Nature dramatic at Point Grant and The Nobbies

Point Grant, The Nobbies and Seal Rocks have been described as 'the extended bow of a ship endlessly breasting Bass Strait rollers'.

Situated on the western tip of Phillip Island, Point Grant is the second most popular place for locals and visitors alike. From here, the large hump of rock (about 30 m in height) known as The Nobbies is prominent, with low-lying Seal Rocks located a little to the left (south).

Rounded black boulders of basalt; steep cliffs clothed with tussocks, New Zealand spinach, meadows of pink flowering pigface and pussytail grasses; dramatic waves; rock platforms, pools and caves; a booming blowhole, all these and more make up this dramatic coastline.

One of my photos shows a perfectly round rock pool, created through the action of rocks being tumbled round and round by waves.

Looking down to sea level, it's possible to see steep winding pathways -- splashed with excreta -- created by penguins who tumble out of the waves and then clamber up the cliffs to their burrows. Some burrows are man-made; however, most are natural.

When we visited it was late afternoon, so young penguins in the burrows were anticipating the arrival of their parents at dusk. Every now and then we saw a face peeping out of a burrow.

Tomorrow I'll show you more about this amazing place.

Seal pups die in heavy seas: Phillip Island

Gale force winds and frequent rain squalls have whipped the bay into a frenzy, with seal pups the victims.

The Seal Rocks colony, located on the north-west tip of Phillip Island is Australia's largest fur seal colony. It's a vital seal breeding area and nursery with around 5000 seal pups born every year. Inevitably there are casualties. Weak pups often wash off the slippery black rocks in heavy seas and drown; and there is nothing a white pointer shark likes better than a meal of seal pup.

At this time of the year it's common to find dead seal pups washed up on our beaches.

Occasionally an injured bull seal will come ashore too, and die. The injuries are usually horrific and caused by fighting over females and territory. When a bull seal dies on the beach, the smell can be so overpowering that the Phillip Island Nature Park has to either remove or bury the carcass. The dead seal pups smell too, but quickly absorb back into the ecosystem of the coastal fringe.

Congregating in numbers exceeding 10,000, the seals at Seal Rocks are an impressive sight with their dog-like faces and soulful eyes. Their strong musky odour is a smell never forgotten!

PS

Apologies re. photos. I'm having computer problems!