Tag Archives: ocean

Cape Naturaliste

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We continued our traversal of Geographe Bay to our destination, Cape Naturaliste lighthouse.

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The tower was constructed in 1903 from local limestone and was activated the following year.

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Unfortunately, we weren’t able to tour the lighthouse which is now fully automated, being the last lighthouse in Western Australia to lose its keeper in 1996.

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At the northernmost point in the Margaret River Region, positioned on a 100m high bluff, the views were spectacular.

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Stormclouds were gathering out to sea.

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It is little wonder the French navigator, Nicolas Baudin, named Geographe Bay after his flagship and the cape after his second ship, Naturaliste.

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The traditional owners of the land, the Wardandi, call it Kwirreejeenungup:

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“the place with the beautiful view”.

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Meelup

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Our first morning at Dunsborough was overcast as we set off to discover the beautiful coastline of Geographe Bay. Nature has painted the rocks with her wondrous palette,

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a stunning contrast to the calm waters.

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Nestled in the next bay is Meelup Beach, a perfect swimming beach, sheltered from wind and waves with crystal clear water. Meelup means “Place of the Moon Rising” and is one of the few beaches in Western Australia where you can see the moon rising over the ocean.

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There is a phenomenon called “Staircase to the Moon” when, during summer, the silvery light of a full moon rising is reflected in the ripples of the water all the way to the horizon. I would love to witness that, it seems a return trip is in order.

Gordon

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While travelling with my sister when she was here on holiday, we followed the Channel Highway south from Hobart. The day was overcast and calm and we felt a contented peace as we meandered through the drizzle. We pulled over at Gordon, not realising the Foreshore Reserve is usually a popular camping spot.

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The boatshed and ramp were deserted and, apart from a couple of brave souls, there was no-one in sight.

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The subdued beauty of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island beyond was breathtaking.

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The channel and island were named after Rear-Admiral Bruni D’Entrecasteaux who discovered them in 1792 while searching for missing fellow explorer, Jean François La Pérouse (he was never found).

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We were mesmerised by the ethereal silence that cocooned us

and reluctantly, we continued on our journey.

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the wild west

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The small settlement of Arthur River on Tasmania’s west coast is home to less than 50 permanent residents.

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Named after the only Tasmanian river that is completely wild – never logged, never dammed – the mouth of which empties into the mighty Southern Ocean.

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The winds of the Roaring Forties combine with fierce ocean currents and travel from  Argentina, 15,000km away, across the longest uninterrupted expanse of ocean in the world. I tried to capture the power of the waves breaking over this solitary rock. I didn’t succeed.

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The washing machine effect of the waves, combined with the river flow, carry five hundred year old forest giants of Tasmanian Oak, Blackwood, Myrtle and Sassafras and heave them ashore as if they were twigs.

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Just south of Arthur River is Gardiner Point…..The Edge of the World….

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Written by Brian Inder, a Tasmanian tourism pioneer, he describes exactly how it feels to stand on the rugged coastline with nothing but ocean beyond.

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