Otways Link Walk (joining the Surf Coast and Great Ocean Walks) |
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Channel in the rock platform |
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Looking toward Cinema Point |
Approaching the eroded sandstone cliffs of Big Hill |
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Crossing the jumble of sandstone boulders at the base of Big Hill |
Volcanic cannonballs |
Rusting engine block on the rocks |
It was not only rocks that fell from above - the occasional rusting remnants of engine blocks, drive shafts and other bits of vehicular metal testified to the explosive impact that a fall from 80m can have on a car! Looking up the daliesque carved cliff face, I began to empathise with Chicken Little. Finally, we emerged on to a stretch of shelly sand beach; time for a pause in the warm spring sun knowing that the incoming tide could not stop us from here. Still, as we continued on past Big Hill Creek and Cathedral Rock along a mixture of sand, flat rock platform and the odd jumble of boulders, we realised that this is definitely a low tide pathway. I would not like to be here at high tide with a strong-south westerly blowing. A gaggle of rock fisherman signalled our arrival at Lorne and all that remained was a stroll along the sandy beach of Loutit Bay, and then along the boardwalk that followed the tannin-stained Erskine River upstream to our accommodation for the night, the Lorne YHA. |
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The rock platform meets the beach |
Rock-fishing in absentia |
Reflections in the dark waters of the Erskine River |
Suspension footbridge across the Erskine River at Lorne |
Lorne YHA resident |
The boys give the fair Nello a hand to pack our supplies |
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The bowerbird lurking behind his bower |
Black wallaby watching us pass by |
More magnificent forest flora |
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Passing by an old cottage in the forest |
The 20m high Phantom Falls |
St George River below the falls |
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Inside The Canyon .... |
... where the trees grow tall .. |
... and treeferns abound |
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The trees grow tall in an Otways gully ... |
... as do the tree-ferns |
In the mossy trunk of an Otways giant |
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Reflections in a rainforest pool |
Henderson Falls in their ferny grotto |
A cluster of epiphytic orchids |
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Out of the rainforest and into the tall sclerophyll |
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Purple pea-flower in full bloom |
The currawong who came to lunch |
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Wattle understorey in bloom |
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Our first koala sighting |
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The beautiful valley of the Cumberland River |
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The boulder-strewn river bed |
Small cascade on the Cumberland |
The gorge walls close in |
Final crossing of the Cumberland River |
Cumberland River to Kennett River (26 km - a hard day at the office) |
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The welcome sight of a red tape track marker |
The fair Nello beneath the wattle |
The "track" along the ridgeline |
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Old pier stumps at Wye River |
Boulder-strewn headland near Point Sturt |
Big seas at the rock platform |
Pacific gulls |
Kennett River mouth |
The peaceful setting of Kennett River |
Sooty oystercatcher |
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Big surf at Kennett River |
Curiously etched and weathered sandstone rocks near Point Hawdon |
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Algae-covered rocks at the mouth of the Grey River |
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Crossing a wide rock platform ... |
... dotted with old volcanic "cannon balls" ..... |
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Little pied cormorant |
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View of our path westward from Cape Patton |
Enough said! |
The asphalt track - descending from Cape Patton |
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View over the big ocean swells back to Cape Patton |
The solitude of the long-distance beachwalker |
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The intense green of algae |
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There were easy sandy sections, but we often found ourselves ... |
.... crossing yet another jumble of jaggedly eroded rocks |
Another rocky spur to get around |
Our second fur seal encounter |
Almost at Skene's Creek |
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Wild Dog Creek carves its way across the sand to reach the sea |
"Binnawee" homestead |
Tranquilly green |
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Looking eastward from the Crow's Nest |
The road from here was all downhill and well-formed gravel. On the way, we stopped to chat to a pleasant bloke who showed us through the old woolshed that he was transforming into very comfortable accommodation with panoramic views to be pitched at the bushwalking fraternity. A great idea and good luck to him. Halfway down the Old Tuxion Road, we took a steeper shortcut, directly down the ridgeline with sweeping views over Apollo Bay township and the surrounding coastline and country - what more pleasant spot to stop and have a slow lunch in the spring sunshine. |
Overlooking Apollo Bay and the town of the same name |
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