Great South West Walk Explained

Great South West Walk
Map Name:Australia
Location:
Established:1981
Length:251km (156miles)
Trailheads:
    Use:Hiking
    Difficulty:Moderate
    Website:http://www.greatsouthwestwalk.com

    The Great South West Walk is a 251km (156miles)/ 262-kilometer (163mi)[1] walking track, established in 1981, located in South West Victoria, Australia. The track passes through the Lower Glenelg National Park, the Cobboboonee National Park, the Discovery Bay Coastal Park, the Mount Richmond National Park and the Cape Nelson State Park, and may be explored through shorter or overnight hikes, or the entire 12- to 14-day circular hike,[2] starting and finishing in either or . A short portion of the track is located with the Lower Glenelg River Conservation Park in South Australia, near .[3]

    The track is administered, maintained and promoted by The Friends of the Great South West Walk Inc., a volunteer organisation, in partnership with Parks Victoria.

    Track

    The Great South West Walk track, which notionally begins and ends at the Visitor Information Centre in Portland, traverses forest, river gorge, high cliff tops and bays. It was designed as a long-distance walking track, with the option for short and day walks. It is accessed from roads in and near the towns of Portland and Nelson. The walk's difficulty is rated as moderate, and consists of fifteen sections of varying lengths. The walk contains 14 camp sites along the track; all supplied with fresh water, cleared tent sites and bush toilets. All overnight stays at 14 campsites require an online booking and a fee. Links to the online booking site can be accessed via the walk's website: www.greatsouthwestwalk.com

    The entire length of the circuit is 251-kilometers if you proceed direct along the beach from Swan Lake Camp, or 262-kilometers (and an extra day) if you head inland from Swan Lake Camp to Tarragal Camp. After Tarragal Camp the inland route returns to the coast near the Bridgewater Lakes.

    -37.9833°N 198°W

    Part of the track follows the course of the Glenelg River,[4] with other parts located adjacent to the Southern Ocean.

    Sections

    The track consists of the following sections and points:[3]

    Sections and trackheads of the Great South West Walk
    Section locationStart locationEnd locationSection distance
    kmmile
    rural fringe Portland Cubbys Camp 18.5km (11.5miles)
    Cobboboonee National Park Cubbys Camp Cut-Out Camp 13km (08miles)
    Cut-Out Camp Fitzroy Camp 22km (14miles)
    Lower Glenelg National Park Fitzroy Camp Moleside Camp 22km (14miles)
    Moleside Camp Pritchards Camp 10.5km (06.5miles)
    Pritchards Camp Pattersons Camp 21.5km (13.4miles)
    Pattersons Camp Nelson 19km (12miles)
    Discovery Day Coastal Park Nelson Monibeong 23km (14miles)
    Monibeong Swan Lake 16km (10miles)
    Mount Richmond National Park Swan Lake Tarragal Camp 20km (10miles)
    Tarragal Camp Springs Camp 12km (07miles)
    Springs Camp Trewalla Camp 15km (09miles)
    Cape Nelson State Park Trewalla Camp Mallee Camp 17km (11miles)
    Mallee Camp Portland 17km (11miles)

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Book: Sprawson, Warwick. The Great South West Walk Guidebook. Friends of the Great South West Walk. 2020. 9780646820736. Australia.
    2. Web site: Activities: Walking. Parks Victoria. Government of Victoria. 2014. 21 August 2014.
    3. Web site: Great South West Walk. Victorian bushwalking. Chapman, John. Laburnum. John Chapman. 9 October 2011. 21 August 2014.
    4. Web site: Lower Glenelg National Park, Discovery Bay Coastal Park: Visitor Guide. PDF. Parks Victoria. Government of Victoria. June 2014. 21 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221133652/http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/315670/Park-note-Lower-Glenelg-NP-Discovery-Bay-CP-1.pdf. 21 February 2014. dead.