Beachcombing

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This has to be one of those natural soul healing things that you can do for yourself.

You can find yourself wandering for hours along remote beaches lost in your own thoughts and occasionally stooping to pick up a little piece of beach debris.

If you are a collector then perhaps it is the chance of finding hidden treasure, that one off unique curio or that beautiful, unblemished perfect sea shell.

Beachcomb The Remote Beaches Shoreline

Deposited by the action of the waves, wind and tides these prized beach treasures end up on a mantelpiece, bookshelf or wall.

Small curios can also be made into interesting jewelry bits to be kept, sold or given away.

Sea Beachcomb Collectables

"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."

Sir Isaac Newton, reported in Sir David Brewster, Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1855), Volume II. Ch. 27.

I Found A Seashell Beachcombing

I visit one of my favorite beaches, Frankston quite often. It is one of Port Phillip Bay's prettiest beaches and a favorite for family getaways, picnics and safe swimming.

To the left of the pier and at the base of Olivers Hill is one of the best places I have found so far to beachcomb for my favorite beach treasure.

Here I usually am able to find more sea glass to add to my collection.

If you want to collect along a popular beach then make sure that you do so during the week when it is quieter or very early first thing on a Saturday morning.

These beaches can become quite crowded and your pickings may end up being rather slim! Too many people, too late in the weekend and most of the good stuff will be gone.

Best Beachcombing Melbourne Beaches

Wandering Cape Shank Back Beach

Lone Ocean Beachcomber

It fascinates me to see the latest trend in beachcombing.

There they are with their Metal Detectors and boy do they find interesting bits and pieces.

It is fun to beachcombe modern city beaches to find coins, watches and jewelery.

Beaches in less populated areas that can sometimes offer up old artifacts, coins and jewelry from shipwrecks and for the real dedicated fossickers...GOLD, the ultimate treasure.

Beachcombing With Metal Detectors
Along Frankston Foreshore

"The hollow sea-shell, which for years hath stood

On dusty shelves, when held against the ear

Proclaims its stormy parent, and we hear

The faint, far murmur of the breaking flood.

We hear the sea. The Sea? It is the blood

In our own veins, impetuous and near."

Eugene Lee-Hamilton, Sonnet. Sea-shell Murmurs, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

What can You Find On Melbourne Beaches?

These are found along the seashore. Brought in with the tide, the varieties are in the thousands.

Usually found empty of marine life and clean ready to add to the collection.

The hobby of shell collecting is worldwide.

Sometimes Exoskeletons can be washed up on the shoreline. These shells include the remains of different marine life. The skeleton of the Seahorse is very tough and is usually found intact on the shoreline.

Sea Urchins Found At Point Cook

Seaweed-Kelp Holdfast

Kelp Holdfast is part of a seaweed that is attached to a rock, similar to a tree root.

During storms this can be dislodged and finally is washed up onto the shore.

Washed and cleaned well, they can be either stained or lacquered and displayed as interesting curios.

Collectable Sea Sponge

Sea Sponges are made up of lots of little marine animals living together as a community.

The ones that are washed up onto the shoreline are usually the skeleton remains of this colony.

Living sponges are usually very bright in colour, some shapes are quite unique. Tree shapes can often be found that make for interesting display pieces.

Some sharks actually lay eggs.

These are very well camouflaged, they resemble kelp or seaweed thus allowing them to blend in and be protected.

Elephant Shark Egg

They are usually washed up onto the shoreline after the young have hatched.

I have found many on Shelly Beach, Phillip Island, near The Nobbies along with lots of different shapes, sizes and types of sponges.

Along a lot of the back beaches you will be able to find dried Cuttlefish.

Cuttlefish Skeleton Bone

When the Cuttlefish dies and the soft body dries, rots or is eaten away, the bone floats to the surface and finally is washed to the shore.

As a youngster I used to call cuttlebones, seachalk.

Because they are soft and easy to work with you are able to whittle them and make interesting shapes, animals etc.

Kids love to create, why not try using a cuttle bone, something different to use for kids crafting.

Beach Breaks And Books

If you enjoy beachcombing, this selection of books that I have put together may interest you...

The Wonderful Weekend Book: Reclaim Life's Simple Pleasures...
Elspeth Thompson's original and inspiring book shows us how we can reclaim the weekend by re-charging our batteries and relationships through enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

Magic Beach.
Visit a perfect beach where you can swim, surf, splash through the waves, build sandcastles, explore the sandy foreshore, explore rock-pools, play in boats, fish from the jetty, and build a bonfire under the stars.

Seashore (Eyewitness)
See how a sea-urchin disguises itself or find out how a crab can grow a new leg.

Beachcombing Tips And Suggestions

Spray up with insect repellent as the pesky March Fly can be a real nuisance.

His bite really stings!

• No point beachcombing in loose sandy areas if the wind is blowing in from the sea as your treasures will be covered up.
• However if you like to beachcomb the base of cliffs then this condition is invaluable...Be careful of overhanging ledges and unstable soil.
• Beachcombing after a storm is a great time to find treasures from Davey Jones's Locker.
• Living on the eastern coast of Australia the winter westerly winds (June through to September) bring the best finds.
• Heavy breaking waves and strong winds open up the sea's treasure chest.
• Low tide is best when more open areas are exposed to explore.

Cape Otway Along The Great Ocean Road

Cape Otway situated at the southern tip of Victoria's western coast, where the Southern Ocean meets Bass Strait and is a great place to explore.

Apart from the natural beauty, the fact that in 1940 the ship City of Rayville sank.

It was claimed that 34,000 pounds of treasure was contained in the ships strongroom.

Never know what the sea may cough up after a storm?

Hmm...when is the next storm due?

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