Trip Overview

This is a Labour Day long weekend accommodated trip to Phillip Island with day walks to various parts of the island.

Accommodation is at a couple of short term house rentals for two nights (Saturday & Sunday) in the Ventnor/Cowes area. It won’t be possible to access the accommodation until after the Saturday walk.

The first walk is Cape Woolami starting 10am Saturday morning. The other walks are Pyramid Rock and Summerland Beach/Nobbies.

There is a Woolworths in Cowes, and Sunday night dinner will be at a pub or similar (cost not included, participation optional).

You will need to arrive at the Saturday walk starting point by 10am (end of Kitty Miller Road). Note that there is the ‘Festival of Motorsport’ during that weekend so allow sufficient time.

Accommodation

Accommodation is at 2 holiday houses for two nights (Saturday and Sunday). Rooms are a mix of doubles, singles, and bunks, but with a maximum of two people assigned to each room (for a maximum of 15 people for the 2 houses subject to the number of couples).

Once these houses are fully allocated, additional accommodation may be booked or prospective attendees will be given the option of booking their own accommodation.

Itinerary and Walk Descriptions

Day 1: Kitty Miller Bay<->Pyramid Rock (14.4km). This follows the coastline from Kitty Miller Bay, Watt Point (& the remains of the shipwreck ‘Speke’), Helens Head, Wild Dog Bluff, Red Bluff to a view of the (small) Pyramid Rock. This walk involves beach walking, rock scrambling/hopping and ascents over a couple of bluffs. It also needs to completed while the tide is low (~1pm) and seas calm. There is the option to stop at Red Bluff on the return (with a wait for the cars to be collected).

Day 2: Newhaven & semi-circuit around Cape Woolami (approx 16km). This walks follows the beach towards Cape Woolami. At an old quarry, the track heads inland and follows the cliffs to Woolami Hill (the highest point on the Island) eventually looping back via the beach to Newhaven.

Day 3: Swan Lake-Nobbies-Flynn Beach circuit (approx 12km). Starting from the Flynn Beach car park, walk via Swan Lake, the Fairy Penguin Parade ground towards the Nobbies, then circle back via Cowrie Beach, Point Sambell, Sealers Cove and Flynn Beach. Part of the walk involves walking beside a road. Optional extras are Churchill Island circuit (5km) & Forrest Caves+beach (towards Cape Woolami).

The itinerary may change due to sea levels and weather conditions. Contingencies include Kilcunda and Five Ways<->Rhyll.

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.

By booking into this event you acknowledge that you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct.

Trip Price:
Members:  $125 + Booking fee (nil) = $125.
Non-members: $125 + Booking fee ($12) = $137.

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).

• To help manage the Covid risk, the following may be useful: Hand Sanitiser, Face Mask(s), RAT test(s).

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 and 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: Joining a walk and your safety

If you are Covid-19 positive, have any Covid-19 symptoms or are a contact of someone with Covid-19, please follow the instructions in the Coronavirus Victoria website.

Still have questions?

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Weekend and extended walks.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.

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Facebook: @YHABushwalkingClubVictoria
Instagram: @YHABushwalkingClub.

Members who wish to submit photos for social media or Yeti should refer to Member Resources.