Bushrangers Bay - Sunday 20th November

Beware! Bushrangers ahead!

Source: found on the net somehwere

Well, not quite. However, if you were traveling along the roads on Mornington Peninsula in 1835, you may have been held up by the notorious pair of bushrangers, Bradley and O'Conner. After 'persuading' the Captain of a ship to take them from Tasmania to the mainland of Australia, they  landed at sandy cove near Cape Schanck, 

now known as Bushrangers Bay.

After meeting at the small car park where the Two Bays Walking track crosses Boneo Road,

we headed south through the remnant tea-tree and banksia bushland 

towards Bushrangers Bay.

Walking was easy with soft sand under foot but the odd tree root here and there kept you on your toes or knees if you were not careful.

 Glimpses of farm land could be seen through the trees, bringing into perspective
just how much land has been cleared in this coastal region of Victoria.

The walking track follows Main Creek, as it winds its way through what is a remaining
sliver of original bushland, wedged in the hollows of rolling hills
that was too difficult to clear for pasture.

I wonder what they are looking at?

 As we continued along the track, distant glimpses of the ocean came closer and it wasn't long before Bushrangers Bay came into view.

Ahh! Bushrangers Bay.

 At the junction where the Two Bays walking track continues on towards Cape Schanck, we took the left turn and walked down the path to Bushrangers Bay.

We enjoyed morning tea sitting on the rocks looking out to sea while trying
to keep our hats on our heads or chasing after them along the sand.

Here are a few photos taken on the beach.

Making sandcastles??

Good thing there weren't any 'freak waves'?!

or were there?... (hint hint)

Looking upstream.

Ocean view.

View towards Cape Schanck

 After eating our morning tea supplies, we climbed back up the path that consisted of overly large steps that seemed to be built for a giant with a limp, we continued along the Two Bays track towards Cape Schanck.

  The only clue to a creek being here was the sign and the wooden bridge.
Burrabong Creek was completely overgrown.

No room for a platypus here!

 Emerging out of the gully we found more giant-like steps that had a special height detecting device at the top of the hill. Standing there for just a few minutes to make camera adjustments proved to be a bit more entertaining than expected. A few over-night hikers who were busy looking at their feet detected the over-hanging branch with their heads. After a few expletives each in turn, they trudged on.

The path meanders across the tops of sand dunes
that were deposited thousands of years ago.  

Changes in the vegetation that grows

on this coastal sand dune environment,

was clearly noticeable.

To the right of the path pasture land expanded to the horizon.

Evidence of erosion that may occur in this fragile eco-system from clearing the natural vegetation and over use was clearly visible.

The thin layer over top soil has broken away exposing the ancient sand dune underneath.

Climbing up over the last sand dune, we were rewarded with

splendid views of Cape Schanck,

 and the Cape Schanck Lighthouse.

Seeing the many steps that was required to walk back up, 

 we decided not to walk down to visit the basalt plateau!

 Instead, we had an enjoyable lunch under the trees.

Our return journey followed the same path that we took in the morning.

So instead of lots more photos of landscapes in reverse and people's backs,
here are some photos of the wildlife we came across on our walk.

An echidna WITH a beak

Large kangaroo

Magpie.

There isn't a picture of the red-bellied black snake...because I ran away...quickly!


It was a truly enjoyable walk. Thank-you to Ian for leading us on this walk.

And thank-you to everyone who came on this walk
and making it a memorable Walkabouters Walk.

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A