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Tag: Bush Walking

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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.

The Gravel Loader Bass Point
The Gravel Loader

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.

Lizard
Lizard at Bass Point
Bass Point Reserve
Weathered Basalt and Orange Algae at Bass Point Reserve

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.

6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
"US Cities Service Boston" & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
“US Cities Service Boston” & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
"US Cities Service Boston" & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial
“US Cities Service Boston” & 6th Machine Gun Battalion Memorial

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.

Wooden steps down to Bushranger Bay
Wooden steps down to Bushranger Bay
Bushranger Bay Bass Point
Bushranger Bay

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

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Minnamurra Rainforest

Suspension Bridge over Minnamurra River

Minnamurra Rainforest

Part of Budderoo National Park west of Kiama, Minnamurra Rainforest is a subtropical, dry, riparian and temperate rainforest. Only a 30-minute drive from Wollongong, it’s a great place to experience the Australian bush.

Parking is available near the visitor centre, for a small fee. Alternatively, if you have an annual pass for NSW National Parks and Wildlife, parking and entry are free. Advice on the walks and information on the area is available at the visitor centre.

Two walks are available, the Lyrebird and Falls walks. It is possible to do Lyrebird and extend it to the Falls. Each takes around an hour to complete, so two hours for both. Unfortunately on our visit, heavy rain had closed the Falls Walk, so we only did Lyrebird.

The track follows the Minnamurra River, crossing it four times as you walk along its valley. The majority of the track is board walk to is easy to walk, although it is steep in places. The track also has up and down grades as you move along the valley and is rarely flat. Even so, we found it an easy walk, taking us under an hour, even with constant stops to admire the scenery.

At two points suspension bridges cross the river, providing great photo opportunities and views along the river.

Don’t rush the walk, but look at the plants growing along the path. We found some amazing looking mushrooms growing there.

Minnamurra River
Minnamurra River
Suspension bridge over the Minnamurra River
Suspension bridge over the Minnamurra River
Suspension bridge over the Minnamurra River Minnamurra Rainforest
Suspension bridge over the Minnamurra River
The boardwalk that makes up most of the track Minnamurra Rainforest
The boardwalk that makes up most of the track
Suspension Bridge over Minnamurra River
Suspension Bridge over Minnamurra River
Small creek along the walk
Small creek along the walk
Mushrooms growing on a fallen log
Mushrooms growing on a fallen log
A creek flowing through the rain forest
A creek flowing through the rain forest
Minnamurra River
Minnamurra River
Rain forest along the walk Minnamurra Rainforest
Rain forest along the walk

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

  • Remarkable Cave
    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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