Lake Wau Wauka to Mallacoota

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Stage 39 - Lake Wau Wauka to Mallacoota
The morning of the last day of our adventure had arrived. Alternate patches of cloud and sun were reflected in the still waters of Lake Wau Wauka as we prepared to head off and the emotions we felt were similar, fluctuating between satisfaction and even amazement at being about to complete our adventure to a palpable sense of regret that it was soon about to end. Certainly to complete a 60 km walk across the Nadgee-Howe wilderness in 3 days would be an achievement that we could not have done at the beginning of the walk. Ahead lay a 20 km walk along the broad sandy beach that would lead us to our final destination at Mallacoota. Given the contentment that we have felt when walking alone along the many isolated stretches of sand, with only the sea, the wind and the seabirds for company, this seemed an entirely appropriate way to finish our adventure. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm	Early morning at Lake Wau Wauka

A last view of Lake Wau Wauka and Howe Hill

Heading out from the campsite, we noticed that fresh dingo tracks had appeared overnight. The dingo led us all the way to Telegraph Point, where Gabo Island and its lighthouse most closely approach the mainland. Passing it we realised that we had just completed the “Lighthouse to lighthouse to lighthouse walk”. Occasionally, the sun would emerge from the clouds to bathe a particular patch of distant dunes in a pale golden light against the dark cloud-covered sky to the south.

Gabo Island lighthouse a few kilometres offshore

One last long meditational walk on an isolated beach

A flock of pied oyster-catchers accompanied us for the next few kilometres, until we noticed a post indicating the track in to Lake Barracoota and decided to go in and top up our supplies from its pristine fresh water. It was a good decision, for the superb panorama of this beautiful lake, with its mountain backdrop and foreground of deep, high and untouched sand dunes was totally unexpected. The south coast had offered us one last pleasant surprise in this landscape - part desert, part high mountain valley.

Temporary lake caused by the king tide overflowing the beach at Telegraph Point

Lake Barracoota

Waiting in the dunes

Sand dunes near Lake Barracoota

We returned to the beach from the high dunes of Barracoota and continued our long beach ramble southward. As we were drawing level with Tullaberga Island, a couple of kilometres offshore, two distant figures emerged from around the point and slowly headed toward us; Robyn and Salim had walked out from Mallacoota to join us for the final 10 km. We hadn't seen them for over three months so it was a joyful reunion with hugs and handshakes all round.

Robbo and Salim arrive from the south

The walkers arrive from the north

... and then there were four

The last 10 km

At last ..... Mallacoota Inlet

The remaining 10 km went very quickly; we walked and talked and joked and laughed and this last leg together seemed like a celebration of our walk. As we were crossing the sand bar blocking Mallacoota Inlet, a pair of sea-eagles flew by, circled and, bidding us a final farewell, flew off. Then suddenly we were there; the last long stretch of beach had ended at the rock face of Bastion Point at Mallacoota. Robbo drew a line in the sand and together we crossed it. After 12 weeks and 630 km, as simply and quietly as it had started, the Great South Coast Walk was over.

630 km - the end of the walk


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Stage 39 - Lake Wau Wauka to Mallacoota