Maria Island is just off Tasmania's east coast south of the famous Freycinet Peninsula. The island is separated from the shore by Mercury Passage.

Maria Island has been a convict station, concrete works, farm and is now a National Park and Tasmanian Devil sanctuary.

Shot from above Stapletons Beach, Orford. This pic has been in the archives for quite a while - noticed it looking for something else and thought it could have done with some attention.

Nikon D600, Nikkor 17-35/2.8D, 1/750th sec at f/11, ISO 100.

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My second highest ranking flickr image ever. I should have kept both the camera and the lens!

Tags:   Maria Island Orford Triabunna Stapletons Beach Tasmania Tasman Sea Mercury Passage Nikon D600 Nikkor 17-35 2.8 AF D Nikkor 17-35/2.8D CloudsStormsSunsetsSunrises

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Marion Bay lies between the southern tip of Maria Island and the northern end of the Forestier Peninsula on Tasmania's south-east coastline. It is bounded to the west by Hellfire Bluff and Marion Beach.

The property "Marion Bay" has been owned by the same family almost since the white fella arrived here at the end of the world and subjugated the semi-nomadic indigenous population of Van Diemens Land.

The coastline was first sighted by Dutch navigator Able Tasman who named Van Diemens Land for his sponsor and Maria Island for the latter's wife.

Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF23mm/1.4R, 1/450th sec at f/10, ISO 400.

Tags:   XF23mm/1.4R Fujifilm X-Pro2 Marion Bay Forestier Peninsula Tasman Peninsula Hellfire Bluff Mercury Passage Bream Creek Cape Peron

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From the hill just past Bream Creek, there is an excellent view point out over Marion Bay towards Maria Island. Hellfire Bluff (and Cape Bernier just poking out behind it) dominate this shot with Mount Maria in the background to the right and Bishop and Clerk just poking up between them.

Maria Island is now a National Park and home to a sanctuary colony of Tasmanian Devils.

Fujifilm X-T2, XF55-200F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, 1/480th sec at ISO 100 (~55mm).

Tags:   Marion Bay Forestier Peninsula Tasman Peninsula Cape Bernier Hellfire Bluff Mercury Passage Bream Creek Cape Peron Mount Maria Bishop and Clerk Fujifilm Fuji Fujinon Fujinon XF55-200F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS Fujinon XF55-200 XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS Fuji X Series Fuji X-Mount Fujifilm X-T2 X-T2 X-Trans sensor

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Looking north from the CoastCare lookout at Marion Bay. Just in the left foreground is Bream Creek itself dammed up behind the beach. Maria Island and Cape Bernier/Hellfire Bluff (left) are clearly separated by Mercury Passage.

Cape Maurouard is the eastern most point visible in the photo. This cape and Cape Peron (the dark headland visible just to the west) were named by French explorer Nicholas Baudin in his 1801 expedition in these waters. Numerous features in the area bear French nomenclature and in some respects Tasmania was very close to being a French colony.

Sadly while many indigenous place names and their stories are lost, it is known that the indigenous population avoided Maria Island as there were bad spirits there.

Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF23mmF1.4 R, 1/2200th sec at f/10, ISO 400

Huge thanks goes to all who view, fave and comment on my stuff - thank you! :-)

Tags:   Marion Bay Forestier Peninsula Tasman Peninsula Hellfire Bluff Mercury Passage Bream Creek Cape Peron Mount Maria Bishop and Clerk Fujifilm Fuji Fujinon Fuji X Series Fuji X-Mount X-Trans sensor X-Pro2 XP2 Fujifilm X-Pro2 Fuji X-Pro2 XF 23/1.4 XF23mm/1.4R XF23/1.4R Fujinon XF23/1.4 R CloudsStormsSunsetsSunrises

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Maria Island is separated from Tasmania by Mercury Passage. This blue hour frame of the passage from Rebhan Road, Orford.

Took this while setting up for the rising Milky Way - first magnitude stars are out along with Jupiter rising low above the Island. The MW core itself is on the horizon just to the right of the planet.

Two other things of interest - there is an islet to the north of Maria - Isle du Nord, the beacon upon which rock is responsible for the tiny light at the northern (left) end of the island.

The other thing is the smudge of smoke above the trees and out to sea. There were a couple of controlled burns inland and the smoke was slowly drifting out over the ocean. Had an impact on later images...

East Coast, Tasmania.

Nikon Z6, Samyang 14/2.8, 25 secs at f/4, ISO 500

Tags:   Tasmania East Coast Tasmania Maria Island Mercury Passage NIK Collection Nikon Nikon Z6 Nikon Z Samyang 14mm Samyang Nik ColorEfexPro Colorefex Pro 2 Tasman Sea Blue Hour long exposure dusk evening Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC Samyang 14/2.8 Milky Way

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