Woody Island,a wonderful experience

This is a text John wrote about Woody Island, off Esperance. it doesn't belong here but I am not sure how to put it back where it belongs so here it is.

Years ago the sea rose and formed an achipelago of over 100 islands off Esperance. Some of these islands are just large rocks, others 1 km across. Flora and fauna are much today as when the water rose. Some islands have snakes, some marsupials.

We set off for Woody Island on an early ferry, having left our tandem at MacKenzies' office. MacKenzies are the family that operates the tourism on the island. It started back in the 50's when Don MacKenzies (now in his 90's) used to run sheep on the island. Sheep fared there better than on the mainland, the soil was richer and there were no dingoes.

In 1954 CALM (now DEC), the body in charge of Western Australia Natural Environment declared the whole archipelago a Natural Park and asked Don to take his sheep off the island. Don was a man of many talents and one of his interests/jobs was in shipping. He also loved Woody Island and, in order to carry on going onto the island, approached CALM to see if they would agree to opening the island to tourism (Woody Island is the only island that is accessible by sea)

A well established partnership between the 2 bodies now operates the tourism on the island. Those who want to stay can do so in a range of accommodation: bring their own tent (like us), or stay in a safari hut with en-suite facilities. The centre of the island is covered with trees varying in height from 3-4 m to 7-8 m depending on the soil's depth. The trees provide a continous canopy over the island and attractive dapple light. The camping areas are under the canopy and young trees are protected from the 60 odd kangaroos that now replace the sheep. It is SO peaceful.

Birds flutter here and there, there is even a sacred king fisher that built a nest in a tree near the kitchen (we actually saw him just before we left, he was the most magnificent light iridescent blue... sorry no picture)

We joined a guided tour of the island which takes us to the highest point, from which we can see the varied flora covering the island.

The windward end is covered in lower scrub varying from knee height to 3-4 m. Leeward end is Skinny dip Bay but when we see entry into the sea is from boulders we give it a miss.

The island water supply is collected off the roof and pumped into 5 huge tanks hidden under the canopy on the hill. 70% of the islands electricity is generated by solar panels. The toilet accommodation is slowly being converted to composting toilets.

We spend the afternoon snorkelling and taking photographs. After supper we go to the windward end of the island to see the fleshy-footed shearwaters come in to feed their young at dusk and the penguins at the far end of the island. By the time the shearwaters appear, 9 pm, we are too tired to go and see the penguins. we disturb a kangaroo grazing near our tent and fall asleep listening to the wind rustling the trees above us. A day in paradise!