A Beautiful Mess

Tonights conversation HAS to be about Wilsons Promontory National Park on the southern most tip of mainland Australia. A childhood haunt and incredible place to visit anytime of the year.

Once again I am with my relatives, the last night with them before they head back to England. My Dad is with us and my daughter. We are at a place called Yanakie in a cabin for the night and approximately 1KM from the National Park gates.

This is my first trip to ‘The Prom’ as it is affectionately named, in a few years. We couldn’t visit this past Summer due to the devastating fires, nor the one before. Everywhere seemed to be a ‘no go zone’ here in Victoria especially during February this year. Frightening times.

Now, I don’t mean this to be demeaning to those who have suffered greatly during the fires and my Dad was in the thick of it helping to defend the property he lives on, but there is something beautiful about the landscape once the fires and time have passed by. You can see things that couldn’t be seen before, the brownish, orange burnt leaves make it look like Autumn decided to stay awhile longer and the new green foliage against the blackened tree trunks and branches symbolise new beginnings. Extraordinarily painful new beginnings for some folk.

My Dad commented about the mess, but I couldn’t help myself with camera in hand, commenting on the beauty aswell. Hence, ‘A Beautiful Mess!’

I had heard about the beauty in this area after the fires and know about it in other areas, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the mixed feelings I would experience for the loss of beautiful foliage and animal life most likely AND the beautiful landscape that has been created by the devastating fires.

New ground cover starting to emerge.

Burnt landscape

Contrasting Indigenous grass plants

The contrast showing once again.

Around every corner, was a photographic opportunity. Not sure that my car liked the stopping and starting constantly, but we made it to our destination of Tidal River before nightfall. Dusk and Dawn are the best times to catch wildlife, but it makes for tricky driving. You need eyes in the back of your head to avoid hitting anything.

We were blessed to see plenty of it. An Emu, wallabies, kangaroos and small deer which I have never seen in this area before. And Wombats of course. What a treat for o/s visitors and any nature loving being.

Then there was the shock at how close the fires had come to Tidal River, the accommodation area which was closed for quite sometime to the public during and after the fires. I thought the fires in this area were in more inaccessible terrain for the most part. Not so!

It was definitely an eye opening journey and we’re heading back there tomorrow. Oops, today. It’s now 1 AM again! We’re all cosied up in the cabin now after a lovely meal and a few bevvies. I’m about to check out the night sky before hitting the hay.

It’s always nice to be in different surrounds even if it is only for a night. I’m looking forward to visiting the exquisite beaches in the area tomorrow no matter what the weather brings. That was another thing, the mist and rain added so much to the atmosphere during our trip today and it’s always nice to come here during the ‘off ‘ season.