Walk Report

Sunday April 1 dawned fine, overcast, perfect weather for waterfall
photography. 10 adventurous souls met their leader at the Mt Sabine/ Kennett
Rd intersection at about the appointed time of 10 am, for the somewhat
challenging walk to Wye Falls. The car shuffle was completed earlier so we
could walk out to the Wye Road via Mud Rd, rather than retrace our steps.
I had not been to the area for several years and was taken aback to find
that a bulldozer had been down both sides and removed all that was familiar
to me. I had to take a punt on where to start looking for the track to the
falls. We started out on an old logging track that seemed to be in the right
spot, but nothing looked familiar. After several hours of poking around I
gave up the search as even if we found it we were out of time to do the
walk.
The moral of the story is we need to be doing each section of the walk on a
more regular basis, and leaders need to scope the walk if it hasn't been
done for a long period.
I later found the start point a kilometre away, but too late to be useful.
The other moral of the story might be never lead a walk on April Fools Day!

Richard Gilbert

PS: Some of the group decided then to walk from where we started along the Kennett Rd and the Wye Kennett Jeep Track past some recent burn offs and along steep gravel roads to the Wye River Pub for a well earnt drink!

Apollo Bay Trails Feasibility Study Adopted

Eight members attended the Colac Otway Shire Council meeting on the 28th of March 2012 at the COPAC in Colac. The Apollo Bay Trails Feasibility Study was passed unanimously 7 - 0. After sixteen years of persistence we finally have taken our first step. Now we will continue to work with the Colac Otway Shire and Parks Victoria to gain funding for walks in the Apollo Bay hinterland.

Feasibility - Colac Otway Shire Council meeting 28th March 3pm

The Apollo Bay Walks Feasibility study report is being presented to the Colac Otway Council at their next meeting at 3pm on Wednesday the 28th of March at 3pm at COPAC. The period for public comment has closed, submissions have been summarised and concerns addressed. A revised document is being presented to Council for approval.

March 2012 Walk

Little Aire Falls after some rain.

Walkers were from GBC and the Otway Ranges Walking Track Association. The walk commenced at the carpark for Triplet and Little Aire Falls, which are some 15 km south of Ferguson, about 5 km west of Beech Forest. We admired the swollen Triplet Falls from 3 separate viewing platforms, and then walked a rather circuitous route leading to Little Aire Falls, where "Little" refers to the river, not the spectacular Falls. On the return, we made a major detour (2 and a half hours return) along overgrown Phillips Track to the Aire river. Brian McKenzie recalled riding a bike along the (then) good track many years ago. Our route was generally obvious along the track, benched on one side and dropping away on the other. Before descending to the noisy, attractive, full Aire River, the track turned sharply left (east). After some 200m we saw minor relics of the bridge and hut.

The forest contained very tall old growth, and smaller regrowth, mountain ash, plus beech trees and tree ferns. A very attractive walk in good company.

Bernard Jordan

Feasibility Study Update

At the last Colac Otway Shire council meeting on January 25th, 2012, the Apollo Bay Walks Feasibility Study was passed unanimously to be placed on public exhibition for six weeks. I attended the meeting and councillors made some wonderful remarks. We need to ensure that there are lots of supportive comments submitted to the council before March the 9th. Call Andrew Nixon, the feasibility project officer on 0417699611 to find out more or to receive a copy of the study on a CD.

Feasibility Study Update

We met today with Tim Watters, who will be making our short promotional video. We hope to begin filming in February.

January Walk Four Falls

Walk Report, Four Falls from TW Spur, Sunday 8/1/2012

Early morning rain cleared to a fine cool day, ideal for walking.

Eight walkers met at the corner of Mt. Sabine Road and TW Spur Track, whence they followed the route shown on the ORWTA CD-ROM and proceeded to Yannathan Falls, Upper Cumberland Falls, Galliebarinda Falls and Brunswick Falls in that order, beginning at 9:40.

There was much to see on this extensive walk. All four falls were most attractive with strong flows of water despite the season. Bracket fungi in a variety of sizes and colours were prolific. Many birds were heard, including kookaburras, and some were also sighted.

Although ably led by Jennifer Morrow, the walkers found navigation somewhat difficult, owing to strong growth in the understorey over the past year which had obscured tracks and ribbons. Much fallen timber also lay across tracks, adding to difficulties.

Having visited Brunswick Falls around 4 p.m., the walkers became widely spaced on the climb back to the TW Spur. Unfortunately the frontrunners failed to see the exit to the TW Spur Track and began to descend once more to Yannathan Falls. Before they realized their mistake, the rest of the party exited via the correct route and was surprised not to find the frontrunners at the starting point. Luckily the frontrunners were able to correct their mistake and return to the starting point before emergency services were summoned. Moral: do not get too far ahead of your leader, especially if there is any uncertainty about the route.

It was 7:10 p.m. before all walkers returned to the starting point, making this a long day. It might have been an hour shorter, if not for the navigational error described above, but this rewarding walk is inevitably one of our longest and most demanding.

Afterwards, most of the walkers gathered at Martians' in Deans Marsh and enjoyed the fare provided by the new management.