Rambling Around NW Tasmania.

[drron]

I think the first macropod you spotted was a pademelon; the second a wallaby.

Actually they are both pademelons.The second one does have a short tail which is the major point of difference to wallabies.However even the National Parks people refer to them as wallabies-their alternate name is the rufous wallaby.
But a different animal now confronted me-

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A little concerned when it was heading straight for me but it quickly turned away.This was the third snake I have seen in Tassie in the last 5 weeks.
Then definitely a different macropod.A female Forrester kangaroo with a youngster.Mum didn't move but kept an eye on me.The young one hopped to the other side of mum.

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Now most people assume Tasmania is very green orientated.But the Tassie government lists the pademelon,Bennett's wallaby and the forrester as pests and gives advice to landowners on how to control the populations.Mostly by shooting.

 

[drron]

Sunday and an early start to get to the Arthur River.Time to appreciate the sunrise though.

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[drron]

A quick stop at Port Latta-the point for shipping the output of the Savage River mine.

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With a view of the Nut at Stanley.

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[drron]

Then on to Marrawah.As I was aheadof time I went to explore the beach near Marrawah as there was a surf carnival on.Didn't find it but as no surf at the beach it probably had been moved.

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The view up to Cape Grim and Woolnorth.You can just make out the wind farm.

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[drron]

My reason for going to The Arthur River cruise.So I checked in and paid but as there was still over 30 minutes until boarding I went to the point where the river enters the ocean.The lady at Reflections cruises said you might need this and I was haned a free coffe to take.It was quite useful.

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It was quite cold.I then went to the Edge of the World.lookout.The wind was ripping in.

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[drron]

A little more at the edge of the world.

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[drron]

Now on the water.First to the heads where there are some black swans and evidence of the record 2016 flood.

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Then up the river where the first highlight is a sea eagle.This is the female.Da and youngster staying a little further away.

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Captain Bob has brought along some fish.One is thrown in and mother demonstrates it's skill.

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[drron]

The cruising part wasn't as beautiful as cruises on the Gordon or Pieman rivers but that was entirely due to the weather.Mostly cloudy and with a brisk breeze whereas on the other cruises we had beautiful sunny days.It was most relaxing.

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[drron]

We then come across this natural object.

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More about it a little later.

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[drron]

We then come across the second pair of sea eagles.This time the youngster comes and joins mum.

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We then come across the other boat that does the river cruises.Called for some reason the Red boat.

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This is now the meeting point of the Arthur-

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and the Frankland rivers.

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It is now time to turn around.The eagles have followed us.

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[drron]

As we proceeded downstream the eagles once again followed us.

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Of course they knew what was going to happen.

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We took it slowly down this part of the river.It is the best place to see the azure kingfisher.No luck today.

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We now stopped at Warra landing and we all got off for lunch.A little fellow was waiting for his lunch.

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This is a male pademelon and does show how short the tail is.

 

[drron]

Before lunch we took a walk along a path following the river bank.Beautiful.

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And evidence of a Tasmanian native-the burrowing crayfish.

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[drron]

Lunch was in a simple open sided shed.The signs are flood levels.Black is the 2016 flood.

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Assorted beverages.

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Lunch was salads,sandwhiches and various cheeses,meats and even those lovely pickled onions.Someone was pleased that there was no kale in his salad.

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After lunch a walk up the valley to a waterfall.Autumn is the season for fungi.

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[drron]

More of our walk.

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A couple of rare ferns.

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The waterfall though was a little underwhelming even though a pretty spot.

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[drron]

The last of the walk.

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Finally something I was looking for-

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A Gunn's tree orchid.Sarcochilus Australis.Tasmania's only true epiphytic orchid.Not the right time of year.difficult to distinguish from all the other plants on trees but the roots give it away.A picture from the net of it in flower.
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More ferns.

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And how it propogates.A little plant grows on the old plant.

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[drron]

Back on the boat.We stopped again at the first pair of sea eagles.Their youngster is a little older and has nearly got his adult plumage.Captain Bob was excited as it was the youngster sent down to pick up his first fish.

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Unfortunately missed the money shot.But you can see his talon going into the fish.

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[drron]

The cruise was finished.As there were still a few hours of light I decided to explore the coastline.I drove down C214 until it turned inland.This was at Couta Rocks.No wonder rocks is part of the name.

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That boat you can see is for fishing charters.A very narrow passage to sea so obviously on high wind days it stays put.

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[drron]

Then on to Bluff Hill.Didn't feel like walking down to the beach.The wind was freezing now.

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Last stop for the day was West Point Reserve.This would be a great place in better weather.There were a couple of fellows riding their boards here.Coming up to dusk.Crazy.

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[drron]

The wind had dropped so I walked around the point.Several middens which the track actually went over.

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[drron]

The accommodation on the coast was either booked out or very expensive.Well it was a long weekend.So I drove back to Smithton and stayed at the Tall Timbers motel.It feels it is a high class property.My room-

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I had dinner there.A large restaurant and when I walked in was asked if I had a reservation.No.So I was seated at a table away from all the others next to a door between the restaurant and bar.I had the slow cooked beef brisket.

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The potatoes were described as crispy creamed potato pieces.I could see the preparation area.These were brought out in large bags and poured into a deep fryer.However it all tasted OK and I enjoyed the beef.
My plan for the Monday was to do an anti clockwise tour of the forest part of the Tarkine drive on C218.This is the map.

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