Destination's Journey

Tag: Bush Walking

  • Fantastic Bruny Island Tasmania

    Fantastic Bruny Island Tasmania

    Bruny Island

    At 50kms long, Bruny Island has farms, food, forests, wildlife, beaches, and history, all within an easy drive. We spent two nights and two full days on the island and could have spent more because there’s so much to see and do.

    How to Get There

    Although accessible only by ferry, the island is still easy to get to, as the service runs regularly at 30-minute intervals. Check the timetable before going, to ensure you have the correct time. Tickets are purchased on the day of travel, as you enter the ferry terminal.

    Cape Queen Elizabeth Track

    Our first stop when we arrived was Cape Queen Elizabeth Track, where we walked to Bligh Rocks on the coast. This section of the walk took us one hour return for the five kilometres, plus another 30 minutes for photos and looking around. The full walk to the cape is 13km return, with an estimated 3 hours for the round trip.

    Located opposite Bruny Island Honey, the track head has a small carpark next to the start of the walk. Commencing in coastal eucalypt forest, the vegetation changes to banksia scrub before reaching the beach on Moorina Bay.

    This long sandy beach looks amazing and in summer must be a great place to relax, but in winter was too cold for a swim.

    Bligh Rocks sit to the left of where the track enters the beach, with a gap in the rocks allowing access to the other side. At low tide access is possible on the ocean side, but is too dangerous when the tide is in. Through the gap, an arch gives access to a lovely small beach and more rocks.

    Another arch further along, past this beach is accessible at very low tide, but was far too dangerous to attempt while we were there.

    This was a very nice short walk and a great introduction to the island.

    • Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
      Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
    • Gum Tree on Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
      Gum Tree on Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
    • Moorina
      Moorina
    • Bligh Rocks
      Bligh Rocks
    • Bligh Rocks
      Bligh Rocks
    • Small Beach Near Bligh Rocks Cape Queen Elizabeth Track
      Small Beach Near Bligh Rocks
    • Bligh Rocks
      Bligh Rocks
    • Bligh Rocks
      Bligh Rocks

    The Neck Lookout / Truganini Lookout

    One of the best-known features of Bruny Island is the spit that connects the north to the south part of the island. A carpark located next to a lookout gives a wonderful view of the neck, as well as providing views up and down the coast.

    There are a lot of steps up to the lookout, but platforms at regular intervals allow rest stops and the chance to take in the views as you go up.

    A large viewing platform at the top has bench seats to rest on and admire the views. In the middle of the platform, is a memorial to Truganini, the last full-blood Tasmanian aboriginal. Born in 1812 and dying in 1876 Truganini, the daughter of a Mangana leader saw her mother killed by sailors, her uncle shot by a soldier, her sister abducted by sealers, and her fiancé murdered by timber-getters. The genocide of the original Tasmanian people is the darkest part of Tasmania’s troubled history.

    • Stairway Up To The Lookout
      Stairway Up To The Lookout
    • Truganini Memorial
      Truganini Memorial
    • Looking Along The Neck Bruny Island
      The Neck From the Lookout
    • Looking Toward South Bruny Island
      Looking Toward South Bruny Island
    • Looking Toward North Bruny Island
      Looking Toward North Bruny Island

    Cape Bruny Lighthouse

    Sitting on the far south-western corner of the island, the heritage listed Cape Bruny Lighthouse, is 114m tall and sits perched at the top of rugged cliffs. The coastal views are amazing, especially at sunrise and sunset. We timed our visit to arrive before sunset and were able to see some great views.

    • Cape Bruny Lighthouse
      Cape Bruny Lighthouse
    • View of the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage
      View of the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage
    • View Over Lighthouse Bay
      View Over Lighthouse Bay
    • Sunset at Cape Bruny Lighthouse Bruny Island
      Sunset at Cape Bruny Lighthouse

    Adventure Bay Bruny Island

    Our two nights’ accommodation were in Adventure Bay, allowing us easy access to most of the island because of its central location. The area has a small general store, selling most things visitors will need, a great beach, some interesting attractions as well as being the departure point for the Adventure Cruise.

    Opposite the general store, near the pathway to the beach is a large sculpture featuring a world globe containing a whale. Whales are often seen during their migration as they pass off the coast. In the past whales were hunted, but that has long gone, and they are now protected.

    Between Adventure Bay and the small marina, two monuments to Captain James Cook commemorate his visit here in 1777.

    Coal mining was undertaken in the area from 1879 to 1890 and a small information board explains its history. Mining was very difficult, because it was located on the shore line and impacted by the sea. The coal seam can be seen from the lookout near the information board.

    • Adventure Bay Beach Bruny Island
      Adventure Bay Beach
    • Globe Sculpture Adventure Bay
      Globe Sculpture Adventure Bay
    • Captain Cook Memorial Adventure Bay Bruny Island
      Captain Cook Memorial Adventure Bay
    • Memorial to Captain Cook's Tree
      Memorial to Captain Cook’s Tree
    • Coal Point Where Mining Occurred in the Late 1800s
      Coal Point Where Mining Occurred in the Late 1800s
    • Sunset Bruny Island
      Sunset
    • Sooty Oystercatcher
      Sooty Oystercatcher

    Beer, Wine, Whiskey, and Cider Tasting

    Bruny Island has its own brewery, cider, whiskey, cheese, honey, and chocolate, so while there, take the opportunity to sample the locally made produce. We tried a few of the options and bought more to take home and enjoy later.

    • J Dillon and Sons Bruny Island Apple Cider
      J Dillon and Sons Bruny Island Apple Cider
    • Bruny Island Beer Co. Lighthouse Ale
      Bruny Island Beer Co. Lighthouse Ale
    • Beer Tasting at Bruny Island Cheese Company
      Beer Tasting at Bruny Island Cheese Company
    • Bruny Island Chocolate Company
      Bruny Island Chocolate Company

    Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise

    The highlight of out stay was the Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise. This three-hour cruise explores the rugged coastal cliffs and wildlife including seals, dolphins, and whales, if they are in the area. For the full blog of the cruise, click here.

    • The Monument Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise
      The Monument
    • Arch in the Cliff Face
      Arch in the Cliff Face
    • Australian Fur Seals on The Friars Bruny Island Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise
      Australian Fur Seals on The Friars

    Accommodation

    We stayed in a self contained holiday house in Adventure Bay. This gave us a great place to explore from, while being able to relax in private. With places to eat nearby and centrally located for the Island’s attractions, we enjoyed our stay here.

    What Did We Think

    We really enjoyed out time here and could have spent several more days going on walks and exploring. The natural beauty and rugged coastline were amazing and the wildlife wonderful to see.

    To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Cape Tourville Freycinet Tasmania

    Cape Tourville Freycinet Tasmania

    Cape Tourville Freycinet Peninsula Tasmania

    Offering remarkable coastal views of Freycinet National Park and a well-constructed walkway, Cape Tourville is a great way for everyone to experience Freycinet. The well made track loops around the automated lighthouse, providing fantastic panoramic views.

    The track is wide, with even surfaces and gently graded slopes. Much of the walk is on a raised boardwalk which, at times, takes you right to the cliff edge. Not only can you see the coastal cliffs, but also nearby offshore rocks known as The Nuggets.

    Information boards along the track provide details of wildlife often seen here. This includes sea birds, sea-eagles, whales, seals, and dolphins, but will vary due to the time of year. During our visit, there was low cloud and scattered showers, so we were not able to see any. Instead, we took in the views which were stunning and looked great because the low clouds added amazing character to the scenes.

    Markings on the board walk measure out the length of whales and dolphins, which really puts their huge size into perspective.

    • Looking Over Carp Bay From Cape Tourville
      Looking Over Carp Bay
    • The Nuggets From Cape Tourville
      The Nuggets

    Cape Tourville Lighthouse

    The climb up to the lighthouse is over gravel, or you can take some steps half way along the walk. The lighthouse is automatic , so you are unable to enter. From this height you get slightly different views than from the track.

    Cape Tourville Lighthouse
    Cape Tourville Lighthouse

    What Did We Think?

    This was a very easy 600m loop, which we loved because of the amazing views, but would be very exposed on a wet and windy day.

    To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Stoney Creek Track Strickland State Forest

    Stoney Creek Track Strickland State Forest

    Stoney Creek Track Strickland State Forest

    Getting There

    Located in the Strickland State Forest, Stoney Creek Track is a great walk winding its way along Stoney Creek from the upper Banksia picnic area to the lower carpark.

    Banksia Picnic Area

    The track starts near the entrance to the Banksia Picnic Area, where a large car park and toilet facilities sit next to covered picnic areas. Several information boards show the various tracks in the area, along with some of the wildlife you might see along the way.

    The lower carpark provides an alternate starting point, where you can walk the track uphill, before returning.

    Stoney Creek Track

    With a one way distance of 1.1km, or 2.2km return, this walk can be combined with other tracks to form a loop. We combined it with the Ridge to Rainforest Track, giving us a constantly changing landscape for the whole walk.

    After completing the Ridge to Rainforest Track, which finishes at the lower carpark, we used the Stoney Creek Track to return to our car at the Banksia Picnic Area. The gully rainforest at the start is dark and cool, where you are surrounded by dense trees and moss covered boulders. Toward the top, the vegetation changes to cabbage tree ferns, which adds great variety to the walk.

    This is an uphill track, but we didn’t find it too steep and at only 1.1km long it’s quite short. To help in the steeper spots, steps cut into rocks make the track easier. The many boulders in the creek that give it its name look amazing covered in moss.

    • Stoney Creek Creek
      Stoney Creek Creek
    • Boulders in a Creek
      Boulders in a Stoney Creek
    • Boulders in a Creek
      Boulders in a Stoney Creek
    • Stoney Creek Track Stairs
      Stoney Creek Track Stairs

    What did We Think?

    This was a great uphill walk, with changing vegetation along the way. Following the creek from rainforest to cabbage tree palms was fun. Although an uphill walk, it is only 1.1 km long, with opportunities to stop and admire your surroundings on the way. When combined with the Ridge to Rainforest it creates a good length walk through different forest types.

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

    Our photos are available for purchase on