October 11, 2019
In this final part of our walks around Maria Island, we continue along the cliff tops and descend to the Fossil Cliffs. From the top of the cliffs, where we arrived in part 2, we get the full view of the rocky crag which is known as Bishop and Clerk with Mount Maria to the right.
The views from here also take in the cliff face immediately in front and then more views to the North as you go over the final rise and drop down to the path to the Fossil Cliffs themselves.
When you reach the pathway to the Fossil Cliffs you descend to a flat platform and a selection of rocks to examine which contain all the fossilized shellfish which have been embedded in these cliffs for 90 million years.
From the Cliffs you descend continuously and pass the Airstrip and then the Cemetery; along the way were the local herd of Forester kangaroos grazing around the airstrip and surrounds. Normally found only in North East Tasmania this is an isolated colony here on Maria island; there are also Bennetts Wallaby present on the island.
As you approach the jetty again you pass by more grazing Wombats, including this pair at the Cemetery, and more of the Cape Barren Geese. These three species were imported to the Island in the 1960s fearing they were under threat of extinction (the Wombats are Flinders Island Wombats)
Descending to the jetty you pass by the old Barn and have a view as well over the old Cement Works, these were only operational from 1924 to 1930 due to production problems and the depression. This period saw the population of the island drop from a peak of around 500. Along the coastal edge here are the remains of more foundations and chimneys from another row of residences long ago removed.
At the jetty are the remains of the old slipway and a collection of whale bones. Whaling took place in the area in the 1820s and 1830s as did sealing .
Finally, we board the Osprey 2 to take us back to Triabunna and end our visit to another of Tasmania’s wonderful places.
