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Bass Point Reserve

Bushranger Bay Bass Point

Bass Point Reserve

A place of significant cultural value, Bass Point Reserve is Heritage Listed, due to extensive Aboriginal and Colonial use of the area. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Elouera people lived here at least 20,000 years ago. Colonial settlers arrived 1803, although European explorers had passed through before this. Settled by cedar cutters and graziers, much of the area was cleared. Land clearing, disease and hostility by Europeans resulted in the collapse of the Aboriginal population.

The Gravel Loader

One of the first sites you see at Bass Point is the gravel loader which services the local basalt quarry. It forms an interesting contrast to the other more natural heritage areas because of its industrial use.

Bass Point

Walking through the Reserve, we saw some small lizards, but no other wildlife, although larger native animals inhabit the area. The eroded basalt on the shore has places where colourful orange algae grow, adding some colour to the otherwise dull rocks.

US Cities Service Boston & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial

On 16 May 1943, the US oil tanker US Cities Service Boston grounded here during a storm. Australian soldiers from the 6th Australian Machine Gun Battalion camping nearby assisted in the rescue of the 62 crew on board. All lives from the Boston were saved but four Australian soldiers perished in the rescue. Each year, a remembrance service commemorates the loss.

Bushrangers Bay

At the end of Bass Point Tourist Road is a small carpark that services Bushrangers Bay. This beautiful bay has vegetation growing down to the water line. A well-maintained wooden walkway provides access down to the pebble beach.

A viewing platform designed to provide views over the bay sits above and to the left of the steps but was overgrown when we visited. This obscured what would otherwise have been a great view.

Bushrangers Bay is a Marine Reserve, so fishing or removing anything from the area is prohibited.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Lawrence Hargrave Memorial

Lawrence Hargreaves Memorial

Lawrence Hargrave Memorial

Located at Bald Hill is a memorial to British-born Australian engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer Lawrence Hargrave. Associated with Hargrave’s first attempt to fly, Bald Hill is the perfect place to remember his achievements, as well as providing fantastic views.

On November 12, 1894, Hargrave linked four of his box-kites together, added a sling seat, and flew approximately 5 metres. By demonstrating a safe and stable flying machine, Hargrave opened the door to other inventors and pioneers. The Hargrave-designed box kite, with its improved lift-to-drag ratio, was to provide the wing model of the first generation of European and American aeroplanes.

Hargrave has two memorials here, one at each end of the car park. The primary one, is at the southern end, which has relief of him carrying a model of his box-kite. At the north end a memorial wall lists his achievements. The carpark itself has plenty of parking available, while toilets are available at the north end.

Depicted on the old style $20 note, Hargrave’s importance to aviation was on display to Australians from 1966 to 1994, when it was replaced.

While visiting the memorials, check out the amazing views, which are amazing. This is one of the best places to admire the coast around Wollongong. The views were great, despite the rainy day we had.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Tasman Peninsula Tasmania Australia

Remains of the Low Courts

Tasman Peninsula

The Tasman Peninsula has an wonderful array of historical and natural locations explore. Containing some of Australia’s oldest convict sites, it tells the story of early colonial life while being surrounded by amazing natural beauty.

During our stay here, we visited the sites below. This is by no means all there is to see and do, as there are many more bush tracks to walk, and places to visit. We spent three days here, but could easily have taken a whole week.

Port Arthur Historic Site

Tasmania’s best known historical site, Port Arthur was once a penal settlement for convicts. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Inside The Penitentiary
Inside The Penitentiary

Geological Sites of the Tasman Peninsula

Tasmania is full of natural beauty. The wind, rain and sea have combined in places to produce wonderful geological features. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Tasman Arch

Tasman Arch
Tasman Arch

The Blow Hole

The Blowhole
The Blowhole

Remarkable Cave

Tessellated Pavement

Tessellated Pavement Eaglehawk Neck
Tessellated Pavement Eaglehawk Neck

The Dog Line

To prevent escaped convicts leaving the Tasman Peninsula, a dogs were placed at the narrowest point. These vicious dogs are commemorated with a full sized bronze sculpture. Tasmania is full of natural beauty. The wind, rain and sea have combined in places to produce wonderful geological features. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Bronze Sculpture at the Dog Line
Bronze Sculpture at the Dog Line

Coal Mine Historic Site

Although not as popular as Port Arthur, the Coal Mine Historic Site is also an important relic of the convict past. The first coal mine in Tasmania and a place of punishment for repeat offending convicts, its ruins are worth a visit. Unlike Port Arthur, entry here is free. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Ruins at the Main Settlement Tasman Peninsula
Ruins at the Main Settlement

Cape Raoul Track

Bushwalking and hiking tracks range from under an hour to several days. We chose a five hour return walk to Cape Raoul because it provided temperate rainforest, coastal views and wildlife in the one walk. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Dolerite at Cape Raoul Tasman Peninsula
Dolerite at Cape Raoul

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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