Allenvale to Sheoak Carpark

Allenvale to Sheoak Car  Park

Walk Report;  1st June 2014

Walkers; Ed Babbington (leader), Bernard Jordan, Jack Antonas, Andrew Hackett, Joan McMahon, Kemp, Les Roe, Doug &Heather Roydhouse,Jane Sklovsky, Karen Tank, Johanne Walker, Debra White, members of GBC and ORWTA and visitors.

After arranging the car shuffle from Sheoak car park, we set off from Allenvale. Despite the forecast, there was no rain, (not even drizzle). The tracks were in good condition, and we had them pretty much to ourselves. First stop was Phantom Falls, followed by a small scramble down into The Canyon. (Ed had checked the walk on his bike, and said this spot was a little challenging,) Then through fern gully and up to Henderson Falls, before returning to the Sheoak picnic ground for a leisurely lunch. 

Energized, we headed west to the ever attractive Lower and Upper Kalimna Falls before returning east along the Garvey Track. We then headed south towards Castle Rock, but with a thick fog having descended by now, we bypassed this lookout point, and headed straight to Sheoak falls before returning to the car park. The 15km walk took about 6 hours including breaks. Everyone enjoyed the walk, including 1st timer Johanne, who, along with Kim and Joan, kept their driver Bernard alert with great conversation.

Thanks for the good company, and many thanks to Ed for leading the walk.

This walk report provided by Bernard Jordan & Les Roe

Wreck Beach to Twelve Apostle, final section of the Great Ocean Walk, 17 km, 

Saturday, 9th November, 2013

Walkers: Bernard Jordan (leader),Biba Horvatic, Wally Kraft, Alan Dow, Helen Steogen, Sue McKenzie (ORWTA) and Nick Steogen (visitor).

It was drizzling rain as we descended the 366 steps onto Wreck Beach. With us was an inspiring French couple, one of whom was blind, but both very determined on walking the entire GOW and the final section that day. Along the beach embedded in the reef is the anchor from the Marie Gabrielle, a French barque wrecked in 1869; a short distance further is the anchor from the Fiji, an 1891 wreck. After 2 km of beach walking with some rock scrambling we made our way up to Devils Kitchen and then wound our way around the coastline with wonderful views through the bush.

Lunch was taken in sunshine with a lovely view of the Gellibrand River entering the ocean. It was then down to the river that we followed to Princetown and, after crossing the bridge, it was uphill again along the new section of the GOW, passing Clifton Beach, followed by our first views of the Apostles in the distance.

With the end in sight, it was just a few more km to the Gibson Steps, that lead down onto the beach, and onto the new section under the Great Ocean Road to the end at the Visitors Centre, completing a great walk in great company. With a coffee in hand we joined the tourists for a viewing of those famous and spectacular 12 Apostles.

Our thanks to Helen and Bernard for the excellent organisation and leading of this weekend walk which included all transport and accommodation with meals.

Moonlight Heads Walk, Sunday 9th June, 2013.

Walkers:  Alan Dow (Trip Leader), Bernard Jordan, Nola Hardess, Sue McKenzie, Kim Attard, Leane Matheson, Linda Boyd, Gary Higgins, Joan McMahon, Jenny Grice, Jenny ?. (GBC, ORWTA & Camperdown Clubs were represented.)

To mix it up occasionally, ORWTA do a walk, different to the forays into the rainforest along the Trans Otway Walk.  The mild winter conditions continued as it was a great day for walking.  After a short car shuffle, the group of 11 set off south along Parker Access to the first of several amazing vistas.  From the Moonlight Heads escarpment, you can see below to the rocky beach & ‘Submarine Rock’ and also as far away as Cape Otway.  We then followed the Great Ocean Walk through the coastal forest until we came upon the next equally great lookout, that of the Gables, a deserved spot for our ‘banana break’.  Still heading west, and at one place siding where the old Moonlight Heads racecourse was, we came upon the new section of the GOW that reaches the Devil’s Kitchen walk-in campsite.  While some of our group had to experience the ‘loo with the view’, the rest continued on to descend towards the beach. Some had lunch on the seats made from rocks, with a great elevated view of the beach, while others chose to have it at the beach.

It was after our break when things got exciting, although not high tide we had a big sea running.  Heading east now, we had to negotiate the entirety of Wreck Beach, which just meant moving quickly in between the high points.  At some point, most got wet up to their knees. A certain confident trip leader hadn’t even got his boots wet, until at the very last spot he also suffered the same fate as the others; much to their amusement.  The conditions were not that you could have strolled along Wreck Beach and enjoyed seeing the anchors from two shipwrecks, the vast array of different rocks & pebbles and the beautiful rock pools.  However, we were able to experience one of ‘mother natures’ moods.

Then up the wooden staircase, with most that counted being only 2 or 3 steps away from my benchmark of 374, except for Bernard who seemed to have found a lot more.  The next already-walked section was the ‘crossover’ of our intended figure-8 walk. Here we met a group that had seen two snakes today; even the snakes don’t think it’s a normal winter.  From the Gables carpark, we walked north along the Moonlight Heads road to the Old Coach Road, where one of the cars was left.  It was here that the Geelong folk left us.  The rest of us continued along this rural lane, completing the figure-8 arriving at the car at 5 pm. 

At Lavers Hill, the GBC folk got take-away coffees from the PO / Café while the others sat in for our coffees at the Roadhouse / Tavern.                     

Thankyou to all who participated in this 7 hr wildly wonderful winter walk !!