Seal Rocks traverses dry peppermint woodland across the ridge of Blubber Head and descends into tall moist forest.

FEATURES

Seal Rocks traverses dry peppermint woodland across the ridge of Blubber Head and descends into tall moist forest. Once you emerge out of the dense forest into the closed heath, you can appreciate the grandeur of the tall, gnarled coastal trees, standing sentinel to the vast Southern Ocean. Push through the tightly grown heaths down to Seal Rocks for rock hopping along the orange lichen encrusted rocks with their incredible variety of bush tucker.

Clinging to the vertical underwater cliffs are forests of bull-kelp: leathery, tenacious and supple, they writhe and slither in the crashing seas (they gyre and gimble in the wabe).

Beetongs & Fungi

In tall moist forest, the grasses have disappeared completely and the soft soil is good foraging for bettongs. With its long pointed snout, it sniffs out choice truffles and other fungi to eat, leaving characteristic inverted-cone holes in the soil. They are rarely seen during the day, but have been observed out in the open paddock at night – probably checking out under the ground for corby grubs.

In the dankness of the forest, fungi abound, particularly in autumn – earthballs and puffballs in and on the ground, paint fungi daubing the rotting wood, jelly fungi dripping off it, bracket fungi, hard and leathery jutting out from living trees, stinkhorns, fringed goblets, earth tongues, staghorns and fairy fans. If you look carefully, you may even see candle snuff or lawyers wig fungi!

Storm Sentinals

Salt laden gales ripping up from the great Southern Ocean forces the tall, straggly banksia forms found in the sheltered forests to grow sturdy and squat here in the coastal heath. Similarly the emergent stringybark are tough and stiff – battered by centuries of howling winds. No axes ever rang in these copses as the wood is far too gnarly.

Aboriginal Food

Look carefully. Hidden in crevices and cracks of the frozen lava rocks is the bush tucker of the Lyluequonney: abalone, limpets, warrener, mussels and native oysters. These rich tidbits can still be prised from the rocks and eaten raw, providing a direct link back to the traditional food sources of the original inhabitants.

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.