George Bass Coastal Walk: Punchbowl Rd to Half Moon Bay (My rating A)

Just like what the Park Notes says, the George Bass Coastal Walk offers the panoramic coastal views.  The winding path up and down makes the walk more rewarding.

Punchbowl Rd is a narrow gravel road crossing the busy Philip Island Road.  It's on your left if you go towards the Philip Island.  Just slow down when you're nearly there, you don't want to miss the turn.  The car park is at the end of Punchbowl Rd.

Suggest you to bring a walking stick if you have an unstable knee, coz you'll need to climb up and down the hill.

It took us 2.5 hrs return from Punchbowl Road - Half Moon Bay - Punchbowl Road.

 

(Map at the Entry)

 

 

(Winding Path)

 

(Half Moon Bay)

 

(Overlooking Half Moon Bay)

 

(lookout near the entry)

 

See the blog entry for walk from Kilcunda to Half Moon Bay here

George Bass Coastal Walk: Kilcunda to Half Moon Bay (My Rating A)

George Bass Coastal Walk is a long walk, dogs are allowed on leash.  It says 5 hrs return on the VicPark Notes.  Would suggest you to allow7 hours (to and return) if you want to do the whole lot in 1 day.

We did this walk in 2 occasions.  The first occasion, we started from Punchbowl Road, to Half Moon Bay, it took us about 2.5 hrs return. (See Blog Entry here)

The first attempt from Kilcunda to Half Moon Bay was made in last Spring, we gave up because there were just simply too many flies buzzing around, not very enjoyable..............


Today, we had the second attempt to walk this section (from Kilcunda to Half Moon Bay).  And we made it! It took us 2 hrs one way (minimum rest), 5 hrs in total, including 1 hr at the beach.

We parked at the car park@Bass Highway (Kilcunda).  I prefer the car park there than the one at Shelly Beach, because it has the toilet facilities (and clean!) and a playground.

 

(This is where we parked, 

follow Bass Coast Rail Trail for a short while, 

you'll see the entry to Coastal Walk on your left)

 

(Sign after 5 mins walk from the Car Park)

It took us 2 hrs from the carpark (Beach Mark 13) to Beach Mark 8 (the one next to Half Moon Bay which is Mark 7).

The first section is quite flat and easy.  There are many benches along the trail.  Please do enjoy your rest and snack here, because the bench at Beach Mark 11 is the last chance you'll be able to sit and rest, until you reach the Beach Mark 8 (Sandy Waternote, what a musical name!).

 

(The first section)

 

(Path is quite flat and easy)

 

(panoramic coastal view)

 

(Who wouldn't want to have a little rest and have a bit snack/tea here?)

 

(This is the last resting spot before the climbing and long walk)

Shortly after Beach Mark 11, the path becomes grassy, and it goes steep up the hill and down the hill.  Suggest you to bring a walking stick if you have knee problem, especially after rain.

 

(This is one of a few hills to climb over, the trail is on the left)

The reward is the ocean with panoramic views, the vast green fields, the chirping from birds, and the clashing of the waves!  Doesn't that sound picturesque?  No cars, no noise, no crowd..........

 

(winding path separating ocean and meadow)

 

(Big Wave)

 

(Bigger Wave)

 

(Exploding Wave)

Half Moon Bay was the original destination because we did this walk 2 years ago, from Punchbow Rd to Half Moon Bay.

But Sandy Waternote was like a strong magnet, it attracted us all!  We spent nearly 1 hour on this beach, studying the waves and the sand............

 

(Entry to the Beach Mark 8: Sandy Waternote)

 

 

Suggest you to bring water bottle, snack and wear hiking boots, and yes, I do think sunny winter is the best season to hike here, it is windy,  thus a good windproof jacket would be very useful!

Don't forget to get the Map from VicPark website.

Special Post: DogParks-VIC Australia

I've just published a free Android App on Google Play called "DogParks-VIC Australia".  Feel free to download it to your Android Mobile Device if you have one.

The whole idea is to locate dog offleash (mainly) parks near you (based on GPS location).  The app can also show the entire dog offleash network,  Hope that will help you plan your adventure with your loved ones.

I'm still building up the list, consolidating the different info from local councils, visitor centres and Victoria Park.

I'm focusing on Melbourne Inner Suburbs and Other Cities in Victoria at the moment.  I guess people in rural and remote victoria areas aren't strict as long as your dog behaves.  However, I was told off (not by a civil servant, but by a tearoom lady) when we were holidaying at Silverton NSW (near broken hill).  Jessica was offleash exploring around in her graceful manner.  :-(


Anyway, hope you find the app handy.

Great Ocean Walk: Bird Rock to Bells Beach (my rating A)

It's hard not to give this coastal walk an A!  Like other coastal walks on Great Ocean Road, this is just another awesome one.......

 

(Great View along the Walk)

 

We parked at the Birk Rock lookout at Jan Juc, had packed lunch there, admiring the surfers with their great passion to the sport.

The walk took us about 3 hrs return, including short beach walk & a snack break on Bells Beach.

 

(Bells Beach)

 

 

(Bells Beach)

There are benches along the road for walkers to rest / enjoy the snack time.

 

(Map from Visitor Centre)

 

(Description from Visitor Centre)

Urquhart Bluff Beach@Great Ocean Road (Urquhart Bluff) (my rating A)

Urquhart Bluff Beach is about 6km past Anglesea Information Centre (towards Aireys Inlet).  You'll see the sign "Urquhart Bluff Beach & Car Park - 300m" on the left of the road.  The car park is right next to the beach.  There're toilet facilities at this beach.  There are picnic tables and benches at the car park, next time, we'll bring lunch here. :-)

 The right side of the beach access is offleash all year round.  The left side is offleash between March and November (excluding Easter).  You would enjoy most of it when the tides are low.

 The beach walk can be as fun as possible, as relaxing as possible.......  that's what we had this afternoon.......

The beach walk can be made between Pt Roadknight and Urquhart Bluff.  Pls note that dogs are not allowed at Pt Roadknight Beach.

(View from the Car park)

 

(Urquhart Bluff Beach - marked on the map)

Great Ocean Coast Walk: Point Danger - Bird Rock (my rating A)

This coast walk starts from Point Danger@Torquay, end at Bird Rock lookout@Jan Juc.  Dogs are allowed on the beach offleash (but not on the beach of Point Danger) on/after Mar 1, till Nov, except Easter.

According to the Surf Coast Walk brochure, the walk is 3.3km one way.  We walked on the walking track to Bird Rock, and on return, we walked mainly on the beach.  It took us about 3 hrs return, including rest and beach sand/water play.

We parked the car on the esplanade, there are ample car parks.  There are toilet facilities.

You won't tell how breathtaking the view is unless you're there, and reveal it with your own eyes.

The walking track is well formed, and the beach is just soft and smooth.  You must slip off the shoes, and walk barefoot on the beach, let the waves splash onto your ankle.  Jessica loved the splashes.

 

 (Beach@Torquay)

 

(Bird Rock lookout)

 (Jan Juc Beach)

 

(Jan Juc beach)