10 September 2017, Ile des Phoques and Schouten Island, Tasmania
Wineglass Bay Sail Walk Day 4

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This continues on from the previous post, Gliding on Glass.  I think we had anchored overnight off Maria Island and we were heading north towards Schouten Island, below the Freycinet Peninsula.

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This lighthouse is on the Tasmanian mainland, opposite the northern end of Maria Island, but I do not know its name.

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Some fishermen on the calm sea.  The northern point of Maria Island in the background.  A seabird waiting behind the boat.

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In the open sea, a seal lazily floating on its back.

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Sea and land against the sun.  It’s just after 11am so we must be looking just east of north and that’s likely to be the Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island in the distance.

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Now we’re just off Ile des Phoques (Island of Seals).

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We will soon see the yellow rocks which are here reflected in the water.

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I think all the seals here are Australian Fur Seals, although New Zealand Fur Seals live in this area too.

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Lots of folks, um, sorry, phoques.

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Parental concern, perhaps.

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A couple of fur seals and a sunning of black-faced cormorants.

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Perhaps a bit of contention going on here.

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Passing the island now, with a bob of seals off the rocks.

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The final bob, bouncing in the water.

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Tallifer Rocks, off the south end of Schouten Island.

 

Two and a half hours later, we have landed on Schouten Island and are climbing the hill there.  This is a distant view of Freycinet Peninsula.

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Similar view. Wider angle.

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It was a steep scramble to the top and here at the top is a natural bonsai growing on little other than rock.

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Going down towards where the ship is moored at Crockett’s Bay.  Steeper than it probably looks.

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Back on the beach with the receding sunlight.

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This is the hill we climbed.  A kookaburra is sitting in a branch of the tree.

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A leisurely supper on the beach with oysters and wine….

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… and then back to the ketch for the evening.

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