Shy Albatross

On May 31 we went to main airstrip and saw a Shy Albatross on the airstrip. They breed on Albatross Island not far from here so we do see them often but not that far from the sea. We had visitors here for the day so they were happy to help. The bird didn't have a band on its leg.

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We debated what to do as we had very light winds which would make it very difficult for it to get airborne. The decision was made to bring it back to Home Beach. So we bundled it up in a towel and jacket and it hunkered down and was an easy passenger for the trip back. Maree and Ellie loved nursing it on the way home.

        We released it and it just sat on the beach - we thought it may be in a bit of shock

 So then it was decided we should put it in the water - which turned out to be a great decision. Ellie started the process but Maree took over as she had waterproof boots on.

The bird started feeding immediately and we didn't see it again the next day - we are confident we did the right thing relocating it and it has found its way again. So pleased we visited the airstrip that day.

Heavenly Cheescake

I don't normally share recipes here but this one has caused a bit of interest  ~ enjoy

Ingredients -

2 X 250 g packets of cream cheese - softened
1/2 cup caster sugar + 1/4 cup extra
3 eggs, separated
1/4 cup milk
3 teaspoons gelatine
1/4 cup just boiled water
1/4 cup lemon juice
Berries and mint leaves to decorate

Base -

220 g NICE or shortbread type biscuits
125 g melted butter



Method -

• Grease and line a 23 cm round springform tin with baking paper.
• Base - Process biscuits in a food processor until  fine crumbs form, with motor running pour in butter. Press crumbs firmly into base of pan. Chill 20 minutes.
• Use electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup of sugar for 3-4 minutes, until smooth. Add egg yolks one at a  time, beating well after each addition. Stir milk through.
• Stir mixture over double boiler for 10 minutes.
• In a jug, dissolve gelatine in just boiled water, whisking with a fork. Stir gelatine mixture and lemon juice into cream cheese mixture, until well combined.
• Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup of sugar until mixture is glossy
• Fold egg white mixture into cream cheese mixture. Pour over biscuit base. Chill for 2 hours or overnight until set.
• Decorate with berries and mint.

I used my Thermomix for this recipe - it is easily adapted.

Our Summer Garden

Yesterday I took some pics of our garden - hope you enjoy them.

 Our garden if fully enclosed to stop birds and possums from entering.

It is completely organic which has been a battle as we live on sand. Our compost consists mainly of Kangaroo poo - which we collect in the catcher of the lawn mower and chook poo - which we collect from our chook house.

We also make a "tea" which is in an old water trough. Anything organic is added which we can't compost eg crayfish shells, abalone shells, dead animals, weeds, ashes, seaweed and water. Quite a potion!



This is the wonderful gate to the garden

Our Strawberry patch

An old water tank we cut in half - the left one has Zucchinis and the other has Asparagus




Corn in the back and Pepinos in front. This is the first year we have grown Pepinos apparently they taste like sweet rock melon. We have fruit on them which are green, when ripe they are streaked with purple. The flesh is yellow and can be eaten fresh, peeled and chopped into a fruit salad or with cheese. Can't wait!




Our first tomatoes - not ripe yet but all looking very healthy



Lemon tree - no one has ever had luck growing citrus here - after much TLC ours is looking the best yet - just hope eventually we get lemons to go with our fresh fish

Peas - they are growing on branches from Tea Trees - we have already had a lot of peas this year - some are in the freezer




We also have a lot of herbs and other vegies - when you come to visit we are sure to have something fresh for you to try.



What to do on your holiday?

 

Do as little or as much as you like at your private Beach House on

Three Hummock island

Sit here in your accommodation and read (or sleep) with the fire going (if needed) - even catch up with those DVD's you have been meaning to watch!

 Fish from our jetty a short walk from the Beach House

 Walk (or hitch a ride from us) to Eleanor's Bay - a beautiful secluded Bay

Walk everyday to a new location OR just sleep in, late brekky, read, enjoy the view, watch the animals, Kangaroos, Purple Swamp Hens, Cape Barren Geese (to name a few) from your accommodation as they graze peacefully. Just relax, be lazy – something a lot of people have forgotten how to do, which is why Three Hummock Island's Beach House Accommodation is the perfect place to unwind for a week or so! Does this Sound bliss?

Book now!  info@threehummockisland.com.au or call us (03) 6452 1405

One of the many Forester Kangaroos - with  Joey

Here is a suggested 3 night itinerary to show how you could spend a few days, within the close proximity of your private Beach House. We are your only neighbours (the only other people in fact), and we don’t need to come anywhere near you, if that is the holiday you pine for!

The private Beach house - 100 years old but newly renovated for your comfort

We are happy to drop you off at a destination or take you for a free tour. You could maybe walk back to the accommodation at your leisure.

Day One –  Arrival day

We will transfer you from your transport, to your accommodation – welcome from Beverley and John (something yummy for morning/afternoon tea!) and orientation. You may like to organise us to cater your first meal (or all of your meals) while holidaying here.

Owl Shortbread treats from Beverley's kitchen

The fabulous kitchen in your Beach House - fully equipped with all cooking utensils

Explore Settlement area –

• Jetty and Home Beach

• Vegie garden – we will provide you with any seasonal vegies/herbs available

• Meet our chickens – they all have names and would be grateful for your food scraps!

• Admire the animals

• Throw a line in at the jetty

• Take a short walk

Beautiful Home Beach from the top of the hill - Beach House is near beach.

OR

Simply rest and take it all in after your journey

Day Two

After a restful (very quiet here) sleep take a walk to the western side of the island, to Spiers Bay and view the Five Sisters amazing rock formation. Rock hop around to Burgess Point, where we collect our Three Hummock Island Salt (T.H.I.S) in Summer. Continue around to West Telegraph Beach and view the Petroglyphs at the northern end of the beach; enjoy a slide at the sand dunes too. Walk back to the accommodation via the Rendevous Lagoon and the Home Airstrip – always lots of animals to photograph.

All up walking would be about 10 kilometres - or we could pick you up at an arranged time in the car or we can loan you a radio and you can call when you are ready to be collected.

Five Sister's Rock formation

Day Three

Eleanor’s Bay – a truly lovely spot – particularly at low tide – further along the track is the turnoff to South Hummock – 1 kilometre track uphill to view the local area from our highest peak – 237 metres.

14 kilometres today if you walk the entire way.

Eleanor's Bay

Day Four –

Homeward bound – time left to put a line in or take some more photographs before you leave this wonderful island.

 

This is just to give you an idea – there is so much to see and explore here you could spend a month or more!

There are no shops here which means no hidden costs to your holiday!



Our beaches from the air

If you like the look of the Three Hummock Island coastline from the air:



We welcome you to come and visit them from the ground.

You'll find deserted little coves like this one (at the 10:20 mark on the above video).

Throw in a line and you'll be reeling in fish in no time.

Or just take a dip in one of the many stunning clear pools found amongst the granite rocks.

Communication

Communication on a remote island is very important - not only for us but for the many boats travelling in the area. A repeater was placed on South Hummock several years ago as it is the highest point in the area - 237 m. You are able to speak directly to the Coast Guard (Mary Kay) in Smithton 24 hours a day using a VHF radio on channel 21. The Coast Guard also does regular skeds - 6am, 8am and 5pm everyday (including Christmas day!) with a thorough weather report. Boats are also able to call in and report their location and that they are all OK. A great service for the area - and Mary is voluntary!

The new aerial goes on

Three weeks ago there was no signal on the VHF radio and on investigation there was no longer an aerial on the tower! It had completely disappeared. It is thought that maybe it had a lightning strike?? Oh well - now to organise a replacement. MAST - Marine and Safety Tasmania are the owners of the tower and arranged a Technician to fly over with Seair from Wynyard to replace the aerial and give it a check over.

Stuart - the technician, Chas -the pilot and John standing the tower back up.

So back on air again now!! Apart from having a radio phone, (which works like a normal landline phone) Telstra Next G mobile phones also work here - we also have wireless access to the internet. So we feel very comfortable having various forms of communication. It is so different from the "olden" days when they had absolutely no communication except for lighting 3 signal fires to attract local fishermen!! Scary!!!

Thank goodness communication has improved over the years!

Exploring the sand dunes

There are many beautiful walks on the island.  A favourite walk that guests keep returning to is the hike up the enormous sand dunes on West Telegraph Bay.

Easter saw three families (10 children) take up residence in the Homestead.  The entire group headed up the sand dune one sunny morning.

A short trip up the beach in the "troupie" got everyone to the starting point.

Eager children took off up the sand.

The terrain is varied and fascinating.  The sand dune changes from month to month, year to year, depending on the winds and other factors.  In this section are lots of trees that have been covered up by the moving sands (and an eager person's football in the foreground.)

This is the fun part of the walk, where the slope is at a great angle for rolling, jumping or tobogganing down.  Some plastic sheeting or flat cardboard would have been handy to fashion a ride out of at this point.

All along the way there are some beautiful finds; from bleached, silvery drift wood to interesting rocks and sand formations.

Then, when you get to the top the stunning views make it all worthwhile.  This is looking south down West Telegraph Bay.  

This is the view north to the protected cove at the top of West Telegraph Bay.

Spider Crabs

Over the weekend we went to Home Beach to collect Cuttlebone for the chooks and garden, which John grinds up. We immediately noticed lots of dead crabs.

Spider Crabs Leptomithrax gaimardii were in abundance and we wondered why. So John put his research hat on and this is what he found out!

So why did they come to be washed up on the beach? Most of the crabs were just the cast off exoskeleton (exuvia) of the animals.

They would have been especially vulnerable to being washed ashore in windy weather as their muscles are reduced during moulting to allow their limbs to be extracted and spider crabs are very weak and spindly, even in peak health.

Reports have been made apparently every few years in the past 20 years of crabs being washed up on beaches. It seems to be a regular natural event.

If you would like further reading -

Hale, H.M. 1927-29 The Crustaceans of South Australia. Adelaide: Government Printing South Australia.

Meals on Three Hummock Island

This week we had a visit from local Circular Head Council officers to inspect our kitchens and facilities - the aim to provide meals for guests - and we passed!! Left to right Matt and Alison from Council, Chas the pilot from Seair Wynyard and John (Manager).

Very exciting as now our guests can organise to have us provide meals for them. It will be self catering style so guests can eat when they like - after a long walk on the beach, an early night or a sleep in. All in the privacy of guest accommodation. Dietary requirements will be catered for.

Of course there is the option of bringing some or all of the food. Guests will need to bring alcoholic beverages if required.

Book your holiday to Three Hummock Island now and you won't even have to think about your meals! Included in our menu will be fresh home baked bread everyday and fresh vegetables from our garden. Of course Beverley will bake some yummy treats !!