Stats and Summary

Best Bits

Best Walking Day

The best day walk was the first day which was through the Lower Glenelg National Park. It has varied vegetation and good track conditions making it easy to walk. In fairness,  every day walking was good but I had completed the other sections, in reverse direction, during the Aussie Camino earlier this year.

Best Meal

All meals were good. To me the best meal is difficult to determine so I'll give equal 1st place to the dinner at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse and the lunch at Tae Rak indigenous centre. 

Best Attraction

The lighthouse tour between meal courses at the dinner was special and interesting but I have been there before, so for me the best attraction was the Tae Rak indigenous centre. This had only been open for a few months and they did really well with a magnificent lunch and tour of the wet lands. I tasted eel for the first and dare I say the last time - interesting flavour and texture.

Hardest Bit

The hardest bit of walking for me (and I think most of us) was the on the last day walking up off the beach on the sand dune stairs. This was hard going for about 15 minutes but worth the cool breeze at the top. The beach this time, unlike when I walked it during the Aussie Camino earlier in the year, was a little soft underfoot and the legs really knew they were working.
 

Weather

The weather was kind to us. There was a bit of rain but nothing that soaked us to the bone. Walking this in Winter would be a different story. Air temperatures were quite mild and easy enough to walk in. There was a head wind on the last day but this was not too strong and was quite refreshing as things started to heat up a bit.
 

Would I do it again?

Simple answer is Yes I would do it again. Only advise I have on this is that if you have done the Aussie Camino then don't do this in the same year you do the Camino. The coastal walking was still quite fresh in my mind from the Camino, however, doing it in the reverse direction was interesting.

 

RAW Travel looked after us really well. The accommodation was great, support on the track with morning and afternoon teas and lunch stops at the bus was very much appreciated.

Last Day - Portland to Melbourne

Later start today with breakfast at 0730 and then onto the bus at 0845 for the to to Port Fairy.

Arrived in Port Fairy just before1000 for a guided walking tour of the town given to us by a volunteer tour guide,  Glen. The tour was was based on the history of Port Fairy and dealt mainly with bungles and disasters. It was interesting and a lot of fun especially the virtual whale hunt. Six of us were chosen to crew a make believe whaling boat and do a whale hunt. Unfortunately for Glen he had chosen me to be the helmsman (in charge of the boat); I was in my element and I hammed it up so much even Glen was laughing. 

We had lunch at The Mill at 1200.  Great café and a good feed. The meals were large and the pies and pasties are made by the café.  A quick break and short walk back to the bus before leaving for Melbourne via Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve.  We got to the reserve, the remains of a volcano and the cone in the middle of the crater, at about 1330.  This is a surprising place and a really beautiful picnic area with a good number of short walks through the reserve. As we parked the bus an Emu strolled close by not apparently concerned about us. We also found 2 Koalas (one with a joey).

 

We headed off to Melbourne at 1350. A short stop in Colac for a leg stretch and then on our way again. There were numerous fields full of flowering canola, a spectacular sight from the bus. 

 

We arrived at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) at about 1745 (traffic moved ok but was still the expected mayhem).  After saying the goodbyes Lib and I grabbed a cab just before Flinders Street Station and we were home at about 1840.
 

We were greeted by a really excited dog who was really grateful we were home. 

Trewalla Camp to Encharted Forrest

23 Km

Lib not walking at the start of today as beach walking will not do her knee much good; she will join us at lunchtime.

On the bus and away at 0745 and started walk 0815 from road entrance to Trewalla Camp.
Arrived at the camp site at 0830 before heading to the beach. They were two hikers at the camp packing up their gear; they were doing the three Great South West Walk and have three more days to do.

We were on the beach at 0900 and headed off towards Cape Nelson. The tide was out but the sand was soft which made the walking a tad tough. We stopped for morning tea at containers at about 0945. The two hikers met up with us at the containers and we gave them a bit of chocolate just to help them on their way. Heading off again along the beach the going was not any easier but it wasn't too bad. There was a bit of a headwind that copied us down well but didn't really slow us down.

At 7km mark we started the uphill climb of the beach. It is steep and sandy and hard work. It took me nearly 15 minutes to get to the top - ouch. At the top the track then winds its way around the top of the cliff through areas of low trees and shrubs. Very nice area with some of the trees creating laneways. A couple of Km from the lunch stop the vegetation changes back to low coastal shrubs.

Lunch at 1200 at Murrells Beach car park. Dave and Libby were there with everything set up. A relaxing lunch with time for the legs and feet to cool off. It was quite a busy place with kite surfers and fishermen coming and going.

We set off again at 1300, Libby was worth l with us this time. The track made its way to the top of the cliffs and vegetation started off with a rocket of Soap Marley and then changed numerous times ending up as the rocky, low shrubs coastal area we were used to.

We arrived at Cape Nelson lighthouse at 1440 for afternoon tea but the café was closed. We didn't wait long at the lighthouse before making our way to the Enchanted Forrest. Three members of the group opted to take the bus and miss this part of the walk.

The views of the headlands and the bay are great along here. We stopped at the Mallee Camp for a short rest stop and met the two hikers from the start of the day. The Enchanted Forest is green, cool and a tad damp; a lovely place to be. The climb out of the forest is long and doing it the end of the day hurt. We finished at 1715 and had glasses of bubbles to celebrate. The hard yards are now done.

Went to Point Danger gannet nesting wildlife reserve. We were given a tour of the area and a talk on the gannets. They are very big birds and spend many years at sea in there early years before returning to mate and raise their young. The wind here was fairly strong and really cold; shivered even a fleece and jacket on.

A quick dash back to the hotel to shower and change before dinner T 1930. We walked to the Royal Hotel but it was closed. The tour company had booked and confirmed the booking so the fact it was closed was a surprise. Some quick crisis management and we went to the RSL for dinner. Really good dinner and great service from the RSL to fit is in at the last moment and late.

We were back in the hotel at about 2200 and started packing for the trip home tomorrow

Bridgewater Lakes to Cape Bridgewater

19.2 Km

 

On the bus and heading off at 0745.
Started walk at 0820 from Bridgewater Lakes. I was the 'Whip' today at the back with a radio to make sure we accounted for everyone between stops.

I've been to this area before during the Aussie Camino Walk but over the next 2 days I'll be walking the tracks in the other direction.

The track started through sand dune areas with a lot of vegetation and then made it came out on the top of coastal cliffs. The view of the bay and beach is great and the walking was easy.

Stopped at Amos Road car park for morning tea 0945. Bus was there with table and chairs set up as well as tea coffee and snacks. A couple of Koalas were spotted in the trees at the car park.

Off again at about 1015. The terrain changed to a moonscape which was hard under foot but ok to walk on. There was a far off sighting of a whale but as much as we looked and waited it there were no more. It sprinkled rain for a short while but I kept my jacket on to keep the wind chill out.

Lunch at the Blow holes 1220 ish where table and chairs were again set up by Dave before we got there. A very pleasant lunch from a selection of choices. There were quite a few tourists on the area visiting the blowholes.

We set off again about 1310 and visited the blowholes and petrified forest before heading off towards Cape Bridgewater.

The weather turned a tad wet for about 30 minutes prior to us getting to the seal colony. Whilst the wind and rain were cold it was still ok walking. The ground and vegetation to low coastal shrubs and easier walking as we got closer to Cape Bridgewater.

Arrived at the seal colony at 1515 and the seals were not to be found; they must have been out fishing or hiding close to the cliff. As we moved on to meet the bus at Cape Bridgewater we saw a few seals playing close to the shoreline. We arrived back at the bus at about 1615.

Back at hotel 1640 and then off to dinner at Cape Nelson lighthouse at 1830. The dinner was a 3 course Moroccan meal which was very tasty. Between course we were given a tour of the lighthouse which included going up into the light room while the light was working. The lighthouse guide gave us a very good talk about the light history and how it works.

We were back at the hotel at about 2130.

Glenelg River Gorge

16.4Km

Beautifully still morning today. Breakfast at 0700 and on the road at 0800. Quick stop in Nelson then off to start of walk. Set off on the walk at 0925. The track goes above the river and the scenery is great. The bush is not very dense so it is good walking. The wattles were starting flower which great to see.

Morning tea at 1040 (5.8km). There was a picnic table and toilets so it was a good area to stop. We crossed into South Australia at about 1115 and kept following the track above the river. We dropped down to the river bank and had lunch at Hirths Landing just before 1200. This is a lovely place with about 4 picnic tables and a small wharf.

Off again at 1300 ish towards Nelson. The track goes away from the river for a short distance and then we re- entered Victoria. Unlike the South Australian side there was no sign indicating that we were entering Victoria. The track goes through an area of grass trees and the vegetation got denser as we got closer to the coast (still easy walking).

It started to rain lightly so we took a short break at about 1425 in a camping shelter. We moved on after about 10 minutes and the rain eased. We met the van for afternoon tea at 1440 on the outskirts of Nelson. It was a great spread with tea and coffee also available. The last few Km into Nelson followed the river and we ended the walk at 1542 outside Nelson pub.

We did a scenic trip to the beach and river estuary before stopping in the pub for beers 'n' bubbles before heading back to Portland.

We got back at Portland hotel at 1820. Quick shower and change then down to meet the others for dinner at 1920. Dinner was at another pub and it was a really good meal. We called it quite at about 2115.

An earlier start tomorrow for a longer walk.

The wheels on the bus go around and around

Left the Quest just before 0700 and walked the short distance to the meeting point at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Met the guide,  Fred, and a couple of other tour members before the bus arrived.  There are 10 of us on the tour, excluding the driver (Dave) and guide. Everything was packed and we were on our way on time at 0730.

 

Stopped in Winchelsea for coffee (breakfast) at Café La Hoot. Nice area near the river and parks. 

Morning tea just before 1030 in Camperdown at the Snout in Trough Café. Good coffee and cakes. 

On the road at 1130. Arrived at Tae Rak (Lake Condah) indigenous centre for lunch and tour of area. This is the location of the oldest freshwater aquaculture system in the world. 

 

 

After a magnificent lunch we did a tour of the wet lands and aquaculture system. Very clever how it was managed and sustained.  

 

 

Off to Portland at about 1600. Checked into the hotel at about 1645 and got settled in for the next 4 days. We are staying at the same place I was in at the start of the Aussie Camino earlier this year, Macs Quality Hotel. The room is huge and we will be here for the duration of the walk which is just perfect. 

 

Short walk around the block before snacks and dinner at the hotel at 1800. Steak and chips with a few drinks for dinner and a lot of good banter. A good day was had by all.

 

Tomorrow is first walking day. 

Day before the tour start

Staying at the Quest Southbank, arriving just before 1500. We have stayed here before and it hasn't disappointed; roomy apartment with kitchen, 2 bedrooms  and 2 bathrooms.  This location is close the pick-up  location for tomorrow morning and close to resturants for dinner tonight. 

 

The weather was cool with no rain so we used the opportunity to take a quick afternoon walk through Kings Domain and Botanical Gardens.

 

Early dinner at Ludlow Bar and Dining Room. Good meal with a couple of vinos. 

 

Early-ish start tomorrow.