Australia Day 2011

January 26 falls on a Wednesday this year, right in the middle of the week so everyone is a bit uncertain about which weekend is the long weekend or if there is any. Lots of events have been organized to keep peple in Melbourne. There has been lots happening in Tasmania. The Mona museum is fainally opened at There's an amazing collection of art I am looking forward to veirwing. The Premier has resigned, and a female taking his place.

Eclectic array of animals and birds

Separated from the mainland of Australia Tasmania bursts with a wide range of animals and birds. There are 12 endemic birds in Tasmania. All have been seen at Inverawe Native Gardens at Margate. The Rare Masked Owl was spotted recently. Keen bird watchers will be keen to visit. Have a look when you buy your seafood at the caravan at the Margate train.

Or, just sit on the veranda at Wavestation preferably with your binoculars and you will be surprised what you will see.



We are looking out for the critically endangered Orange-Bellied Parrot.
Animals to look out for: 3 carnivorous marsupials, the Tasmanian devil, Easern and Spotted-tail Quoll.
See how many of these you sight:
Common coastal Bennett's Red Necked Wallaby
Rufus-bellied Pademelon
Common Brush-Tail Hidden Possum
Rare Albino Bennet's wallaby
Also, the Southern Right Whale (off Bruny Island)
Birds including Little penguins on the Ismuthus of Bruny Islan Forty Spotted Pardalote

Quarantine Bay

Leaving Hobart behind as Wild Oats has already left Constitution Dock after its win in the Sydney to Hobart race. She came in before dusk and had left in the morning. Not many were lucky enough to see her. I thought she was upset about the protest but others said she had another race to start.

Kettering marina was buzzing with people, some hard at their finishing touches to their boats, others had travelled from places like Canberra pulling their boat behind and traversing the Bass Strait by ferry to arrive in the wonderful harbour at Kettering to meet up with long lost relations.

We arrived at Quarantine Bay realizing that everyone had a dingy with petite outboard to motor in to shore for the New Year festivities.We were lucky to catch a ride with a sailor who parked his two gorgeous border collies on board his boat making room for us to be taken ashore. What kindness and he wasn't even going to the barbecue!