Day Six - Tasman Island and Port Arthur

Most of us agree that today was the best day yet. It started with a glorious sunrise over Dodges Ferry, with one of the most intense double rainbows we have ever seen stretching from the bay below to Mt Wellington’s snow-capped peak. The day unfolded just as promised with blue skies and calm seas as we set out on an ecotour of Tasman Island.

We boarded a jet boat and enjoyed a three hour tour of the geology, wildlife and history of the area around Port Arthur. We explored sea caves along Australia’s most southeastern point, bobbing around inside their walls. We stretched our necks as we looked up at Australia’s highest vertical cliff faces, marvelling at immense capes made of dolorite. We chased eared seals, black-faced cormorants and albatross as we circled Tasman Island while the skipper jumped the crests and made Amy seasick.

After our tour, we were bussed to the Port Arthur Historic Site where our tour guide explained the history of convict settlement in the area. We also learned about the Port Arthur Massacre and the significant role it played in strengthening Australia’s gun laws. We have continued our film, “For the Term of His Natural Life” and enjoyed speculating what had really occurred on the site. A couple of our students joked about who among their cohort should spend some time in solitary confinement and who might need a stint in the “dumb house” where prisoners were required to maintain a strict code of silence.

After our visit to Port Arthur, we returned to Blue Lagoon for a meal of rice, curry and naan bread. Our Korean and Chinese cooks have been friendly and hospitable and many of have observed that the camp food is the best we have ever had.

We concluded the day with a talent night. Most of the kids performed. Some of the boys started with a song tribute to our bus driver Wayne Priest, while others dazzled us with their musical and singing ability. Anna played a song on the coconut harp she bought at the Salamanca Markets and Christian performed the Australian National Anthem on the piano. Mr Xeros wrote a song parody about some of the funny things that have happened along the way, with a particular emphasis on the boys’ cleanliness and manners. Mrs Deighton sang us her children’s bedtime song and Mrs Smedley delivered an inspirational devotion about personal gifts. The whole event was ably emceed by Riley.

We shared the blog posts and the kids were happy to hear their messages. Brooke isn’t so happy to discover that her room has been rented out, but there were a couple of prospective new tenants among the students eager to take her place. A few are concerned that some chores may await them but most are getting homesick and are anxious to return to their Wagga routines. 

Tomorrow we will visit the historic village of Ross, before a walk around Cataract Gorge in Launceston. We will play mini-golf at Grindelwald Swiss Village before having dinner at Devonport and boarding the Spirit of Tasmania. If there is time before leaving Devonport, a final post will be entered on the blog. I have also received a second group of photos from the zipline adventure and will post these as soon as possible. The third group of photos is yet to come.

Get ready, the Year 9s are coming home soon and have many stories to share!