Barilla Rivulet

Our first full day in the area saw us drive out of the city. We drove south through Margate to Kettering where we caught the ferry over to Bruny Island. Are you going to Bruny was the mantra when we told people on other campsites we were coming to Hobart. Arriving on the island after a short ferry crossing our first stop was the cheese, beer and bread farm where we enjoyed some tasters of on-site made cheeses. Very nice they were too, so we have some to enjoy with the family at Christmas.
The weather turned wet for a period, so we abandoned our plan for the next stop which was to climb the 300 stairs half way along the isthmus which gives good views to the north and south parts of the island. Instead we carried on to Adventure Bay, where we had singled out a decent walk - The Fluted Cape and Grassy Point Walk. The weather had cleared and we set off on a relentless climb up through the forest to the cliff top, some 290 meters above the sea which was directly below. The path then followed the cliff line down to the Grassy Plain where the early settlers located a very profitable whaling station.
We were on constant lookout for some of the area's white wallaby but only fawny coloured ones were to be seen. The albino ones showing themselves later in the evening apparently. A very pleasant 2 hour walk, after which, we dropped into the chocolate factory shop on our return northwards. Karen was not impressed with the lack of tasters.
The sky was clear as we drove over the Isthmus so we had a look at the views from the lookout. All of a sudden a fierce wind blew up and a squally shower passed through giving us a bit of a soaking. Undaunted we moved on to the start of our next planned walk which was to see the arch on the beach beneath Elizabeth Cape. A very different landscape of flatland and sandy links with low scrub.
The arch is reached either by the beach or by passing over the bluff. a longer route. We did not have the time for the longer route so we passed along the beach. Due to the tide, the arch could only be reached by wading through the shallows which Karen was determined to do. Paddling through the water she made the arch in comfort but mistimed the waves on her return and was drenched to well above the knee. Karen's second soaking of the afternoon. Thankfully she had some spare shorts in the car that she was able to change into for the return journey.
We caught the second to last ferry back to the main island after a full day.Read more