We worked on the Datsun at the shop. I fixed the brakes and the headlamp. That evening we celebrated Fay's Birthday. On Friday, I went into the city and visited a coin collector. Then walked around Southbank, and caught up on email at the library. On Saturday, I went to the city, visited the museum and saw displays on whales, birds, platypus, and snakes.
We got to the ferry terminal in time
and paid $20 for a round-trip to Moreton Island. It took 2 hours
to sail to the beach at Tangalooma.
Moreton Island is one of the largest sand islands in the world and forms much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay. The island consists entirely of sand apart from a small area of sandstone and rhyolite at Cape Moreton. Several different dune types, of differing ages are recognised by their form and soil development.
One of the striking features of Moreton Island are the bare sand areas. The northern west coastline is dominated by a large sand-slip named "Yellow Patch" and the bare sand hills behind Tangalooma are a major tourist attraction.
Moreton Island supports a number of habitats - beach and dune communities, the rocky headland, lakes, streams, sedge and paperbark swamps, banksia heathlands, open woodlands, forests, mangroves and salt marshes. The island is home to a variety of wildlife including birds such as the red-capped dotterell and thousands of waders which live along the beaches and in the wetlands and scrub.
We put up the tent at the
campground by the wrecks and walked to the desert. I saw a red
bellied black snake on the trail. When we reached the desert,
we tried sand tobogganing down the steep sand dunes. I only
slid fast once. I think the sand wasn't dry enough. But it was
plenty hot in the bright sun. On the way back to camp I saw
a trail of caterpillars. I took a nap on the beach and went
for a swim. That evening we went to see the wild dolphins that
come to the dock at 6pm. It has become a traditional event on
Moreton Island. When I was feeding them some fish, a dolphin
softly bumped me on my sore knee. Maybe it could sense my injury.
Afterwards on the way
back to the tent, I walked through the old old whaling station at Tangalooma, where the huge flensing deck is preserved in remarkably good condition.
It
was a rainy morning. Donna and I set off for a walk to the
west coast. We walked along a beautiful sand road and got
drenched in a rain storm. We walked and walked for a long
time. A 4x4 stopped and offered a ride to Mt Tempest. We
gladly accepted and met Ian (a tour guide) and his group
of travelers. The rain cleared up and the skies were blue
again when we got to the rail head for Mt. Tempest. Mt. Tempest is considered the highest coastal sand dune in the world at 285m.
It is
the highest sand dune in the world. Hiked to the top on a
trail with 100 year old Grass Tree (formerly called Blackboy)plants and
other interesting plantlife. After we hiked down, Ian drove
us all the way to their camp and invited us to have lunch
with them. It was great to talk to people from all over the
world, like Russia, Adelaide, and England. After a having
a nice lunch and visit with the tour group, Donna and Iwalked
back to our campsite, took down the tent,and waited on the
beach for the ferry.
I went for a swim and saw barracuda
fish. The vehicle ferry was packed full of 4x4 trucks and
motorcycles. While riding the ferry back to the mainland,
I met Chris and discussed the internet and travel.
Moreton Island History
Aborigines have lived on Moreton Island for 20,000 years, though most of the dated middens are much younger. Over 200 sites of importance have been identified, especially to the descendants of the local tribe of Ngugi.
Moreton Island was a key centre during the early days of Brisbane's penal settlement.
European settlement began in 1848 with a pilot station at Bulwer. Following several shipping disasters in the South Passage area, the northern channel became the main route to Brisbane.Cape Moreton lighthouse was the first lighthouse made from local sandstone and still operates today: By 1920, five more lighthouses were built, though only two now operate.
In 1890 a telegraph line was built down the island to link Bulwer with Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island.
Moreton Island was the centre for major coastal defense bases during World War I and II.
Remains of gun emplacements, fortifications and controlled mine facilities protecting Brisbane from sea attacks, can still be seen at Cowan Cowan and at Toompani Beach on the eastern side.
Between 1952 and 1962, Tangalooma operated a whaling station processing about 600 whales a year, mostly humpback. When the whaling station closed, the buildings were redeveloped into what now is Tangalooma Resort.
From 1947 to 1992 small areas of Moreton Island were mined but, mining operations ceased when leases were relinquished and the lands were added to the national park.
Our last week in Australia. I started to get things cleaned up and packed for our departure. I went out to Keperra and visited with Grant's parents. His father, Ken, took me for a drive through Brisbane Forest Park and went hiking at Mt. Glorious. Mt Nebo Road is a beautiful, scenic drive, winding through eucalypt forest. It runs through the park, past Mt Nebo township to Mt Glorious. There are several lookouts along the way. On the way back we had fish & chips for lunch in Fernvale. When we returned to their home, I visited with Grant's Mum, Denise. That evening I helped surprise Alan and Faye for their 32nd wedding anniversary by covering their bed with rose pedals. On Friday I had lunch with AnnMarie and Robert. They are friends from the time I was living in Brisbane in '93 going to school at QUT. On Saturday, we celebrated Gavin's 26th birthday at an Irish Pub. Sunday we packed up for Bali.
