Patterns in Stone

The Painted Cliffs on Maria Island were a startling sight. The cliff faces were layers of sandstone, tinted ochre, black and grey in bizarre patterns resembling a giant kaleidoscope. I scanned the area with my sensors, and recorded the sun dappling on the rock faces, casting shadows and throwing colours into relief. The cliffs are located on the eastern side of the island and face out towards the Tasman Sea. The geology of the island is unique and intriguing with its Triassic sandstone formations, which are a popular destination for geologists. The island was home to Indigenous Australians for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. It was later used as a convict station and now remains a national park. I compared this place with other geological formations I have encountered on my travels, including The Wave Rock in Western Australia, and found the Painted Cliffs to be more colourful and intricate.