Trip Overview
Staying in Portland over the Easter break, we will explore sections of the Great South West Walk, one of Victoria’s great walking tracks. The track takes in a variety of landscapes including dramatic isolated coast with massive limestone cliffs and pristine beaches, to meandering rivers and remote Aboriginal heritage sites. The mighty Southern Ocean and freshwater lakes make this one of the most varied walks in Australia.
Most walks will involve a car shuffle.
Accommodation
The accommodation is 4 nights at Portland Bay Lodge. It is sited on a 10 acre property with sea views in Allestree (120 Huxley Road, 9 kms east of Portland, 4 hours from Melbourne). Basic maps for traveling from Melbourne can be found here & here.
The lodge is designed to cater for large groups and consists of numerous rooms with bunk and single beds; a ‘commercial’ style kitchen; and common dining area, lounge & amenities. Note that a maximum of 2 people will be allocated per room. Fitted sheet, pillow & pillow cases are provided, but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag or doona, towel & toiletries (including soap, etc).
You will have the option to self cater at the lodge or eat out at restaurants or pubs in nearby Portland. We plan to organise an optional group dinner on at least one night.
Itinerary and Walk Descriptions
Thursday April 2
Arrive in Portland and settle in to our accommodation.
Friday April 3
Sapling Creek to Nelson along the Glenelg River – 24.4 km with a shorter option available – 6 hours – Medium / Hard
We will walk through the magnificent Glenelg River Gorge towards the settlement of Nelson. The character of the river changes dramatically as we head towards the coast and the river becomes an estuary.
Saturday April 4
Bridgewater Lakes to Bridgewater -17.7 km – 5.5 hours – Medium
Highlights of today’s walk include the Blowholes, the Petrified Forest and a seal colony. Expect some great coastal walking.
Sunday April 5
Bridgewater Bay to Cape Nelson Lighthouse- 19.9 km – 6 hours – Medium
Today’s walk will follow the highest sea cliffs in Victoria. A café at the lighthouse will be a welcome sight for most walkers at Cape Nelson.
Monday April 6
Half day walk – To Be Advised
Our trip is complete and we depart for the drive home.
Transport
Transport to and from the walk location is by car. Please indicate your transport requirements and preferences on the booking request form when you book in.
If you don’t have a car, we can’t guarantee to provide you with a lift – this will depend on available drivers and their locations.
Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please discuss the preferred method of payment with your driver.
Booking
Booking is required for this walk. Please indicate what similar walks you have done recently (i.e. in the past few months) to give the leader confidence that you are capable of doing this one. Refer to Walking Grades which, in conjunction with the walk description, will help you assess whether you have the required walking fitness and experience to do this walk.
The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the walk, or not, via email. The leader will provide details of where and when to meet.
Trip Price:
Members: $279 + Booking fee (nil) = $279.
Non-members: $279 + Booking fee ($12) = $291.
Payment:
Members and non-members are required to pre-pay the trip price for this event.
You can pay by Paypal. If you are not a Paypal member, you can use Paypal to pay by credit or debit card.
Cancellation:
If you need to cancel, please advise the leader as soon as possible, so that someone else has the opportunity.
We will only be able to provide a refund if we can find a replacement for you.
What to Bring
All the equipment, clothing, food and water you will need for the walks and overnight stays (refer Trip details above).
Refer to our Gear Checklist page for more details, or discuss with the leader. If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.
Safety & Ambulance Insurance
We strongly recommend that you have Ambulance cover. If conditions are hazardous, the walk may be cancelled. If any doubts at all, check your emails the night before and the morning of the event. For more details refer to Safety.
Still have questions?
Check out Joining a Walk.
Check out Weekend and extended walks.
Contact the leader using the Enquiry form, above the Booking Request.
