Trail Navigator Blog – Page 3 – Nice walks in Victoria, Australia

Day Walk Along Gardiners Trail

First, I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri clan, of the Woiwurrung peoples as the traditional owners of Gardiner’s Creek Reserve. I want to pay my respects to the past, present and any Indigenous people among us today. I also want to acknowledge that I have profited and benefited from stolen land and that Indigenous people were never ceded sovereignty. Finally, I would like to acknowledge again the Wurundjeri clan of the Kulin Nations the traditional owners of Naarm where I sit and write this blog today and I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the many lands my readers come from.

Gardiner’s Creek Reserve is a nature escape from the busy residential life surrounding it. Perfect for students, families with dogs or friends going for a stroll. The wide graded gravel pathways are accessible by wheelchair users . I recently met my sister here for a picnic and we enjoyed the tranquil surrounds. This trail is a great option for people who want to feel a sense of achievement while experiencing injury or fatigue since the entire loop is short and reasonably flat. Spring is a stunning time of year to explore this reserve, while all the wattles and bottle brushes are blooming the aroma is incredible.

Creek

Rapids

Creek Bend

There are many angles of access to this trail. The most obvious would be the carpark at the north east of the reserve. Here, opposite Bennettswood Bowling Club, you can begin the walk from either direction. We walked in a southeasterly direction planning to handrail the creek in a clockwise direction. There are many bridges to choose from to cut across to the otherside if you want to shorten your stroll and many benches to sit on to relax along the way.

The trail was very busy with people and dogs passing through but due to the many pathways we did not feel crowded at anytime. The southern side of the creek trail stretches for 1.4km before meeting Burwood Highway. We chose to walk beside the highway across to the north side of the creek and continue the circuit but there are trails on the other side of Burwood Highway that you could explore instead if you wanted a longer walk.

Bench along the trail.

The trail handrailing the creek.

We continued walking for 800metres in a northwesterly direction until we came across the off leash dog park and playground area. Here the trail open ups to a wide grassy area with picnic tables. This would be a great opportunity to allow your dog and children to explore and enjoy the surrounding area. We did not stop but continued walking another 800metres in the same direction and found ourselves back at the carpark again alongside Station Street. My sister and I gathered our picnic supplies from the car and found a nice spot to relax in the sunshine after our walk. Although a short stroll this day walk was just the nature immersion we needed for the day, we would highly recommend.

Off leash dog park.

Playground

Trail Name Gardiner’s Creek Circuit
Distance 3km
Estimated Time 40mins
Grade 1
Type Circuit
Park Gardiner’s Creek Reserve
Access 2WD, Dog Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible

Source

October 17, 2023
Day Walk Adventure to the Den of Nargun

First, I would like to acknowledge the Brabralung clan, of the Gunaikurnai peoples as the traditional owners of Mitchell River National Park. I want to pay my respects to the past, present and any Indigenous people among us today. I also want to acknowledge that I have profited and benefited from stolen land and that Indigenous people were never ceded sovereignty. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Taungurung peoples of the Kulin Nations the traditional owners of the land where I sit and write this blog today and I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the many lands my readers come from.

The Den of Nargun is a sacred place for the Gunaikurnai people. I could feel the sacredness of the site and felt privileged to visit this incredible natural wonder.

“According to Gunaikurnai lore the Nargun is a large female creature who lives in a cave behind the waterfall. Stories were told around campfires about how the Nargun would abduct children who wandered off on their own. The Nargun could not be harmed with boomerangs or spears.”
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation

This stunning cave sits on Woolshed Creek, a small tributary of the Mitchell River. Within Gunaikurnai lore this is a special meeting place for women only, Gurnaikurnai men are not allowed to enter this area. Here initiation and learning ceremonies are held. The Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation ask us when visiting to not enter the cave and to be respectful of the surrounding environment.

An old tree along the way.

We appreciated the moss growing on this tree.

I visited this cave with my partner and another couple. We were drawn in by the moss gardens, old twisted trees and the clear running creek beside the trail. We parked our car at Den of Nargun Picnic Area where there are toilets and plaques explaining the history of the place. The weather was overcast but warm and so we didn’t know if it would rain but knew that we would be well protected within the valley along the creek. To the east about 100m away from the carpark and toilets you will find the trailhead. After 140m of hiking in a northern direction on reasonably flat terrain we came across an intersection. We continued hiking to the north and ignored the eastern facing trail. We planned for a short hike but it would still be worth a visit if you were up for the 3km round trip. This 3km loop includes more culturally significant locations including the Deadcock Den and the Bluff Lookout. We chose to go with the 1.7km round trip instead.

Another old and unique tree along the way.

For the next 300m we hiked a steady decline of 150m elevation. Take care in this section as its steep and slippery. We came upon another intersection here where the trail follows the river to the east and the west. We turned west towards the Den of Nargun and hand railed the Woolshed Creek. The trail becomes rocky, mossy and full of dead leaves here. This in my opinion is the most beautiful part of the day walk other than the actual cave. Although overgrown there are many little picnic or relax spots on old stumps or logs alongside the river here. We saw someone with a hammock setup nearby, it was extremely tranquil.

This is what the trail looks like along the creek.

After 400m of hiking alongside the river we came across the Den of Nargun. We spent a long time sitting on rocks taking in the magnificence of this area. As we sat there it began to rain, luckily we were protected by the tree canopies surrounding us and we got to take in the magic. To complete the trail we turned around and followed the same trail back to our car. The uphill steep section was a good challenge and less protected from the rain but being such a short hike very manageable.

Den of Nargun

If you wanted to change it up you could continue hiking east from the Den of Nargun handrailing the creek, passed the intersection where the trail begins to incline back towards the carpark. From the Den of Nargun its only 1km to the Deadcock Den and then another 600m to the Bluff Lookout. Finally only 550m from there back to the carpark. As you can see there are multiple routes there and back to choose from.

A closer look.

Den of Nargun

Trail Name Den of Nargun
Distance 1.7km
Estimated Time 1hr
Grade 2
Type Trail that you double back on
Park Mitchell River National Park
Access 2WD (gravel dirt road)

Source

October 6, 2023
Sunny Afternoon Day Walk Around Albert Park Lake

First, I would like to acknowledge the Yalukit Willam clan of the Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of Albert Park. I want to pay my respects to the past, present and any Indigenous people among us today. I also want to acknowledge that I have profited and benefited from stolen land and that Indigenous people were never ceded sovereignty. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri peoples of, Naarm, where I sit and write this blog and would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the many lands my readers come from.

Albert Park has an interesting history that I was unaware of until doing more research but it was originally the mouth of the Birrarung (Yarra River). The traditional owners of the land that now holds Albert Park Lake were the Yalukit Willam people. Willam means house, home or place and Yalukit Willam means ‘river home’ or ‘people of the river’. This area was a rich home where Yalukit Willam and their guests found many resources for food, canoe building and mia-mias (temporary homes).

Protected area of the Albert Park Lake for bird life and fish to breed and develop.

To understand the history of current day Albert Park Lake we must start further up Birrarung at Queen St Bridge where the Yarra Waterfall once was. Birrarung flowed over the waterfall toward a smaller waterfall which is now a man made weir called Dights Falls and into a large swampy area. The Yarra Waterfall was demolished with dynamite in 1883. The swampy area due to further disturbance to the river and surrounding land from Melbourne’s development became a lagoon which was wide but only one metre deep. This lagoon was excavated and sealed with man made banks turning it into a deeper water source for boating activities. In 1940 these works were complete.

One of the protected areas still establishing itself.

Today we get to enjoy a man made lake full of various bird life, fish and native plants. The trail is super gentle for all abilities and is a great option if you want to measure how far your walking, running or cycling in a controlled environment. We began at the carpark to the north of the lake. Beware it is paid parking unfortunately, we paid $5.56 for an hour and ten minutes. There is a nice picnic area which includes bbqs and toilets here. We walked anti clockwise around the lake first passing a lot of yacht clubs and docks where you can fish. The lake is very reedy so you would want to choose your fishing spot with care but it is stocked with trout and golden perch. There are many trees along the path on the western side of the Lake. Majority native and mature, it’s worth taking your time in this section to take in the beauty. There is also another picnic area here called Grebe Picnic Area, this would be more scenic than nearby the car park but has less facilities.

Grebe Picnic Area

View from the eastern side of the trees along the western path.

Zoom in of the oldest and most beautiful tree, see if you can find it on your adventure.

The carpark where we parked.

The picnic area nearby the northern parking.

The southern section of the lake seems to be where all the broken reeds collect and most of the birds were feeding here. When we walked passed we were lucky to see a family of fluffy ducklings. This part has the best panoramic views of Melbourne’s skyline. There are also protected areas of the lake where no fishing is allowed, where there is much more vegetation to allow for birds and fish to breed and develop without being disturbed by the boats or fisherman. At this point of the lake there is also a workout zone setup by Parcourse. There is another workout zone midway the eastern side if you want to incorporate a body weight workout within your walk or run. To make it even more user friendly there are km markers all the way around the lake, this is ideal if your interval training or wanting to keep an eye on your distance travelled.

The km markers around the Lake.

The southern workout zone.

The eastern workout zone

The south eastern point of view.

The eastern section of the trail has less trees and is more open. It is also closer to the road which is used by cars and cyclists, luckily there is a 40km speed limit here. There is also a golf course across the road which features a mini golf course. For your walk around the lake you have two choices of trail either the narrow concrete path directly beside the lake which is great for walkers. Or the accessible sandy trail appropriate for wheelchairs, prams, walkers, runners and cyclists. We covered 5km walking from our car to the lake, anticlockwise around the lake and then back to our car. There are other paths, sport facilities (swimming pool, netball courts etc.) and ovals to explore with many offering toilets and picnic facilities to choose from within Albert Park. I would highly recommend this day trip if your wanting a controlled environment for exercise and to enjoy immersing yourself in nature.

An example of the concrete path on the western side.

An example of the sandy trail on the eastern side.

Trail Name Albert Park Lake Path
Distance 5km
Estimated Time 1hrs
Grade 1
Type Circuit
Park Albert Park
Access 2WD

Source

October 3, 2023
Diamond Creek Trail – Eltham to Wattle Glen

We wanted to walk on the Diamond Creek Trail and return back by train for long time and finally we did it on King’s Birthday holiday.

We took a train to Eltham and started walking north.

There were a lot of cyclists and people with dogs. Soon we reached Eltham Adventure Playground.

Eltham North Adventure Playground

Diamond Creek

Sheep grazing on grass

Diamond Creek, view from the bridge

You can see a windmill in the distance

Windmill House has interesting history.

The sign reads:

Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen

The 12.5km Diamond Creek Trail follows the Diamond Creek between Eltham and Hurstbridge. Joining with the Main Yarra Trail at the Yarra River, it provides a continuous 55km trail into the city.

This 2.5km section from Diamond Creek to Wattle Clen is a shared trail for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders and has three creek crossings.

The area has been roamed for centuries by the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri-willam clan of the Woi-wurrung- speaking people, and includes sites of significance.

The trail passes through forest dominated by manna gums (binap in traditional Woi-wurrung language). Keep an eye out for kangaroos (marram), wallabies (wimbi), echidnas (gawarn) and wombats (warin), or even a platypus (Dulaiwurrong) in the creek (yuluk).

Herberts Ruin, the remains of William Herbert’s 1861 stone house and stables, is evidence of Nillumbik’s pioneering days.

Dogs are allowed on leash

We reached Wattle Glen station pretty tired. Fortunately we didn’t have to wait long for the train. We walked 11 km total. The walk took us 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete. You can check recording of our walk on Strava website.

September 22, 2023
Welcome to Victoria – Royal Botanic Gardens

I was soaked. My shorts and t-shirt so wet I was practically leaving a puddle behind me everywhere I went. It had been 38° in Perth the day before, and I had definitely not done my research or dressed for the occasion. Nevertheless, I had been sitting on a plane for the best part of the day, and needed to stretch my legs. It was 3pm by this time, so I had to pick somewhere reasonably close (to my Southbank accommodation), and where my unsuitable attire would not be a great hindrance. What better way to introduce myself to Victoria than by visiting the apparent counterpart to one of my favourite places in Perth – our Supreme Court Gardens.

So off I headed, through an unfamiliar city, guided only by Google Maps on my watch, through intermittent rain, fuelled entirely by the promise of beautiful scenery and a chance to relax.

A miserable sight on a miserable day

After discovering you can’t ride or leave e-scooters anywhere near the gardens (tip – don’t just hop on a scooter and hope for the best! Plan your stop ahead of time, especially in a place you’re unfamiliar with) I was finally in. Luckily for me, the rain had appeared to stop for the foreseeable future, allowing me some much needed time to relax and take in the scenery without worrying too much about the weather. This much needed respite could not have come at a better time.

I appeared to have the gardens to myself, and boy did I need it

It may be important to note here that I did not do any research about the gardens before my visit. I knew it was somewhere I wanted to visit, but other than that I was going in completely blind. Did I have any hopes? Did I have any expectations? I was hoping to see something I could not see at home, flora or fauna, and I was not disappointed.

Plenty of birds we don’t have in W.A.

After about 20 minutes of wandering I honestly didn’t know if I was going in circles or not. But I didn’t care, I was having a wonderful time just taking in the atmosphere and enjoying the opportunity to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Had I been here before? More importantly, did it matter?

At some point during my walk, I had set myself a goal: to find a nook or cranny, off the beaten path, which I could temporarily claim as my own, and imagine I was the first human to ever set foot in that particular spot. Unfortunately, my efforts fell flat, due in part to a lack of time (the gates were closing soon, and I wasn’t about to risk climbing the fence in the rain with those huge spikes on top).

This was alluring, but the plaque inside told me that I was not the first

It was time for me to quickly find one more path to go down, then scramble out and find something for dinner. It didn’t take long for me to find somewhere that looked interesting, and I started feeling sentimental as not only would this be my last look at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, but it also effectively marked the end of my first day ever in Victoria.

I have a soft spot for bridges, and this one was calling my name

Just like that, as quickly as I came in, it was time for me to leave. I was satisfied that I had seen most of what there was to see, but I thought I ought to check the map on my way out, to confirm this. Wait, what’s that? An observatory? Guilfoyle’s Volcano? You win this round, RBG. But I’ll be back…

Goodbye, Royal Botanical Gardens of Victoria. I’ll be back soon, and next time I’ll make sure I don’t miss a thing

September 15, 2023
Janefield Wetlands and Plenty Gorge Park

Plenty Gorge Park is our favourite place to go for a walk. This time we started from Janefield Wetlands near Uni Hill.

Black swan

Boardwalk

Dry creek

Dry tree

Kangaroos

We returned on the trail next to the Plenty River. We walked 6.1 km for about 1.5 hours. Recording of our walk on Strava.

September 8, 2023

Great Ocean Walk Day 6 – Devils Kitchen to the 12 Apostles

First, I would like to acknowledge both the Eastern Maar peoples and the Wadawurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of the Great Otway National Park. I want to pay my respects to the past, present and any Indigenous people among us today. I also want to acknowledge that I have profited and benefited from stolen land and that Indigenous people were never ceded sovereignty. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri peoples of, Naarm, where I sit and write this blog and would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the many lands my readers come from.

The final day of the 5-night hike through the Great Otway National Park. The Great Ocean Walk has been challenging, beautiful, relaxing and a home away from home during this last week. It was bittersweet knowing it was the last day of the trip, my mate and I had such an incredible time together but we were also keen for a shower, see our loved ones and to get a good night’s sleep in our respective beds. But lets not get ahead of ourselves we still have 16km to hike to get to the 12 Apostles. This 16km is definitely do able as a day walk but unfortunately there is no car access between Wreck Beach Carpark and Gellibrand River Carpark. Although the Old Coach Rd does get pretty close to the trail at times this might be something worth investigating. If you were to walk from Wreck Beach to the 12 Apostles it would be 18kms, this makes it a lengthy day walk but not impossible.

Signage along the way of the Great Ocean Walk. The sign is wooden slats with white writing and arrows showing the milestones. There is a dirt trail in the background and ferns behind the sign. — Signage along the way

The first 7kms included gentle undulation and followed the coastal cliffs looking down over the ocean, we trekked in a north west direction. There is no beach access along this section but there are lookouts and boot cleaning stations to avoid the spread of cinnamon fungus. I have spoken previously about the cinnamon fungus but as a reminder it attacks and rots the root systems of plants which ruins the biodiversity of our native plants. Please wash your boots carefully at the stations. As the trail turns inland in a northerly direction the ground under foot changes to become much more sandy, due to Gellibrand River to the west. There are a few more people on the trail than the last few days because they are doing their daily walks along the Gellibrand River. We come across Princetown Camping Reserve along Old Coach Rd. Now we really feel like we are in a built up area.

The mouth of the coastal Gellibrand River. The sky is hazy and cloudy. The coastal bush is green and lush, there is an escarpment in the back ground and you can also start to see the edge of princetown. — Gellibrand River

A picture of a boardwalk and a carpark with a sign for the next leg of the journey. — Our morning tea spot and the next section of the trail at the signpost.

We cross the bridge and decide to have morning tea on the boardwalk over the Gellibrand River. After morning tea we start to hike along the sand dune area. This part of the trail is more steep and includes steps etched into the sandy hills and the occasional boardwalk. By this point we are also on the edge of the Great Otway National Park and so we see more roads, cars and people. This is different compared to the last few days of the trek where there was minimal car access and the only people we bumped into were fellow hikers. It is a little bit of a shock to the system. Although the sandy vegetation and coastal views are beautiful and worth taking in during this section which lasts for 6km.

A lookout with a plack for the Great Ocean Walk. Two women with their backs to the camera, carrying heavy packs stand in front of it. The background is of the 12 apostles and the ocean. The sky is blue with wispy clouds. — Almost at the end of the Great Ocean Walk

Highly recommend taking a photo at this iconic sign, it is a milestone on this 6 day trek. Once at Gibson Steps you can choose to go down to the beach to explore or continue on the trail and cross the Great Ocean Rd. Once you cross the road the trail becomes a two way track and is much busier with tourists and sightseers. We walked along here for 1km until we encountered the Visitor Centre where we turned south and walked to the 12 Apostles lookout. At the lookout there is a bunch of boardwalks to walk along although some of these were under construction when we were there. We said hello to the 12 Apostles and felt we had already said farewell to the trail before this busy section. It was a real jolt back into regular life.

The 12 Apostles are in the background. In the foreground is a grassy cliff overlooking the beach and ocean. There is a large cliff following alongside the beach on the right side of the picture. The sky is blue with a few wispy clouds. — The 12 Apostles.

We walked back to the visitor centre and went straight to the bathrooms. It felt good to have running water on our faces and we cleaned up a little before walking into the shop to grab a hot pie for lunch. From here we hitch hiked back to the car that we left in Apollo Bay. If you don’t want to risk it with hitch hiking there are plenty of shuttle companies that look after this area along the way, just make sure you book with them in advance. There is also a public bus system but unfortunately it only arrives and departs at really inconvenient times. On our journey back to Melbourne we did stop in Apollo Bay for a pub meal and a swim at the beach, highly recommend this final stop before getting swept back into regular life again.

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Devils Kitchen to the 12 Apostles
Distance	16km
Estimated Time	5hrs
Grade	3
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	Hike-in only (2WD access from the 12 Apostles)

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Blanket Bay Campground to Cape Otway Lightstation Carpark
Distance	11km
Estimated Time	3.5hrs
Grade	2-3
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	2WD

September 1, 2023

Great Ocean Walk Day 5 – Ryans Den to Devils Kitchen

First, I would like to acknowledge both the Eastern Maar peoples and the Wadawurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of the Great Otway National Park. I want to pay my respects to the past, present and any Indigenous people among us today. I also want to acknowledge that I have profited and benefited from stolen land and that Indigenous people were never ceded sovereignty. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri peoples of, Naarm, where I sit and write this blog and would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the many lands my readers come from.

We woke up very sore yet extremely proud of ourselves for digging deep the day before and smashing out a 28km hike. We chose to have a slower morning and enjoyed yoga and breakfast at the lookout before the days hike of 13kms. Ryan’s Den was by far our favorite spot of the GOW so far and we didn’t want to leave. The hike from Ryan’s Den to Devils Kitchen was mostly inland until we got to Wreck Beach where you could choose to trek along the beach and then back inland and around to devils kitchen or stay on the more direct inland route. If you were to do this trek as a day walk you could start from the car access at Ryans Den Track 1km before Ryans Den Hike-In Campground. Then hike until the Gable Car Park (10km) or the Wreck Beach Car Park (11km) which means you don’t quite make it to Devils Kitchen Hike-In Campground unless you hike all the way there and back, adding 5km to the 11km hike.

A massive flat rock on the top of a cliff, looking down a the rugged coast line. In the background the ocean and a blue sky, including the hilly coastline covered in coastal brush. — The coastal views along the Great Ocean Walk

The first 4.8km of the inland trail was directly above the ocean on the steep cliffline. After this the trail turned abruptly north and we were technically outside of the Great Otway National Park here we trekked along an access road for 600m before reentering the National Park and travelling west. We were inundated by flys for this short 600m, due to it being so close to farmland and the farm animals there, we were overjoyed to make our way back inside the national park. A lot of this section of the Great Ocean Walk trail is on platforms and involves many boot cleaners. It seemed to be newly constructed and I imagine this is due to the Cinnamon Fungus prevention.

Imagine of the back of a woman walking on a dirt trial surrounded by ferns, tea trees and various australian flora. — Exploring Devils Kitchen

The rest of the walk included a few man made catching features such as the car parks and boot cleaning stations. This helped us with our motivation loss due to the fatigue that a multi-day trip involves by day 5. Each time we passed a ‘checkpoint’ we knew we were that much closer. We chose to walk down the wooden planks to Wreck Beach for morning tea. We left our packs in the bushes at the top of the ‘stairs’ and enjoyed the lighter feeling for the beach scramble. If you do choose to walk along this beach continue to be aware of the tide times due to no inland track exits past this point. I have heard there is some interesting history of the shipwrecks along this beach and various anchors to find. I am sure it is definitely worth a visit. Then we passed the Wreck Beach Carpark and knew we only had 2.6km left until Devil’s Kitchen Hike-In Campground.

Arrival at Devils Kitchen was well deserved, we chose a nice large flat campsite to setup and explored the area. This campsite had the best loo with a view by far out of the entire GOW. We also found a lovely lookout perfect for watching the sunset. We refilled our water bladders and setup monopoly deal inside the group shelter here. After dinner we watched the sunset before crawling into our tents hoping for a long sleep before the final trek out in the morning.

Two red tents set up on a sandy campsite. Tea trees surrounding the setup with the sunlight filtering through their branches. — Devils Kitchen Campsite Setup

An image of the window out of a drop toilet looking at the spectacular vegetation and ocean. — The loo with a view, by far the best drop toilet on the GOW

Two women embracing for a photo in front of the ocean sunset. — The loo with a view, by far the best drop toilet on the GOW

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Ryans Den to Devils Kitchen Hike-In Campground
Distance	13km
Estimated Time	5hrs
Grade	4
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	Hike-in only (2WD access from ??)

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Blanket Bay Campground to Cape Otway Lightstation Carpark
Distance	11km
Estimated Time	3.5hrs
Grade	2-3
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	2WD

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Shelly Beach Picnic Area to Blanket Bay Campground
Distance	15.2km
Estimated Time	5hrs
Grade	2
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	2WD

August 25, 2023

Great Ocean Walk Day 4 – Aire River to Ryans Den

First, I would like to acknowledge both the Eastern Maar peoples and the Wadawurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of the Great Otway National Park. I want to pay my respects to the past, present and any Indigenous people among us today. I also want to acknowledge that I have profited and benefited from stolen land and that Indigenous people were never ceded sovereignty. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri peoples of, Naarm, where I sit and write this blog and would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the many lands my readers come from.

When I look back on this multi-day trek I remember day 4 as the highlight of the trip. We knew it would be a challenge. We had built up our expectations and motivation over the last 3 days. Day 4 was a 28km hike with the most elevation gain and loss of the entire Great Ocean Walk, this should not be undertaken unless your an experienced hiker. To mitigate arriving too late to Ryan’s Den we had a ‘trail breaky’ which meant we picked a certain amount of kilometres to walk before we found a nice spot to eat breakfast on the trail. We found this motivated us to complete more distance first thing in the morning. Highly recommend this technique if you have a long day planned.

Coast Line with native shrubs in the foreground, cliffs on the left and the rough ocean on the right. Its extremely overcast but the sun is trying to poke through in the centre of the sky. — Views along the trail.

Our breakfast spot was 2.8km along the trail at the Sentinel Rock Lookout, the trail handrails Aire River in a westerly direction and is undulating. After breakfast the trail turned northwesterly. The terrain was the same for the next kilometre but is now beside the cliffs and beach. The trail followed a steady decline towards the beach with an elevation loss of 50m within 400metres. Next we arrived at Castle Cove Lookout, which is definitely worth having a break at. Castle Cove is very popular because it is one of the only spots along this section of the Great Ocean Walk that you can get access directly from the Great Ocean Road, there is room for about 4 cars to pull up on the side of the road to check it out.

A sandy trail with a woman hiking with a red pack on. The sky is full of clouds you can barely see any blue sky.

We continued hiking along the coastline for a kilometre before the trail began to head north and inland. There are many boot cleaning stations here please make sure to do a thorough job to avoid the spread of cinnamon fungus. Cinnamon fungus attacks and rots the root systems of plants which ruins the biodiversity of our native plants. This section of the trail is also hilly until we made our way to Johanna Beach. Here there is a long sandy beach stretch of 2kms which includes a river crossing, there is no alternative route so make sure to check the tide times.

A small seal relaxing on the sandy beach. There are waves in the back ground and an overcast grey sky. — A seal we found on Johanna Beach

A woman has a blue backpack on, is facing the camera and pulling on a rope to help her walk up a rock exit from the sandy beach. — A seal we found on Johanna Beach

We felt exhilarated knowing we had made it to the end of Johanna Beach yet we were extremely aware the hardest part of the walk was still ahead of us. If you were doing this as a day walk Johanna Beach would be a great spot to stop and get picked up since there is car access here. Aire River to Johanna Beach is 12km. We continued on the trail and walked past the Johanna Beach Hike-In Campground which is a further 2km inland. This was a special point of the trip for me because this is where my best mate and I turned back, 6 years ago, and hitch hiked out to a hostel due to injury and unpreparedness. I was young and ambitious, I am proud that we had completed it up till this point back then . Especially considering I had never done a multiday trip before. On this trip, I had zero qualms about completing this 6 day trek.

A woman standing proudly beside a chain fence on a cliff edge facing the camera. Behind the cliff is a beach and rolling hills. The ocean has waves and the sky is so grey you can't differentiate the clouds. — The view from Johanna Beach Hike-In Campground

From the campsite we continued on for another 1km on Old Coach Rd and decided to have our lunch before we tackled the inland elevation towards Melanesia Beach. After lunch we came across the largest snake I have ever seen, and I have been on a lot of trails in the past. Please take care in this section especially because there is so much long grass and not much shade from trees since it is farmland. This was one of the most challenging sections for the day 8kms of dirt roads which includes the elevation gain of 300m and then the loss of 300m also. Allow a lot of time, water and food for this section. We did this at the hottest part of the day because it was unavoidable due to the distance we had to complete to arrive at our campsite. I would recommend this section to be done during the cooler part of the morning due to the limited coverage of trees. Also be aware that there is a lot of fast driving cars through these back roads before arriving at Melanesia Beach.

Picnic on a grassy hill. — Picnic lunch on a grassy hill along the Old Coach Rd

Beach with a river through the middle, blue skies with zero clouds. — Picnic lunch on a grassy hill along the Old Coach Rd

We were super excited to arrive at this beach because we found shade under the cliff and were able to eat our afternoon snack. We had almost 5km still to hike before we were at camp so we did not go for a swim but continued the final part. It was so beautiful leaving the farmland behind and entering back into the Great Otway National Park. Our bodies were fatiguing after having already hiked 23km so the undulating hills and the various stair cases felt never ending. We relied on each other for motivation and the arrival to camp was an emotional one. This was our challenge day and we were over the moon to have accomplished it together.

Two red tents on a sandy campsite surrounded by coastal shrubs and tea trees. — Campsite at Ryan’s Den

Ryans Den was by far my favorite campsite out of all the ones we stayed at. After setting up camp we carried our dinner supplies up to the top of the lookout and enjoy a spectacular sunset. The next morning we had a slow morning involving a sunrise yoga and breakfast session at the lookout. If you planned to do this second half of the walk as a day trip there is car access 1km before Ryans Den Hike-In Campground at the Ryans Den Track. I have never driven on this road so please check the conditions before relying on this one. Due to the majority of the trail being through farmland I probably would not recommend this as a day trip. As an alternative, if you could park your car on Ryans Den Track, then explore by hiking to the campsite (2km return) and then hiking down to Melanesia Beach (7km return) this might be a more enjoyable day trip.

A grassy cleared hill with a stunning view of the ocean sky and sun starting to set over escarpments. — The lookout at Ryan’s Den

An orange sunset right before the final light with a stunning view of the ocean sky and sun starting to set over escarpments. In the foreground the silhouette of foliage. — The lookout at Ryan’s Den

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Aire River to Ryans Den Hike-In Campground
Distance	28km
Estimated Time	10hrs
Grade	4
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	Hike-in only (2WD access from Johanna Beach)

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Blanket Bay Campground to Cape Otway Lightstation Carpark
Distance	11km
Estimated Time	3.5hrs
Grade	2-3
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	2WD

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Shelly Beach Picnic Area to Blanket Bay Campground
Distance	15.2km
Estimated Time	5hrs
Grade	2
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	2WD

August 18, 2023

Great Ocean Walk Day 3 – Cape Otway to Aire River

First, I would like to acknowledge both the Eastern Maar peoples and the Wadawurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of the Great Otway National Park. I want to pay my respects to the past, present and any Indigenous people among us today. I also want to acknowledge that I have profited and benefited from stolen land and that Indigenous people were never ceded sovereignty. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri peoples of Naarm, where I sit and write this blog and would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the many lands my readers come from.

We woke up early this morning because our goal today was to get to Aire River by lunch time. We knew we only had 10km to hike and that the next day would be much longer so we planned to have a relaxing afternoon at Aire River. This trek is definitely possible as a day walk because there is car access at the Cape Otway Lightstation Carpark and also at the Aire River West Campground. Both of these have toilets, picnic tables and tank water available.

A rocky outcrop with small shrubs in the foreground. A woman with a red hiking pack is standing posing to the left of the photo. In the background you can see the ocean with rolling waves towards a rocky cliff face. The sky is overcast and grey. — A viewpoint along the trail.

The trail descended from the Cape and took us in a northwest direction to begin the day. We hiked through the Cape Otway Cemetery where there is a small collection of graves from the 1800s. After trekking inland for 3.5kms we had the choice to hike down to Station Beach or stay inland. We chose to stay on high ground and enjoy the views of the beach instead. The next 3.6km of the trail had only gentle undulation. Until we reached the eastern trail turn towards Aire River. Here, during the last 2.2km, the trail became sandy and the final kilometre had the most significant decline in elevation of 80m. We were excited to meet Aire River on the final stretch of the trail before we crossed.

Aire River Bridge — Various view of Aire River and the bridge.

View of Aire River from the bridge the sky is blue with no clouds to be seen. — Various view of Aire River and the bridge.

We decided to set up camp and gather our lunch things before we swam although now 3 days into the trek we were very keen for a another swim. To find the Hike-In campsites you must first walk across the car campsites (Aire River West Campground) and passed the toilet you will see a steep set of planks leading up a sandy hill. There are many little campsites tucked away in the scrub on this hill. We chose the one furthest away from the toilets but the closest to starting the trail tomorrow.

A view of the sandy pathways and the edge of the communal shelter at the Aire River West Campground. — Aire River West Campground

Steep set of planks leading up a sandy hill, towards the Hike-In Campsite at Aire River. — Aire River West Campground

Now camp was set up we took our things down to a communal shelter below the hill, passed the toilets and nearby the car campers at Aire River West Campground. Once lunch had satisfied us we walked across the bridge and found a sandy spot to wander into the river and have a float, this was magical. Although cold due to the Melbourne weather we had experienced that day. I would highly recommend planning your multi-day hike to include at least a half day rest at this location. After dinner we continued our nightly routine of monopoly deal before an early sleep due to the next big day.

Monopoly Deal at the Aire River Hike-In Campsite

Trail Name	Great Ocean Walk – Cape Otway to Aire River Hike-In Campground
Distance	10km
Estimated Time	3.5hrs
Grade	3
Type	One Way – East to West
Park	Great Otway National Park
Access	Hike-in only (2WD access from Aire River)

August 11, 2023

Trail Name	Gardiner’s Creek Circuit
Distance	3km
Estimated Time	40mins
Grade	1
Type	Circuit
Park	Gardiner’s Creek Reserve
Access	2WD, Dog Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible

Trail Name	Den of Nargun
Distance	1.7km
Estimated Time	1hr
Grade	2
Type	Trail that you double back on
Park	Mitchell River National Park
Access	2WD (gravel dirt road)

Trail Name	Albert Park Lake Path
Distance	5km
Estimated Time	1hrs
Grade	1
Type	Circuit
Park	Albert Park
Access	2WD

Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen