WA - Abrolhos Islands, W.A. - from Heather Donovan
From: Heather Donovan - ("H.Donovan" )
Abrolhos Islands, W.A.
The Abrolhos Islands, 35-60kms offshore from Geraldton,
are a long chain of islands, lagoons and reefs which proved a nightmare
for early mariners. The most famous of the many wrecks, the Dutch ship
Batavia, ran onto Morning Reef in the Wallabi Group of islands in 1629.
A long saga followed of treachery, murder and survival of a lucky few.
One of these was Wiebbe Hayes who made it to another island and built a
stone hut - Australia's first building! The savagery is hard to
comprehend as you fly over these beautiful reefs and lagoons in every
shade of blue and green. From long, narrow Pelsaert Island, to the
smaller atolls of the Wallabi and Rat Islands and beyond, it's a
beautiful scene.
The rocky shore where the Batavia was wrecked, and the
ruins of Wiebbe Hayes' cottage are clearly visible. For several months
each year the islands are inhabited by fishermen enjoying
the fruits of the lucrative rock lobster trade. They
and their families live in fairly primitive conditions but in idyllic
surrounds; fresh water is scarce but supplies are ferried out regularly
and most now have generators for power.
The Education Department sets up schools for the season
although where there are less than ten kids on an island parents must
pay for a teacher. The saltbush scrub on larger islands is home to
snakes, lizards, quail, a few tammar wallabies and thousands of sea
birds including white breasted sea eagles. Fortunately the Abrolhos are
free of vermin apart from a few rats
and feral cats on Rat Island. You can visit the Abrolhos
Islands on a day trip with Geraldton Air
Charters, incuding a picnic lunch on uninhabited East
Wallabi where there's great snorkelling (gear provided) on coral reefs
just a few metres offshore. It's one of the few with low dunes and a
long, sandy beach. Apparently the coral and underwater life is quite
spectacular, reputedly the equal of anything on the Great Barrier
Reef. Dolphns and seals frolic and, in season,
you'll see whales.
Cost $154.
email: geroair@midwest.com.au
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