The inaugural Macquarie Island Curry-Off

A couple of years ago while living at Casey Station, I organised a Saturday night 'Curry-Off'. Some will remember the ensuing saga, with a prawn satay (not even a curry! don't get me started...) taking out first place, and a sausage curry featuring Keen's Curry Powder coming in runner up.

I swore never again, but of course when it comes to dreaming up ways to keep entertained on an Antarctic Station, sometimes old ideas get recycled.

I was confident there wouldn't be a repeat of the drama though - the gang this time round are a bit more 'culinarily inclined' (and our chef definitely wouldn't tolerate a sausage curry being cooked in her kitchen).

Fortunately I was right, and 4 budding curry chefs took up the reigns, spending at least 48 hours preparing a Saturday-night feast that transported us to India (or at least to a good Indian restaurant in Melbourne).

Voting was of course fierce, but in the end all agreed, it was our stomachs that won the day.

Jez, our winter PhD student, invests a good amount of time researching the perfect recipe

Rich, our Field Training Officer, enjoys the opportunity to work out his biceps grinding spices and making paneer

Ali, our Station Leader, marinates the lamb for her Saagwala

I pre-cook my Rogan Josh two days ahead of time to ensure optimal flavour development

Finally decided on a recipe, Jez gets to work making Masala Dosa

Annette, our actual chef (supposed to be having a day off), can't help herself and makes roti and an array of condiments

Fast forward to Saturday night, Rich (in costume) and Jez flash smiles for the camera between trying to sabotage each others dishes

Ali plates up a delicious coconut dosa dip thingy

Me (Cathryn) with Rogan Josh and an aubergine curry, Rich with Rara Chicken and Kadai Paneer, Jez with Masala Dosa, and Ali with Lamb Saagwala 

Danielle, Angus and Greg delight at the array of delights

The Macca family at our favourite local curry place

Marine debris in the Southern Ocean

Over a month-long period in June and July, our resident Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Ranger, Ranger Chris, took small groups of us out to do a marine debris survey - a fancy way to say 'picking up rubbish along the beach'.

The survey has been run intermittently for a number of years, and involves a 4-day 60km round tramping trip to Davis Point, a remote part of coastline on the western side of the island. This region is an important breeding ground for Giant Petrels, so is closed for all but 2 months of the year.

Given the area is so rarely visited, there isn't a hut there, and instead you stay in a 'shelter' - a converted water tank. It wasn't too bad, although a little squishy with 3 of us in residence. 

The trip was an interesting insight into the types of rubbish floating around in the Southern Ocean (mostly fishing boat-related) and an awesome way to get to see a part of the island that is off-limits most of the time. 

Pete (pictured), Angus, Ranger Chris and I set out on a rather cold winter's day

Lunchtime in the mud and mist - the quintessential Macca experience

Reaching Green Gorge Hut on day 1, always and excellent feeling

The fantastic view from the Green Gorge Hut balcony

Day 2 started with a steep climb up out of Green Gorge. Angus stands proudly atop a mound. Unfortunately we are not quite at the top yet...

'Just down here Cathryn....' - one of the many reasons to always be very suspicious of anything Ranger Chris tells you

At the bottom of the scree slope (Ranger Chris' recommended route down)

And the scree slope from a distance - quite fun to slide down

The end of day 2 and Davis Point Refuge (the tank in the back is the hut) - anything looked pretty good at this point

Cosy but it did the job - there are a set of bunks on each side (the top bunk sits about 30cm below the ceiling), a kitchen bench, and a bit of floor 2x1m - what more do you need?

Day 3 dawned and the rubbish hunt was on - this largely involved climbing through revolting bogs of rotting kelp - apparently the plastic bottles always hide here

Case in point

Ranger Chris with our haul - probably about 2 full rubbish bags full in 3 hours

Adding our finds to the larger bag of this year's debris - apparently this year there was a lot less on the beaches than some years, although I think this just means it has all ended up some place else

And just when we thought we were done, we found out the only way out was up the Sellick Bay 'jump up' - a 300m ascent scrambling up tussock and loose rock. It was really rubbish.

And then finally home along the very flat Macca plateau - definitely my preferred terrain