Category: The Pope’s Eye

Truth be told, boats, ships, water vessels and the like, are not my thing.
Strange, as the family archivists inform me, that the family tree runs its course through what appears to be a stream of Cornish Pirates. Oh ahh, oh ahh meheaties.

But. I don’t think the call of the ocean managed to sneak down the gene pool to me. Take me to the edge of the beach, let me enjoy the water lapping over the rocks, or on a stormy day explode in force in anger against the land, and I’m satisfied.

However EE on our wandering down the Bellarine coast had booked to take the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry. Now you’d probably conclude that there were several reasons for that. And the one I’ll share today is The Pope’s Eye.

Sounds pretty much like some ecclesiastical mystery that involves, black coats and stuff, but as it turns out, The Pope’s Eye is a small man-made island that was to form the foundations for fort to protect Port Phillip Bay from intruders, such as old Cornish Pirates 🙂 etc.

It’s located about 3km from Queenscliff and can be easily seen. No longer the military might, its the home to a large flock of Australasian Gannets that breed there. It’s also a great place for divers and has a wide range of underwater forests of kelp and the like.

The name comes not from any religious significance, but from the name of one of the men who was working at establishing the large basalt rock foundation.

Why chose the ferry. Well tis possible to hire a boat and travel out to the site, but remember my first para. Not for me!

We took the ferry across to Sorrento, on the outward trip it runs quite wide of Pope’s Eye, but on the return to Queenscliff it does approach much closer and a long lens can provide excellent views.
We, of course, were hoping that the Gannets might at least be in the air, coming or going and some great inflight shots might be the order of the day. However it was Gannets sleep-in day and only a few were in flight.
Still, it made an interesting trip across the bay, and a fine meal in the Tara restaurant on our return.

Enjoy