Great Ocean Walk 2015

Friday 13 - Wednesday 25 March 2015
Led by Elizabeth and Geoff

Words by Karen M
Photos by Donna, Brian and Bob M

 

The Great Ocean Walk is described as Victoria's premier long distance walk, hugging the dramatic coastline between Apollo Bay and the landmark Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road. It offers a great variety of contrasting habitats, historical interest points, wildlife and beautiful remote beaches to explore - bounded by the wild Great Southern Ocean. Many people are familiar with the Great Ocean Road but the Great Ocean Walk offers completely different perspectives, far from roads and people.

The Great Ocean Walk can be tackled as an extended 7-8 day packwalk, staying in purpose built campsites along the track, or walked as a series of day hikes. Elizabeth and Geoff chose to base our group of 32 walkers at Bimbi Park located near Cape Otway and we walked the 114 km track over 9 days, every day dividing into two groups, one walking east to west, the other, west to east and meeting midway to swap carkeys, thereby avoiding time consuming car shuffles.

A third small group of members elected to spend their time exploring the region by car and enjoying short walks. They visited Cape Otway Lighthouse, the Sequoia Plantation at Beech Forest in the Otway Ranges, Melba Gully and Maits Rest with their wonderful beech and ash forest walks, waterfalls, and small villages with delectable coffee shops. Not to mention the Otway Fly which is one of the best treetop walks in Australia.

Day 1 - Apollo Bay to Shelly Beach (and vice versa), 7 kilometres  

Starting at Shelly Beach and walking to Apollo Bay Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	One of the little bays along the way Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	The two groups meet and swap carkeys Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 2 - Shelly Beach to Blanket Bay (and vice versa) - 16 kilometres  

Mary is relieved to find Elliot River is not a raging torrent after all Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	The track turns inland Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Carnivorous Otway Black Snail finds unexpected celebrity Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Entering the domain of the mighty Mountain Ash Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	The meeting of the two groups Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	More Mountain Ash and Tree Fern forest Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 3 - Blanket Bay to Cape Otway - 10.5 kilometres
We walked this section in one group, with a car shuffle.  

Manna Gum forest Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Secluded little Parker Inlet Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Pretty Parker Creek Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Typical stone steps along the well made track Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Erika and Phillip explore a deserted beach during lunch Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Approaching Cape Otway Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 4 - Cape Otway to Aire River (and vice versa) - 9 kilometres

On the cliffs above Station Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	We meet again Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Southern Ocean Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Ainslie and Mike Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	A windswept Len Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Aire River Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 5 - Aire River to Johanna Beach (and vice versa) - 14.5 kilometres

Rapidly disappearing signpost on Johanna Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	West to east group starting their walk at Johanna Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Climbing away from Johanna towards Aire River Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

East to west group heading towards Johanna Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Another top view Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	East to west group finishing at Johanna Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 6 - Johanna Beach to Horne's Road (and vice versa) - 13 kilometres

East to west group above Johanna Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	West to east group starting out Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Approaching Milanesia Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Milanesia locked gate Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Hikers on road Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Grassy farmland behind Johanna Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 7 - Milanesia Locked Gate to Moonlight Head (and vice versa) - 12.5 kilometres
Several of our walkers left for home at this stage, however 19 remained, and we continued our keyswapping trek along the coast towards the finish point at the Twelve Apostles.  

Walking east to west on Milanesia Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Comfy lunch spot at Ryans Den campsite Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	With a view Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Erika and Phillip crest another hill Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	The day of views and hills Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Looking back to the lunch spot peak Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 8 - The Gables to Gellibrand River (and vice versa) - 15 kilometres
Today we skipped the 5 km inland section from Moonlight Head to The Gables because of difficult car access points along the track.  

West to east group look back at Gellibrand River Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	And Gellibrand Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	While the east to west group tackle Wreck Beach Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Where the tide is coming in fast Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Incoming tide and nowhere to go Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	They made it Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 9 - Gellibrand River to Twelve Apostles - 8.5 kilometres
On the last day we all walked together, with a quick car shuffle handling the transport logistics.  

All walkers starting at Gellibrand River wetlands Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	First distant sight of our destination Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Tantalising glimpses of the 12 Apostles Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Nearly there Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	View from the bottom of Gibsons Steps Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	We made it Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

And there's more.......................
The campsite at Bimbi Park is so alive with koalas, you can find them dropping out of trees and sitting in the middle of the road. And it was Len's 80th birthday and Mary and John had birthdays too so we celebrated with a party and a big shiny delicious chocolate cake (thanks Meriel!).

Elizabeth and Geoff deserve the BBBW Bushwalker Wrangling Award of the Year for 2015, for successfully managing two chaotic car shuffles and several precarious keyswaps. Geoff always looked incredibly relieved when the two groups met and everyone made it back to camp in one piece. The logistics of organising and managing a camp like this should not be underestimated, and it is to Elizabeth and Geoff's credit that they emerged still smiling, having achieved their aim of guiding our group along the Great Ocean Walk.  

Grant, Jan, John and Meriel on the Cape Otway Lighthouse track Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Close encounter with a koala Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Len's campfire Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Mary and the birthday cake Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Birthday Bushwalkers Mary, Len and John Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Camp Leaders Elizabeth and Geoff still smiling Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

 

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