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They show the scenery, activities, and environment on a 4 km (return) hike along the coast from Balnarring to Somers Beaches, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.
These pix were taken on February 4, 2012, at the beautiful Koonya Ocean Beach, 80 km (by road) south of Melbourne, in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
My 4 km coastal hike in the sand and water started at the carpark at the end of Hughes Rd, Blairgowrie, along the beach south to Spray Point then north to the Dog's Head rock formation.
The beach is accessed from a 200 m walking path, with steps, descending via from the carpark.
There are magnificent views of the coast from the lookout next to the carpark.
See all of the Photos of my visit, and check out my YouTube video!
These pix were taken on January 15 2012, at the Portsea Ocean Beach, 90 km (by road) south of Melbourne.
From the lower level car park, I did a 2 km exploration, visiting the Main Lookout, then down to the beach, past the Lifesaving Club, and back uphill to the car park.
Lots of action, big waves. and glorious coastal views!
See all of the Photos of my visit, and check out my YouTube video!
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.
Tea Tree Creek Bay is a wonderful secluded cove on the Flinders coast, 90 km from Melbourne, in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
It is about 3 km west of the town of Flinders, and is accessed by a 1 km foot-track and staircase 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 Easter Sunday April 12 2009. I usually go down there every six months - this was the autumn trip! I followed the beach track to East Point, then back to the staircase, then up to the top of West Bluff, a total of about 3 km.
The Bunurong Marine National Park extends along approximately 5 km of coastline from 2.5 km east of Cape Paterson in Southern Gippsland (120 km SE of Melbourne) to the eastern end of Eagles Nest Beach (about 6 kilometres south-west of Inverloch), and offshore for approximately three nautical miles to the limit of Victorian waters, encompassing a total of approximately 2,100 hectares.
The Bunurong coast is special - a coast full of striking rock formations, attractive sandy coves, rugged sandstone cliffs and prominent headlands. The coastal waters also contain a remarkable range of habitats that support abundant marine life, nurtured by an unusual set of environmental conditions.
The name "Bunurong" refers to the local Aboriginal group that have lived in this area for thousands of years and have used the coast extensively for food gathering.
These coastal waters share the cool waters of Victoria's central and western coasts, but unlike those shores, are relatively protected from the southwesterly swell by the position of far away King Island. The gently sloping rocky seafloor is also uncommon in Victoria.
The park contains extensive intertidal platforms and subtidal rocky reefs that are uncommon along the Victorian coast. These sandstone areas provide numerous microhabitats and contribute to the area having a very high diversity of intertidal and shallow subtidal invertebrates. There is a mixed assemblage of brown algae and seagrass, supporting a high proportion of Victoria's marine invertebrates, including brittle stars, sea cucumbers, barnacles, sea anemones and chitons.
I visited this spectacular region on April 8 2009, which included Cape Paterson. My trip included a 3 km (return) walk along the cliff tops from Cape Paterson to The Channel Beach and westerly along the surf beach. I also visited Undertow Bay, Twin Reefs Bay, and The Oaks Bay, which are east of Cape Paterson.
These Bays may be viewed from observation points from signed car parks off the Inverloch Rd, and are accessed by staircases.
Warneet is a village about 50km southeast of Melbourne. on the north of Westernport Bay.
With a population of around 460, Warneet is one of the smaller towns in Australia, and is at an altitude of about 9m above sea level.
It's popular for fishing and boating, and is located on the Rutherford Inlet. On the opposite bank is the village of Cannon's Creek.
Several interesting walking tracks start at the South Jetty, around the inlet and through extensive mangrove wetlands.
I visited Warneet on April 5, 2009, and explored the Main Walking Track (from South Jetty to North Jetty), and the interesting Mangroves Walking Track, a total distance of about 4 km.
Corinella is an idyllic seaside town, about 110 km SE of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay. It's a small peninsula of land surrounded on three sides by water, and reached from the Bass Highway, along the Corinella Rd.
Corinella is blessed with panoramic picturesque views of the sea and islands along with a very pleasant year-round climate and has ideal access to the bay for most types of boating craft.
A lovely blend of rural grazing and farming land surrounds the Corinella peninsula with a broad range of agricultural production, including prestigious thoroughbred racing horse farms, beef and dairy cattle, red deer farming, flower and herb growers, winery viticulture and many more, all prospering in this ideal seaside climate.
Corinella is a very important historic town, and is one of the first towns settled in the state of Victoria, indeed Australia.
Its historic significance to Australia's settled history is very important and is not widely recognised or advertised. Most historical talk of Australia's settlement birth is always focused on Sydney and NSW; however Corinella was actually the site of the first Government House in Victoria and was a town at federation.
One of the first British settlements in what is now Victoria was established here, albeit briefly, in 1826.
In that year, a French vessel under Dumont d'Urville examined Westernport, arousing apprehensions about French colonisation of the southern coastline. Coupled with this was the favourable report of the Westernport district made by explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell who believed that their 1824 overland journey from NSW had terminated at Westernport.
Unfortunately they were mistaken, having actually completed their trek at Port Phillip.
On the basis of their comments, Governor Darling decided to forestall any prospective French plans by establishing a military and agricultural settlement at Westernport.
Captain Wright was dispatched with troops, 21 convicts and William Hovell. Wright established a small military settlement at the present-day site of Rhyll on the north coast of Phillip Island and called it Fort Dumaresq. However, fresh water proved a problem and the outpost was moved to Corinella which was called Settlement Point.
The above information is sourced to the "Visit Corinella" website, at http://www.visitcorinella.com, and used with acknowledgement.
I visited Corinella for the first time on April 1, 2009, and my exploration took me to Settlement Point, the walking track to the lookout and the jetties.
I found the historical cairn on the hill at the end of Jamieson St, which marks the site of the original settlement, from which a walking track took me to good views of the Bay.
I also visited the nice beach at nearby Coronet Bay.
Two beautiful pelicans were near the jetties - several small fishing boats were in the main channel, and the Corinella to French Island ferry was chugging its way across the Bay.
Spring Creek Cove is a little known 2 km (return) walking destination west of Flinders Ocean Beach, west of Flinders township, 90 km SE of Melbourne.
It is reached from a car park at the end of King St, near the Golf Course.
The track descends through tall pines to a cleared area, then to the Cove, via wooden steps. Spring Creek enters the ocean here, at the bottom of the cliffs.
The Cove consists of a secluded beach and grey stones.
There are good views from the cliff top towards the West Head, Phillip Island, and the nearby Ocean Beach.
My visit was on Monday March 30, 2009, which included a visit to the Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary and Ocean Beach, and the Flinders Jetty.
On Saturday March 28 2009 I went down to the Mornington Peninsula National Park, about 90 km SE of Melbourne, and did a 4 km (return) coastal walk between St Andrew's and Rye Ocean Beaches.
St Andrew's Ocean Beach is reached from Trueman's Rd, turning off at Sandy Rd - there is a car park and information board at the start of the foot-track.
The views are superb, extending SE to the Cape Schank Lighthouse, and NW towards Portsea.
The rock formations along this stretch of beach are somewhat unique, and surfing is popular.
Shipping was observed a few kms out in the main channel, heading towards Port Phillip Heads after passing Cape Schanck.
The Gunnamatta Surf Beach is about 90 km south of Melbourne, in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
I visited the Beach on March 21, 2009, on a 5 km (return) beachwalk to the southeast, reaching the rocks at the base of the rugged cliffs near Fingal.
The surf was up, with big waves, and the Surf Patrol was vigilant!
The main walking track from Gunamatta to Cape Schank follows the beach along the sand dunes, for about 1 km, where it then veers inland and continues along the cliff top, passing the turn-off to Fingal Beach.
The coastal views towards the Cape Schank Lighthouse were spectacular!
Note that there is an admission fee of $4.40 per car.
My Photos show the scenery, surf, dunes, fishing, swimmers, waves, beach and cliffs with some "candid camera" shots!
Lang Lang is a small country town with a population of over 1,000, located 90 km South East of Melbourne, along the South Gippsland Highway.
The district was first settled in 1839.
Nearby is the Lang Lang Foreshore, a 4 km strip of coastline on Westernport Bay, reached from the Highway along Jetty Lane.
At low tide, an immense mudflats area is exposed, the habitat of many waterbirds and sea creatures.
These mudflats are an important feature of the amazing ecology of the Bay, part of the Westernport Marine National Park.
The Foreshore area is a camping area. Nearby are rows of quaint little boatsheds and small permanent caravans and cabins next to the beach. Part of this area is classified as a Heritage Overlay, specified as "typical of a 1950s style coastal resort". The land is owned by the Crown, and private individuals take out licences for the sheds.
No alterations of any kind may be made to the sheds or other structures without Council approval.
Erosion is a continuing problem, and various trials have been made in attempts to limit the effects. This included the placement of a tall wooden poles on the beach near the boatsheds, and old tyres on posts (at the extreme north of the beach).
There is a stone seawall, information boards, and a boat ramp.
The mangrove population has disappeared, and new plantings have not been successful.
The old jetty was demolished in 2007.
The Foreshore Committee of Management carries out maintenance and upkeep, supported by Government grants, revenue from camping fees, with the assistance of DSE, the local Council, and Parks Victoria.
My visit to this interesting beach was on March 20, 2009, where I did a 6 km coastal walk (return). This took me north to near the mouth of the Lang Lang River, and south to Red Bluff.
The tide was out - there were good views across the Bay towards the French Island National Park and north towards Tooradin.
I visited the Point Leo Coastal Reserve on Westernport Bay on March 18, 2009.
Pt Leo is about 70 km SE of Melbourne, and offers surfing, safe swimming, boating, fishing, water birds, glorious coastal views, a camping ground, general store, walking tracks, and rock-pool exploring.
At low tide, vast reefs are exposed, where many exciting and interesting sea creatures may be observed.
There are excellent views of the coastline from the lookout at Crunchie's Point, just above the Boat Club. On this occasion, Phillip Island and the Nobbies/Seal Rocks were clearly visible across Westernport Bay 11 km to the east. The West Head at Flinders, was also prominent to the south-west.
My visit included a 4 km return beachwalk north-east towards Merricks Beach.
The Blow Hole is a spectacular 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 March 13, 2009, 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 a hot, humid and partly overcast day!