Islands and islands

Living on a large island as I do, and growing up in a nation comprising three main islands it is just part of life to see nearby off shore islands. Not that I even visited any while in New Zealand - some of them are on my list for "maybe" this year - Kapiti, Somes (Matiu). I lived in Auckland for almost two years and never made it to Waiheke, so maybe that should go on the list too.

Australia has many more islands to explore and a lot of them are on that list too - Rottnest, Daydream, Hayman, Hamilton, Fraser... But I have at least visited Australia's island State. Tasmania, rich in history and unspoilt forests, rivers and beaches.

Since leaving landlocked Victoria we've been enjoying the fresh sea breezes and visits to the beaches. Sometimes only for fish and chips and sunset watching, because why not. But there are many off shore islands in Moreton Bay some which can only be explored if you have a boat (or a friend with a boat). The largest though have regular ferry services.

We spent a day or part of a day at Stradbroke Island in January. Lauren had a weekend away and we met up on the last day to go exploring. We didn't realise the bus service was quite as rudimentary as it was, so we are planning a revisit and taking the car. 

 This is an Australasian Bittern, they are a secretive species and apparently not often seen. (we saw two) Their initial reaction when seen in the open is to adopt their infamous freeze stance. They are so good at this at first I thought it was a sculpture.

We finished our day back on the mainland, with fish and chips near the lighthouse and watched the sunset, all the while planning another trip across the water.