We have spent a week at the Hunter islands, properly called Fleurieu Group, moving from anchorage to anchorage and alternating between Hunter and Three Hummock Islands depending on the wind direction. At last we have felt in cruising mode: short sails, new discoveries, plenty of walks and scrambles ashore on sunny days, and time for reading, writing and sorting through photos on windy, stormy days. Even in the sunshine it is very cool though and Bass Strait shows its usual changeable moods. With the water only 120, the bays might look a tropical aqua, but dips at the back of the boat are quick as a flash and breathtaking.
We started our tour of the Fleurieu on Three Hummock Island at the lovely anchorage of Spiers Nook which gets its name from the granite tors surrounding the bay. Just around to the next cove was Chimney Corner with its derelict jetty and a beach where we found a beautiful paper nautilus shell. We weathered a strong blow at Cave Bay on Hunter Island where we remained boat bound for a few nights. Cabin fever was averted on the third day when conditions allowed us to get ashore for a rock climb to the cave – a prehistoric site where carbon dating has demonstrated man’s presence 23,000 years ago. At that time the cave overlooked the Bass Plain and the sea was 30kms away. Our next anchorage was back on Three Hummock Island at Mermaid Bay where we discovered Little Penguins in rock crevasses in broad daylight. Everywhere we go we see rugged shores lined with boulders covered in orange lichen, so typical of Bass Strait Islands. If you ever wondered what inspired our boat colours, this is it!
Typical Bass Strait coast
We are hiding at East Telegraph Bay on Three Hummock with another SW gale this weekend but at least we have internet service, although patchy!
We are enjoying ourselves and going with the flow of the highly changeable weather. We will leave these islands on Monday, bound for Stanley, a quaint coastal village on the bigger island of Tasmania!
Here is a gallery of images that will give you a taste of the beautiful Fleurieu Group.
Sv-Anui 
Enjoying keeping up with your adventure.
Glad to hear it. Having fun. Very patchy internet here today depending on the gusts – 45 knots is the record!
Looks so beautiful Chris, love the one of you. It is good seeing Takeiteasy in the background.
Ah frowning just like the albatross! The islands are wild. Haven’t seen anyone in a week!
again thanks for the pics. we now understand about the weather systems moving quickly. glad you have many sheltered anchorages.
The wind is running around the compass in a day, Chris. Sometimes it is hard to know where to go and hide as most anchorages are sheltered from only 90 to 180 degrees, not all weather requiring a move or sometimes more in a day, as happened yesterday before this blow. It would have been a good learning experience for you guys if you had made on this trip. We are having fun though.
Stunning!!
It’s great to discover new spots even after many years of cruising in Bass Strait… just need time!
Sitting here in the Pacific Northwest of the US enjoying 10-12 inches of snow and 3 degrees Fahrenheit(NOT!!!). No boat work being done in this weather. Nice to see you two are having a great time tho. Hope to see meet you soon.
Oh that’s very cold! Thanks for the visit. Will pop in to your site when we have better internet!
Ooh that’s cold! Just visited your site and now realise you are an Easy builder! Great boat. Ours is an 11.6 Easy, the first of this size built by Peter and Ann Snell! We have been sailing her for the past 5 years and absolutely love it as you have probably gathered if you have had a look through the website. Where are you at in the build?
I don’t know why I didn’t see your post but better late than never. I have been getting updates on your journey and really love the motivation you have given me. It’s been a long winter here and not much boat work done as you know epoxy doesn’t like the cold. I have posted a new post on my blog. I have the starboard hull close to completion. A couple more sheets of ply then the keel and glassing. Did I say close to finishing?!?! Maybe not as close as I’d like but still making progress.
BTW. Keep the post coming on your site. They keep me motivated.
Glad our posts keep you going. So much work involved in building your Sarah from scratch! But it is all worth as other Easy builders will attest. We took the easy way! For us now the focus is moving from holiday cruising to life aboard. Only a few months to go and we will take the plunge.
Hi guys, I see a you have arrived in Stanley, well done, love the photos from the Hunter Group. Penguins in particular, old wharf and more albis. Have a great Christmas and I hope Santa can find you. Going to Dis Thursday.
Yes Sue, Marine Traffic has found us at last! We are in Stanley for a couple of days, hiding from yet another blow but also doing some chores and touristy stuff. Glad you enjoyed the photos of the Hunter Group, it was a very photogenic spot.
Stunning Chris! That cave is quite something from all perspectives 🙂 The penguins are just too cute and perfect for almost Christmas! Hope none of the penguin colonies get too hot during your summer this year. Can’t wait to see photos from Stanley 🙂
No risk of penguins being too hot this summer Sarah. It had been unseasonably chilly and the waters of Bass Strait are at a cool 11 or 12 degrees!
Wow!! Good for penguin breeding season I would have thought. I wonder if you’ll be in for a hot autumn instead! It’s going to be wet here for Xmas. Standard really 😉 Very windy too so it seems these squalls are reaching all around the world!!