Remarkable Cave

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Fri 15 Jan 2016 23:27
The Remarkable Cave
 
 
 
IMG_2082
 
Maingon Bay from the road.
 
 
IMG_2085
 
We settled in the car park and had our breakfast. The furthest cape is called Dauntless Point.
 
 
IMG_2089
 
Looking across Maingon Bay and out into Raoul Bay.
 
 
DSC_1459
 
The sign said: On a clear day, you can see Cape Raoul in the distance with its tall pillars of dolerite rock rising from the sea. Dolerite columns are common features throughout Tasmania. They formed during the age of the dinosaurs, as molten rock cooled slowly just under the surface of the earth, often cracking into long polygonal columns. Cape Raoul’s dolerite columns are partly drowned by the sea.
 
 
Walk to Cape  The view
 
The next bit of the information board had Bear cringing.
There is a five hour return walk to the Cape [one of Tasmania’s listed ‘Great Short Walks’], which departs from the end of Stormlea Road [off Nubeena Road], and rewards you with spectacular views along this dramatic coastline, including Tasman Island and Bruny Island. But beware – the Cape is subject to strong winds. [I had to borrow the view from Walkweb].
 
 
IMG_2101
 
Definitely no walking to the end for the view ??? No. No way, not likely. Just checking. We settled to the task of bimbling from Mabel and following the short track to see the Remarkable Cave.
 
 
IMG_2147  IMG_2146
 
The view from the track and to be honest the wind was howling and bitingly cold. We went down the first two sets of steps and were nearly blown off our feet by a gap in the rocks. We took this picture and hurried on down the next set of steps.
 
 

IMG_2112  IMG_2113

 
Looking up and down from the walkway at the bottom of the track.
 
 
The sign said:- For thousands of years this section of coastline has been exposed to the sea’s erosive power. Strong south-westerly winds generate pounding waves that attack weaknesses in rock and erode the coastline, forming arches, blowholes, beaches and caves.
You are standing at the back of Remarkable Cave. Above you was part of the cave’s roof which collapsed long ago – its debris washed out to sea, save for the few large boulders and sea-smoothed rocks beneath you. Straight ahead lies the remaining long cave tunnel leading out to sea.
 
 
IMG_2103  IMG_2106  IMG_2108
 
We watched as three young chaps – who had climbed over the railings and jumped down onto the little beach, wander into the cave, pose, but soon made a hasty retreat when a big wave came in.
 
Dolerite meets sandstone: The cave is made of different types of sandstone, which were formed as sand particles settled on broad, windswept plains over millions of years, compacting to become rock. Some of these sandstones have been distorted and folded by earthquake activity, creating fractures along which the cave tunnels have formed. Nearby is another younger rock called dolerite. Dolerite formed deep inside the Earth, beginning as molten rock, during the age of the dinosaurs. It was then forced toward the Earth’s surface and injected into the sandstones, where it cooled to become dolerite.
 
 
IMG_2093  IMG_2090
 
The rest of the information on the board.
 
 
IMG_2094  IMG_2095
 
Circa 1919 and today. Surprisingly, not much has changed.
 
 
IMG_2110  IMG_2096
 
We were told to look for Tasmania silhouetted at the end of the tunnel. I can see it. Darkening the next image did the trick.
 
 
IMG_2098
 
We headed up the first set of stairs to the windy bit.
 
 
IMG_2144  IMG_2145
 
We stood and watched waves coming in and out for a short while, until we were really cold.
 
 
IMG_2149
 
Then we made a dash for Mabel, one quick look at the view on the right, to sit in the warm and wave watch on the left of the bay.
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL EXPECTED A TINY BIT MORE GIVEN THE NAME
                     ‘REMARKABLE’ TO SEE THE MAP OF TASMANIA