IT'S A BLUE WHALE.
Yesterday we decided to take the Bruny Island 3 hour boat trip down the coast of Bruny Island. Little did we know that we would end up being some of the very few people in the world who have managed to get up close and personal with the biggest animal to have ever graced this planet - the magnificent Blue Whale.
We are still pinching ourselves at our good fortune.
It was an early morning start for us as the trip to Bruny Island involved a 40 km car trip for us to Kettering where we picked up the cruise bus, took the ferry across to the island then a 35 km drive in the bus down through North Bruny, across the neck and finally arriving at Adventure Bay on South Bruny.
Bruny Island is quite big, about the size of Singapore, without the population, the heat, the high rises and the shopping.
The last footprints of Captain Cook in Australia were left on Bruny Island as he left here to sail off to his fate in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). Also the infamous Captain Bligh left here as well on his ill fated trip to Tahiti which ended up causing a mutiny - so that's the history lesson.
The cruise down the coast of Bruny on board was absolutely fascinating, the shore line of the island is incredible. Long tubes of rock soar up hundreds of feet into the sky, birds roost on outcrops and waves from the Southern Ocean pound the shore. It was 50 km of changing coast that just about left you speechless. We were in an open boat with 3 250 HP motors out the back - it really moved along and cut through the swell like butter.
Then, the magical moment arrived. The drivers knew the whale was in the vicinity of Adventure Bay as there has been sightings on the 3 previous days, one of which was performed by a team of scientists from Hobart who confirmed it truly was a Blue Whale.
Next thing we knew the whale blew and up she came, cut through the water, then went under again. She came up a couple of times to eyeball us then went under again. We could have stayed out there for the rest of the day just watching this beautiful beast - but unfortunately buses were waiting as was a car ferry so we had to make back to shore. This was an experience we will never forget.
We are currently based in Huonville and today we decided to head as far south as it is possible to drive, which we managed to do. We don't have the photographic evidence of our arrival at the most southerly place in Australia as when we arrived the heavens opened, it started to rain, then hail and sleet which we decided was a hint for us to head back to camp which is where we now are.
Not sure of our plans for tomorrow, the next day we head to just north of Hobart for a few days which will give us time to do Port Arthur, Maria Island, Richmond etc.
So that's all for now.
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