Just back from Tasmania, Heron Island, & Great Ocean Road
 

Just returned last week from 3 fantastic weeks in OZ - Tasmania is Australia's best kept secret as far as this nature lover is concerned. Was equally delighted with the Great Ocean Road, which west of Melbourne and Heron Island on the Reef- though I will warn you about the moaning birds!! Please make sure your subject includes Australia.

Moaning birds? You must expand on this!

Melodie

Mutton birds ;)

Moaning birds is a better description actually LOL. They really do moan and groan all night.

Glad you had a good time, we also really enjoyed Heron when we went in 2003. We were lucky enough to see a turtle laying her eggs and then staggering back into the water (was really special). This year we are going to Melbourne and driving the Great Ocean Road, including the Gampians and Ballart. We love the outdoors, bird watching and enjoy walking. Any tips on what to see or do?

are there times of year when they "moan" and times when they don't? How was the snorkeling on Heron?
Sally in Seattle

Don't see as many birds on Heron outside of Nov-Mar, the nesting season, particularly during "winter" June-Aug. Few bird complaints at that time. Snorkeling on Heron is amazing, particularly along the reef edge, some 100+ meters off the beach. (Best accessed by the twice daily snorkel boats).

Melodie - the birds who moan all night are "muttonbirds" more formally known as Shearwaters. Heron Island gets 100,000 migrating birds - with requisite noise and poop! It sits right on the Great Barrier Reef, and is spectacular - despite the noise! Debbie

Evostick - we drove to Port Campbell and spent 4 nights at the Best Western there - clean rooms with jaccuzi, fridge, microwave, for-pay laundry etc.etc. We spent each day on a day trip in a different direction: Port Fairy, the 12 Apostles (which are not to be missed!!) etc.
On Heron, we saw the hatchlings trying to make their way to the ocean, with sea gulls circling above, waiting for lunch. I personally escorted
1 hatchling into (on me-hip deep) water and wished it well as the gulls recedded and the sharks advanced. D

I really enjoyed Great Ocean Road but missed out on the moaning bird. WE did see a grass fire start right up in front of us while we were eating lunch, fire trucks came, it was interesting to just see one spark like that, scary but a real eye opener how quickly they can spark.