Help for foreign interested walkers.

[FionnPTMcCarthy]

Hi,
I am new to this site, and to Bushwalking, so if needs be please place this post in the appropriate sub forum.
I am a 22 year old Englishman, who has never been to Australia before.
I'm doing a trip along the coast of SA all the way to Melbourne, and am planning on walking and camping part of the way.
I was wondering if you could let me know if there are any decent overnight walks along this south coast,
and also any information about what the climate is likely to be like during the months of October to mid Dec.
I hope to be in Melbourne by 9th of Dec so anything before then really.
the only walk I know of is The Ocean Walk. which Looks beautiful but seems to be walked a lot and has plenty of tourists.
Which I would like to avoid if I could. Ideal more off the beaten track sort of places, but still with some designated camping facilities.
I have done a couple of over night walks and a good few day walks here in the UK but the climate and style of life is obviously very different so
any help would be much appreciated.
I am very excited to visit such a beautiful country and would like to make the most of its wildlife and scenery.
Thanks Fionn

[jobell]

Hello Fionn,

I have walked the Great Ocean Walk from Apollo Bay through to the Twelve Apostles, and would recommend it. There's a good reason why tourists are attracted to the area - there's some spectacular scenery which is well worth seeing, and my experience is that the tourists were confined mainly to places they could access by car, and it was the rare other walker I encountered along the track itself. The campsites generally offer shelters with tables, as well as toilet facilities, and are often situated in spots with great views. Also if you are looking for those designated camping facilities, you will really only find them on formed tracks like this one.

Another walk along the coastline that you will be travelling is the Great South West Walk which is a loop walk out of Portland in Victoria. It's a bit longer though - 250kms. I haven't walked that one myself, but I'm sure you'll find mention of it somewhere on this forum.

All the best for your trip.

[icefest]

I've done the coastal section of the Great South West Walk in sections. PM is you have any questions about it.

There is no coastal walking in SA south of the mouth of the river Murray.

[FionnPTMcCarthy]

Ok thanks for the help.
ill look into the GOW a bit more then i guess.
And having looked at some guides and pictures of the GSWW i think i will have to do at least some of it.
It looks like a great walk and I think it would only take 2 weeks to do the whole thing so I might take 2 weeks and do 2/3 of it and really enjoy it.
Thanks for the information. I have no idea what i would have done without this forum.
It's full of useful tips.

[Eremophila]

I've done about half of the GSWW,happy to provide info as well.

[Moondog55]

And if you need a bed for a nite we are close to the coast here

[madmacca]

Ok thanks for the help.
ill look into the GOW a bit more then i guess.
And having looked at some guides and pictures of the GSWW i think i will have to do at least some of it.
It looks like a great walk and I think it would only take 2 weeks to do the whole thing so I might take 2 weeks and do 2/3 of it and really enjoy it.
Thanks for the information. I have no idea what i would have done without this forum.
It's full of useful tips.

GOW is a fantastic walk, combining rainforest, beachwalking and the iconic 12 Apostles. However, it does need to be walked East to West (although there is a daily bus between start and end points).

[Chris]

GOW is a fantastic walk, combining rainforest, beachwalking and the iconic 12 Apostles. However, it does need to be walked East to West.

Really? Why?

[icefest]

IIRC it's for the same reason as the OT being north to south - parks regulations.

[FionnPTMcCarthy]

I've organised myself for the GOW. . Yeah walking it was the to west is the right way for me anyway as I am going on to portland from the twelve apostles.
I hope the weather gets a bit better. It's only just started to get nice. But is still pretty dull in Melbourne.

I'll definitely be back for more walks in the future.
And I'll be back on here with more questions.
Cheers guys.

[peregrinator]

GOW is a fantastic walk, combining rainforest, beachwalking and the iconic 12 Apostles. However, it does need to be walked East to West (although there is a daily bus between start and end points).

The Apollo Bay - Warrnambool bus operates on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. (From Melbourne, travel by train to Geelong then bus to Apollo Bay, where you change buses.) There are rail services back to Melbourne from Warrnambool every day.

[walk2wineries]

Loved the GOW and we were lucky last year to go to Portland for some of the GSWW when it was 28C there and 42 in Adelaide. So, agree with others - Victoria. As a croweater- SA tends to be hot and dry in summer; the long distance trail (Heysen) is closed between Nov and April for that reason and some of the conservation parks are closed on days of high fire danger. The coast would have long dry stretches. Probably much nicer to get transport to Adelaide; its not invariably hot and there are plenty of shady walks in the Adelaide hills and Fleurieu peninsula where you can at least get water every day. Obviously you will checkout the "arrange transport" page on this site but look also at http://www.needaride.com.au/ . If you are absolutely into coast walks in SA - well, there are some including the 30km between Goolwa and Victor Harbour which is pretty; you can go a bit further West along the Coast following the Heysen (to Cape Jervis) but parts that cross private property will be unaccessable for the summer.