Monthly Archives: April 2016

hiking

Great Ocean Walk – Part 2

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Day 3, Tuesday, 8 March – (24km) to Johanna Beach. (bypass Aire River)

Scenery 1 – day 3

We started  around 7:40am because of the distance we had to cover that day. This section of trail was very close to the ocean most of the times.

GOW Day 3 – Part 1

We arrived at the Aire River campsite shortly after 10am and was greeted by a clan of swamphens at the the ‘reception area'(shelter).

This campsite was also the only one with multiple toilets. Cape Otway has a pair of toilet cubicles, but this one had four!

The Great Ocean Road converged with the Great Ocean Walk at Castle Cove, so we saw more people at this tourist attraction during our short stay than the total number of people we saw for the rest of the day.

GOW Day 3- Part 3

Johanna beach camp had some sites with awesome view, but hike to get there involved walking on the sand for nearly 2 kilometres with full pack on.

Trail 7 – day 3

As a reward, the campsites had, in my opinion, the best view of all hike in campsites. You can set your tent up very close to the cliff edge, over looking the ocean from the top of the hill.

View from the Johanna Beach campsite

Day 4,  Wednesday, 9 March  – (14km) Johanna Beach to Ryan’s Den.

Trail Mark – Day 4

After left the campsite with astonishing view, the track entered a hilly farmland area. This part reminded me of the six foot track. Kangaroos observed us from afar.

Great Ocean Walk Day 4 – Part 1

 

There were a couple of farms at the either side of the road, and road itself looked as if it was frequently driven on.

Great Ocean Walk Day 4 – Part 2

7-8 kilometres on, the track returned to it’s normal, hiking along the ocean theme – up and down the green hilly side, next to the ocean.

Great Ocean Walk Day 4 – Part 3

Then after crossing a dried creek at low tide, the tracked started going up. There were some dense blackberry bushes at the side of the track.

Great Ocean Walk Day 4 – Part 4

There were a couple of steep climbs in this section, but none of them were very long. The trail was well maintained.

Great Ocean Walk Day 4 – Part 5

We arrived the campsite fairly early, although the frequent ups and downs during the second half would raised this section’s difficulty to medium.

Shelter at Ryan’s Den campsite
hiking

Great Ocean Walk – Part 1

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I have hiked the Great Ocean Walk organised by a bushwalking group last month. The track is about 105km and we have completed it in 6 days.

Day 1, Sunday, 6 March – (22km) Apollo Bay to Blanket Bay (bypass Elliot Ridge Campground).

The walk started off as a street walk from the Apollo bay, on the foot path along the Great Ocean Road. Soon it turned into a path close to the ocean – sometimes across the grassland, sometimes a short stroll on the beach, other times walking on the rocks near the ocean. There were a few blackberry bushes along the path.

After lunch at Elliot Ridge Campground, the walk entered an ancient forest. I was told that the area might be the place for a crowded koala population. But high density does not make them easy to spot for they usually sit near the very top of those were very, very tall trees. It’s not uncommon to sight trees thicker than a round family dining table.

First I did not notice any koalas, it was not until I noticed poop in the middle of the track, did I look up. And there it was, two koalas sitting right above of me! It was then, we started paying attention to the top of the trees, and in a short period of time we spotted quite a few.
That night, a fox was sighted lurking around near the campsite. My first thought was: it would come over and steal my food when I fall asleep.
Surprisingly, it did not happen.
Day 2, Monday, 7 March – (11km) Walk Blanket Bay to Cape Otway

Blanket Bay campsite is very close to the ocean. I started the day with a short stroll on the beach and was greeted by a couple of sea birds.

GOW Day 2 – 1

It turned out to be a rather hot day with many snakes out on the track sun baking.

Once I had a baby snake literally between my feet, trying to get away. But judging by the speed of how they slithered away, they were more scared of me than I was of them.

GOW Day 2 – Trail

Unlike last day’s  route, the track on Monday was close to the ocean. Like the rest of the walk, the scenery changed from section to section, but mostly of stunning ocean, creeks and undulating hillsides.

GOW day 2 – 3

The hike in campsites on the Great Ocean Walk have more or less the standard shelters/kitchens and toilets, this is a natural composite toilet at Cape Otway.

Toilet at Cape Otway campsite