Bridgewater Bay, Mornington Peninsula National Park

These pix were taken on January 21, 2012 at Bridgewater Bay, Mornington Peninsula National Park, 80 km south of Melbourne.

They show the magnificent coastal scenery on the 2 km circuit track, starting at the small car park at the end of St. John's Wood Rd (Blairgowrie).

The signed track is mostly on sand, and a staircase of about 100 steps leads down to the Beach. There are some hilly sections, and seats at various vantage points.

Beware of the huge March flies which like to eat humans!

Part of the track follows the Lifesaver Track, which forms part of the long Peninsula Coastal Walk.

See the Slide Show of my visit, and check out my YouTube video!

Exploring the Portsea Foreshore Reserve

On Sunday April 19 2009 I visited Portsea, about 120 km south of Melbourne, on the Mornington Peninsula.

My visit concentrated on about 3 km of walking tracks in the Portsea Foreshore Reserve and nearby, which extends generally for about 2 km east of the town of Portsea. It includes the historical Point King Lookout/cairn and beach, and Shelly's Beach.

European visitation of the area dates back to 1802 when Lieutenant Murray spent over three weeks exploring its features. He named Point Nepean and, at Point King, he thrust the Union Jack proprietorially into native soil. A cairn now marks the spot.

The region was once used for lime production, and the remains of old kilns may be seen.

Walking tracks and staircases lead down to the Foreshore Reserve and the sandy beach, reached from Point Nepean Rd west of Sorrento. The main access points are from small car parks at the end of Point King Rd and Hemston Avenue.

Point King Beach has many private bathing boxes and small boat sheds, nestled at the base of the cliffs. The main jetty extends about 100 m into the Bay.

The views from the clifftop walking tracks and the Lookout are spectacular, with marvellous panoramas across the Bay, to Arthur's Seat, and over the Sorrento small-boat harbour. The Queenscliff passenger ferry was making its way to Sorrento.

See my set of Photos of the visit!

George Bass Coastal Walk - Kilcunda Section

The George Bass Coastal Walk offers enthusiasts the chance to follow the route of George Bass’ journey of some 200 years ago along the coastline between San Remo and Kilcunda in the Bass Coast region.

Nearly 30 years after George Bass discovered this area by boat, another explorer, William Hovell, set to explore it by foot, of which he depicted in his diary, “…the land here is high, soil light but not good, very thick of low stunted trees with low bush…the land ends abruptly towards the bay and the opposite side of the entrance, facing Cape Woolamai and in many parts ends in perpendicular bluffs.”

This was a good portrayal of the landscape that still remains today. Although a lot of the vegetation has been destroyed by grazing, many native plants including White Correa, Sea Box and Tea Tree still cling to the windswept cliff tops.

This two hour coastal walk, mainly along the cliff tops, of 7 km, is situated on the original land of the Bunurong indigenous people. The walk stretches from the outskirts of San Remo at Punchbowl Road (turn off from the Phillip Island Tourist Road), to the Bass Highway (just opposite the hall at Peppermint Road) in Kilcunda. It is about 120 km south of Melbourne.

Along the track there are also excellent opportunities for bird watching and throughout winter Southern Right Wales on their migration trail can be spotted from the cliff tops.

The walk offers spectacular views of the coastline. An average level of fitness is required for the walk, as it includes using stiles over farm fences - there are some steep and rock sections - seats are placed along the walk.

I did about 6km (return) of the eastern section of this magnificent walk on March 24, 2009, starting at the Shelly Beach end at Kilcunda, and reaching a point overlooking the marvellous secluded Half Moon Bay beach.

I had completed the western section a few weeks ago, from Punchbowl.

The Pictures show the scenery, the cliffs, the track, Half Moon Bay Beach, The Arch rock formation, Shelly Beach, an old Steam Engine Coalmining Winch, other walkers, and the Trestle Bridge at Kilcunda East.

The Walk now links to the Bass Coast Rail Trail at Kilcunda, which follows the alignment of the disused railway line for 16 km between Anderson and Wonthaggi. It is possible to walk from the Punch Bowl in San Remo all the way to the centre of Wonthaggi.

The historical trestle bridge is part of the Rail Trail, at the Bourne Creek estuary, Kilcunda East.

See the Photos of my trip, which include an image taken in 1929 of the Victorian National Resources Development Train - Gippsland - passing Kilcunda East Surf Beach.

Flinders Coast - West Head Beachwalk

The coastal settlement of Flinders is about 90 km SE of Melbourne, and dates back to the 1830s.

On the western edge of the village is an outstanding and long-established golf course which sits atop the cliffs overlooking Bass Strait.

Near the entrance to the Golf Gourse is the the West Head Lookout, which offers grand views across Bass Strait, Westernport Bay, the Back Beach, Mushroom Reef, and the ocean coast towards Cape Schanck.

A walking track/stairway descends from the Lookout to Back Beach.

At the western end of Back Beach is the start of the Ocean Beach, adjacent to the Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary.

When the tide is out it is possible to see how the rocks form a T-shape which is thought to be a partial modification of a natural feature realised by the local Aborigines in order to aid their fishing activities.

Yellow triangular markers designate the boundaries of the Reef.

My visit was on Tuesday March 3, 2009, on a 4 km (return) beachwalk from the West Head Lookout along the Back Beach and Coastal Beach.

See the full set of Photos of this trip.

George Bass Coastal Walk - Western Sector from San Remo

The popular George Bass Coastal Walk is a cliff top walk that stretches from the outskirts of San Remo at Punchbowl Road, to the Bass Highway (just opposite the hall at Peppermint Road) in Kilcunda. It is about 120 km south of Melbourne.

The turn-off to Punchbowl Rd is about 2 km east of San Remo township, off the Phillip Island Tourist Rd.

The walk is about 7 km one way, and offers spectacular views of the coastline, following the route of the explorer George Bass' epic voyage of discovery along the southern edge of the Anderson Peninsula, over 200 years ago.

An average level of fitness is required for the walk, as it includes using stiles over farm fences. Some sections are rather steep, such as the rough access side-track down to the Half Moon Bay Beach. Flies can be a nuisance!

I did about 6km (return) of the western section of this magnificent walk January 25, 2009, starting at the Punchbowl Rd car park, and reaching the marvellous secluded Half Moon Bay beach.

See my album of all of the Pictures of this trip, which show the scenery, the cliffs, the track, Half Moon Bay Beach, the Punchbowl, other walkers, and me.

Magnificent coastal scenery at Tea Tree Creek Bay

Tea Tree Creek Bay is a wonderful secluded cove on the south coast, 90 km from Melbourne, in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.

It is near the town of Flinders, and is accessed by a 1 km foot-track from the Boneo Rd. A small car park is located at the start of the signposted track.

There are magnificent views looking south across the open ocean of Bass Strait, as well as the dramatic coastlines from the clifftop, in either direction, with waves breaking over large basalt rock formations.

I visited the Bay on October 11, 2008, following the beach track to East Point, then back to the staircase, then up to the top of West Bluff.

The cliffs rise about 50 m from sea level.

See the full set of beautiful Photos

The spectacular Blow Hole rock formation, Flinders Coast

The Blow Hole is a specacular natural rock formation, on the Flinders Coastline, 90 km south of Melbourne.
The access road is about 1 km west of Flinders township.

I visited the Blow Hole on October 1, 2008, descending the long wooden staircase to the rocks, along the beach to the east head, and along the top of the rugged west cliff.

These images were taken on October 1, 2008, on a hot, humid and partly overcast day!

See the full set of Photos