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STORMPLANET - Tasmanian Wilderness Photography
All images protected by
copyright.
Maria Island
May 7th - 8th 2006
Maria Island has
undergone many changes since the first crude camps of whalers and
sealers were set up on its shores in the early 1800s. The now tranquil
island has been, amongst other things, a setting for convict stations, a
stronghold for the varied enterprises of Italian entrepreneur Diego
Bernacchi, and a base for the National Portland Cement Company. Each
layer of history has left its mark on the island's landscape. Structures
have been erected, altered, re-used and demolished in each phase of
settlement, leaving a complex, but intriguing legacy of historic
heritage.
After abandoning our Overland Track trek due to appalling weather, we
used our spare days to travel to Maria Island for a bushwalk and
overnight campout in the tent. Departing Launceston at 0600hrs on Sunday
morning, May 7th, we drove via Campbell Town and Lake Leake to Triabunna,
on Tasmania's SE Coast. Boarding the ferry to Darlington Bay (a 45
minute journey) we set off on a walk south, aiming for our overnight
camping destination of Encampment Cove. The walk is along a dirt road
that accommodates bushwalkers, pushbikes and Parks & Wildlife vehicles
and the entire journey took us around 4 hours, with stops for a break
and lunch. There's no power or shops on the island and you need to be
fully self sufficient, although there are water tanks and some pit
toilets at some of the camping grounds.
The history associated with Maria Island
is fascinating and was the main attraction for us, besides being the
only place in Tassie for these two days that held up hope of fine
weather (and it did turn out fine). There are lots of web sites
detailing the Aboriginal history here, as well as the convict
settlements and industry that once thrived on the island. For starters,
try these web sites if you are interested:
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/visiting/Maria.pdf
http://orford.tased.edu.au/maria_1.htm
Click the map below to view.
Setting out on our walk south, the skies, whilst not
raining, were brooding with some impressive mamatus and gravity waves
indicating instability and the chance of a storm or two, which didn't
occur.
Above: Darlington Bay
Click on images to view
Above: The convict ruins near our campsite at Encampment
Cove, at sunset the long amber light of the Tasmanian autumn provides
beautiful colour. I also managed to capture a shot of some brilliant
Iridescence around the sun.
Yours truly on the walk back to Darlington on Monday, and
some of the scenery at Four Mile Creek.
Above: No shortage of autumn colour seen on the walk and
certainly no shortage of wildlife. Over the two days we spotted hundreds
of Forester Kangaroos, Wallabies and Pademelons, as well as several
Wombats (as per arrow in the 2nd image). Third image above was taken from our camp site at sunrise on
Monday, looking over Chinaman's Bay towards Mt Maria.
Sunrise at Encampment Cove, the hut at the top of picture
is provided for campers should the weather turn inclement, with basic
bunks built in. Sunrise over Chinaman's Bay and the creek at Four Mile.
Click on images to view
Above: Chinaman's Bay, and early settlement ruins on the
walk to Fossil Cliffs, showing the old Engine House or Managers House,
where only the two tall chimneys remain, together with a small workers
cottage.
Above: The old brick barn (1846) houses old farm
machinery, the bricks were made by convicts. Also, Darlington restored
buildings from the original settlement.
 
Above: Darlington Harbour, and scenery taken in on the
bushwalk.
Click on images to view
Above: The wildlife on show at our camping ground at
Encampment Cove was extraordinary.
Above and below: The Painted Cliffs on the western side
of the island provide vibrant colours of ochre, orange, reds and whites
and can be photographed as I did at low tide.
Click on images to view
Above: Fossil Bay cliffs are breathtaking and if you
suffer vertigo, stay away!
Above: The cliffs at Fossil Bay quarry are full of
fossils as seen in the first pic above. The cemetery provides not only a
great insight into the island's history, but in the long light of the
late afternoon, the photographic opportunities were mouth watering. The
last image below shows one of the hundreds of Forester Kangaroos that
live around the airstrip near the cemetery.
Click on any image to enlarge. All
images available for
purchase.
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T a k i n g A u s t r a l i a b y
S t o r m ! 
