons Bay. He ate mums favourite goldfish.

Childhood Memories of Bruny Island

2010-12-22T22:05:00.000-08:00

Home made cray pots

Waiting for a friend

Isthmus Bay

A handmade garland

The Lighthouse

Fishing

Little tin Boats

Pets of Bruny Island

2010-12-18T01:45:00.000-08:00

The residents of Bruny Island love their pets. These three hens roam free around the orchard & garden of their owner in Simpsons Bay. They are constantly finding new places to lay their eggs, under bushes, under the house & in the vegetable garden. On several occasion's the pet cat has been found nesting on the chook eggs keeping them warm.

This local dog is famous for swimming with the dolphins & he loves to go boating & fishing as well.

Pets really do enrich our lives on Bruny Island

The Albatross

2010-12-16T05:53:00.000-08:00

The Albatross is a sea bird, who spends his days diving for fish.

This candid photo of an Albatross with a fresh caught fish in it's beak was taken off the coast of Bruny Island.

Local shutterbug Warwick Berry provided this great action shot. Taking a photograph like this takes knowledge of the local waters where these birds congregate. It can take hours or even days of observing these birds to get just the right photograph. Warwick a seasoned photographer of seventeen plus years will wait as long as it takes to get that perfect picture. However obviously when his target makes it's move he has to move fast with his zoom lens.

Albatross can live up to 60 years primarily out at sea, diving & following fishing vessels. Albatross are attracted to the fish scraps that are regularly discarded in the water by fishing boats. Unfortunately their habit of following these boats can be lethal as they are regularly caught in trawl fishing lines & drowned.

It is a marvelous thing that these beautiful birds can be seen off our Bruny Island coastline.

HAND BUILT PIZZA OVEN MADE OF CLAY

2010-12-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

This pizza oven was built from a mixture of clay & recycled materials including old bricks, fencing wire & parts from old wood stoves.
The clay was dug from the same hillside that it is built on in Simpsons Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania.

All the recycled parts were sourced from the owners property. As the house is quite old there are several sheds on the property filled with discarded items that have been used & forgotten over several generations.

The oven runs on wood & is used to make pizza & for smoking oysters collected in Simpsons Bay at low tide.
These photographs are subject to copyright.

Fur Seals on South Bruny Island

2010-12-12T17:02:00.001-08:00

There is a large colony of Australian Fur Seals living on a cluster of remote rocky outcrops & craggy islands off the coast of south Bruny Island. It has been estimated that at any given time there are up to 1000 seals in residence.

These seals are adept at moving on land as they use their front & back flippers to propel themselves across the rocks. They are particularly drawn to the rocks during mating season.

Seals are mammals who fish the seas for food, they eat bony fish, squid & octopus. Seals have been known to poach their meals from fishing nets & fish farms.

The Australian Fur Seal is known for it's large eyes & excellent vision as they can see in the dark. Fur Seals can dive up to 200metres in dark waters. Fur seals can grow to be quite large their length range is approx 135cm-227cm. Males weigh between 218 kg- 360 kg; Females weigh in at 41 kg-113kg.

Fur seals have sharp teeth & long whiskers. They are covered with thick layers of hair that cover the majority of their bodies excepting their front & back flippers. They have 2 front & 2 back flippers. Fur Seals are the only seal that can articulate all four limbs. They really are fascinating cratures.

The Cape Bruny Lighthouse

2010-12-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

The Cape Bruny Lighthouse was the third Lighthouse to be erected in Tasmania in 1838.

The Lighthouse was built by convict labour using locally quarried rock.
The original light source for the light tower consisted of fifteen lamps burning nearly a pint of oil per hour. Originally run on sperm whale oil the lamp eventually changed to colza oil a better quality oil. The quality of the oil was paramount as the better the oil the less consumables such as wicks & glass chimneys were used. The wicks & chimneys had to be imported from London, a very long journey indeed especially as all lighthouse provisions were brought across the ocean by ship to nearby jetty beach a small inlet several kilometres away, then brought on horse & Dre from there.

In 1903 the original Wilkins lantern was replaced by a Chance Brothers lantern. In 1912 & 1913 several upgrades were made to improve the lanterns efficiency. The cut glass lantern once housed the oil lamps which have since been replaced by electric light. The lantern is hand cut from the same high quality glass as crystal chandeliers.

The original staircase was replaced in 1903 by this still sturdy cast iron spiral staircase.
The Cape Bruny Lighthouse once gave shelter & work to Australia's longest serving lighthouse keeper, Captain William Hawkins who served as Superintendent at Cape Bruny for 37 years & 232 days between 1877
& 1914. It must have been a solitary life as the first wireless telephone was installed in 1930.

The Cape Bruny Lighthouse is accessible by road & takes an hour to get to from the Barnes Bay ferry terminal & about half that time from Adventure Bay. The roads are bumpy in places but the Cape Bruny Lighthouse is worth a visit & I believe guided tours are available by appointment. http://www.brunyisland.net/

BRUNY ISLAND AT DUSK

2010-12-03T05:22:00.000-08:00

Bruny Island at Dusk is an amazing place to be. The White Wallaby's come out to play at dusk as do the

Fairy Penguins.

The Old Lighthouse is a stunning place to be at any time of day. The Lighthouse still stands but it has been replaced by solar powered lights on a nearby hill. At dusk the lights power up & still play a crucial role in seeing ships safely through the channel.

In the old days the lighthouse was lit by a huge light refracting oil lamp, which had to be lit by hand & tended by the lighthouse keeper. When the Lighthouse was first built it was inaccessible by land & the Lighthouse keeper lived a solitary existence. Food & other important rations were delivered by boat to a nearby cove.

Today there is a road called Lighthouse road which bumps & winds its way through the bush & along a stunning coastline with many lookouts & beaches. If you carefully drive this dirt road to the Lighthouse you won't be disappointed!

Nothing beats walking along the beach at dusk, with a cool breeze at you're back. http://www.brunyisland.net.au

Cheers Island Girl

Surfing on Bruny Island

2010-11-30T05:23:00.000-08:00

Bruny Island is famous for it's surf. The waves are great & the water is clean. The waters on the southern side of the Island offer peaked rolling waves that bring with them a little of the southern ocean chill from the Antarctic.

Cloudy Bay, Coal Point and The Neckbeach all offer some of Tasmania's best surf, every year hosting the 'Bruny Island Surf Classic' - one of only four state championship competitions.

Cloudy Bay is by far the most popular surf beach & a great group of locals regularly surf together & many of them are happy to share their wisdom with new comers.

Cloudy Bay is part of the South Bruny Island National Park. Many rare and endangered species of birds nest in the dunes above the high tide line.

There is a small very basic camp ground there but I personally have only camped at the high tide line at the end of the beach, the tide came up so high that we had trouble exiting the beach. I would definitely use the camp ground as it's a lot safer than waking up with the waves lapping at you're tent flaps.

There are also some great family beaches which offer a refreshing swimming environment in summer, these include Adventure Bay beach, Jetty beach & Two Tree's to name just a few.

There is a lot of adventure to be found on Bruny Island, there are a lot of great wildlife walks, loads of beaches, great accommodation & camping spots. If you're thinking of a holiday or just a day trip then check out this link www.brunyisland.net.au

Cheers for now Island Girl

FRESH FOOD

2010-11-24T15:59:00.000-08:00

This Kookaburra hangs out in my mum's orchard on Bruny Island. This Kookaburra is a Wiley bird. Not only does it skim the dam for tadpoles but it also ate my mum's prize goldfish. There are so many nicer fish to eat on Bruny Island too.
There is a salmon farm on Satellite Island, a little Island off the coast of Bruny Island. Satellite Island is known as Woodie Island by the locals & you can see it from Allonah Beach.

These Nasturtium's are an edible & pretty flower that my mum grows in her organic vegetable garden on Bruny Island. They are great for topping salads.

Organic Dutch peas called capussanas

These organic carrots are sweet & tasty, they are nestled in a bowl with fresh snow peas & purple sprouting broccoli. For more beautiful photos of Bruny Island including the lighthouse check out this link http:/www.atasteofbruny.com.au/

Where is Bruny Island

2010-11-24T03:27:00.000-08:00

Bruny Island is an Island off the coast of Tasmania. The Island was discovered by captain Cook. Apparently when captain cook first sighted the Island he thought it was actually part of mainland Australia.

The first Apple tree in Australia was planted in Adventure Bay on the south of Bruny Island.

Bruny Island is comprised of two islands connected by an isthmus or narrow neck of land, known by the locals simply as the neck.

Penguins nest around the Bruny Island neck & are a real attraction for tourists & locals alike.

The neck boasts a great lookout post which has a plaque dedicated to Truganini Tasmanias last full blood Aboriginal who's birthplace was Bruny Island.

Bruny Island is the locale of many historical events. If you fancy a visit to the Bruny Island it will take a short, scenic ferry ride, you can take vehicles on the ferry or just walk on. Check out this link for ferry details www.brunyisland.net.au/Services/brunyislandferrydetails.htm

The award winning novel ALPHABET OF LIGHT & DARK written by Danielle Wood is also set on Bruny Island around the beautiful windswept lighthouse.

Cheers Island Girl

Free as a Bird on Bruny Island

2010-11-20T03:05:00.000-08:00

Life on Bruny Island is quaint as a picture postcard & as interesting as an episode of ABC's Seachange. The locals are as colourful as the scenery. One local who will remain unnamed gets about the Island in an array of colourful pyjamas. I even know a guy who has a sweet pet dog that swims with the dolphins. Everyone is friendly & the Adventure Bay General Store is a hub of gossip. Go out to buy a carton of milk & you may find yourself chatting to friends in the dairy isle for half an hour or more.
A great number of Bruny Island residents came there on holiday many years ago & just never left. The atmosphere just draws you in that way.

Keep your eyes on this space in future if you want to learn more about this Islands colourful history & all the local characters & events.

Cheers Island girl