Sitting on the far northwest coast of Tasmania is Rocky Cape National Park. Though smaller than many National Parks in Tasmania, Rocky Cape NP more than makes up for its size with striking coastal rock formations, caves and a rich Aboriginal heritage.

Ancient Rocks

The rocks around the cape are believed to be among the oldest in Australia. Dated to Precambrian times (4.6-billion years to 540-million years ago) it was a time when life was beginning to form with soft multicellular organisms, algae and jellyfish. Also living during this time, and still to this day, are the Stromatolites that we first saw at Hamlin Marine Nature Reserve, Western Australia. Over the aeons the rock has been uplifted and folded to form the jagged rocks we see today.

Mind the Wasps

For some reason large native wasps and bees are attracted to the bright white paint of the lighthouses along the coast and Rocky Cape Lighthouse was no exception. Among the many creatures to be found here are the graceful but noisy Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Wallabies and Pademelons, Tasmanian Devils, Spotted-tail Quolls, Echidnas and Bandicoots.

Midden Caves

Many caves have formed within the cape region and among those are North Cave, which can be easily spotted from the lighthouse. For a closer view follow the path among coastal heath to the viewing platform. Access into the cave is not permitted as it has significant Aboriginal cultural importance.

South Cave at Burgess Cove is amost filled with shells, bones and other artefacts. The mound of remains, known as a midden, are often associated with a long Aboriginal occupation and a gathering place where mobs would eat and discard the shells and bones from their meals.

Wet Cave at Sisters Beach, a little further along the coast, provides a short scramble along the rocky beach and up through banksia groves to an observation platform. There’s not much to see here, though, as no access into the cave is provided – not that it dissuaded a couple of youths that showed no respect to the Aboriginal community.

Just a short trip along the coast today but tomorrow we head to the famous wilderness of Cradle Mountain National Park, one of the big highlights of our adventures in Tasmania.