Wrack Cove coast through dry woodland.

FEATURES

  • 900 metres, plus return (750m) via Blubber Head Rd. Allow approximately 45 minutes.
  • Glimpses of the classic Adamsons Peak are seen through the trees, until you emerge next to Wrack Cove. Both the wrack and the wind pruned shrubs along this coast attest to the gale force south-westerlies that whip across Port Esperance from the Antarctic South. Some evidence of flensing has been found here from the whaling past, but all traces have now vanished.
  • A picnic table overlooking the bay provides a great place to stop and rest.
  • Snorkelling and swimming are good pastimes on a still sunny day when the bay becomes a sparkling underwater garden, replete with octopus, crayfish and abalone.
Woodland Birds

As you wander down, note the copses of bushes under the open eucalypt canopy.

These provide nectar staggered throughout the year and habitat for insects that are such an essential part of any birds diet when feeding and rearing young. Look for the small yellow pillars of Banksia – a wonderful nectar source for birds, insects and the tiny mammals alike. Even the Lyluequonny used Banksia’s rich nectar to make a sweetly alcoholic drink.

Dense hiding and nesting places provided by the bushes ensure that a variety of woodland birds can survive. Predators such as the Collared Sparrowhawk find it more difficult to chase their prey down when the little birds can dart sideways into a twiggy bush. Aggressive colony-forming birds such as the Noisy Miner like to chase other birds out to form their own province. Here, though, they cannot compete, because there are plenty of hiding places for the others to find a refuge.

Hope Island

Hope Island saw the first Europeans officially settle in the Dover area. Supervised convicts cleared Hope Island and started farming in 1845, soon doing the same in Dover. Within a few years private settlers followed, and Hope Island was rented to the Tasmanian-born John Boothman and his wife Margaret. The Government sought to sell the island from under him in 1851, a move stymied by Boothman, but his clever plans backfired. Despite subsequent decades of trying, he never succeeded in purchasing the island and had to be content with leasing. The island – 150 years on – is now public land again.

The Peninsula Experience Booklet

This booklet seeks to provide to our guests an overview of this unique property. Hopefully, due to the work of the contributors, it enriches the experience of your stay by introducing the history and the flora and fauna of this land and its timelessness. The ethos of The Peninsula is to provide a sanctuary for animals whilst allowing you to enjoy their habitat in quiet luxury with a minimal footprint. With this in mind, we recommend you begin your journey at the gate and enjoy the experience… slowly.

There are a variety of walks on the property, each featuring numbered marker posts that refer to stories contained in this booklet. The first section of the booklet gives you insights into the natural and cultural history of Blubber Head. The booklet is complimentary for all guests at The Peninsula Experience.

All walks are designed to Australian Standards Class 4: graded to be quite easy walking and following distinct tracks, but users will require basic walking gear such as stout shoes, map reading skills and should always exercise common sense. Track conditions vary and obstacles and trip hazards may be encountered along the way. Users take responsibility for their own safety whilst walking.