Cape Schanck revisited

Walk overview

Length: 12km
Time: 5.5 hours
Grade: Medium
Ascent: 250m
Maximum height: 150m
Region: Mornington
Map: Meridien Publications 1:25,000 Mornington or Arthurs Seat

We (Claire, Andrew, Helen and I) met at the carpark at Fingal Picnic Ground - each of us running a little later than our planned meeting time of 9am. A little after 9.30am we set off for Cape Schanck, walking along tracks high above the beach. We made our way through the Cape Schanck carpark to the boardwalk - a large wooden walking platform that lets you get right down to Cape Schanck. We had a wander around on the rocks (see the photo above) trying to spot some of the intertidal rockpool inhabitants, before returning.

It was shaping up to be a beautiful sunny day by the time we found the walking track to Bushrangers Bay. We spotted an echidna crossing the walking path (Helen and Claire had a much longer viewing of perhaps the same one a bit later in the day). We walked the 3km to the bay, admiring the rolling green pastures to the left of the track and the sea views to the right.

Once we reached the bay, we had a little rock-hop over a creek to get to the main part of the beach. Unfortunately, the tide was high and the rockpools near Elephant Rock were submerged, and unreachable. We stopped for lunch on the beach, joined by a single seagull who was happy to grab the few crumbs we threw his way.

Since most of us weren't in the greatest shape, we decided to cut the walk further on from Bushrangers Bay and we also skipped the walk down to Fingal Beach. We retraced our steps back to the Fingal Picnic Ground, finishing the walk just before 3pm.

Photos from this walk

For more, see: Cape Schanck photo slideshow

Sherbrooke Forest - 4th visit

Walk overview

Length: 11.5km
Time: 4 hours
Grade: Medium
Ascent: 480m
Maximum height: 490m
Region: Dandenong Ranges, Victoria
Map: Melway 75, 124

"One of the most popular forests in the range is Sherbrooke Forest. From the 1850s until 1930 this forest was used for logging. In 1958 Sherbrooke Forest was declared a park and in 1987 was merged with other areas to form the Dandenong Ranges National Park."

"Sherbrooke Forest contains some of the finest examples of towering Mountain Ash in this region. These are the world's tallest flowering plants growing to more than 100m in height. Many of the trees in Sherbrooke sprouted after a severe fire in 1926. Below the tall trees is an understorey of treeferns, wattles and shrubs. Birds are prolific with many treecreepers and parrots. The first is also home to the superb lyrebird which searches the forest floor for insects and grubs. This large bird is able to mimic most sounds and is commonly heard imitating other birds and man-made noises. It is sometimes seen crossing the tracks."

Source: Day Walks Melbourne

My comments

This was my fourth walk through this very pretty part of Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges, and I'm sure it won't be my last. It's a beautiful park and a nice length walk with just enough ups and downs to get you puffing.

Today I was accompanied by Claire and we had clear weather that turned into a beautifully sunny day by the time we were done. This may have been why there were more walkers out today than I've ever seen before, and we even managed to bump into my old philosopher friend, Alan.

My knee held up, but only just. As we turned into the picnic ground at the end of the walk (with surprisingly few birds today), I could feel it twinging.

My rating

A lovely walk that I'm sure I'll repeat again.

Photos from this walk

For more, see: Sherbrooke Forest photo slideshow

You Yangs

Walk overview

Length: 10km
Time: 3 hours
Grade: Medium
Region: Geelong, Victoria
Map: VICMAP 1:25,000 You Yangs

"A series of isolated peaks rise prominently on the long flat plain that stretches from between Melbourne and Geelong. These are known as the You Yangs. The peaks are composed of granite that decomposes into into sands and gravel that wash onto the flats around the range."

Source: Day Walks Melbourne

My comments

We (Claire and I) were planning to walk at Anakie Gorge, but when we got there the park was still closed. With no maps, we decided to head to the You Yangs - a small regional park where hopefully we would be able to find our way around with just a park map. How wrong we were!

Within an hour, we were lost - trying to combine a couple of the walks on the park map with no instructions on how to get from the end of one to the start of the next. Fortunately we had a compass and were able to get a vague fix on where we were in relation to Flinders Peak. Eventually we found our way up to The Saddle and picked up the East Walk track and completed a circuit of roughly 10 km.

The landscape was way more interesting than you'd ever think from the road, and certainly worth another walk sometime - with a decent map.

My rating

Not bad at all

Photos from this walk

For more, see: You Yangs photo slideshow

Nelly Bay to Arcadia, Magnetic Island

Walk overview

Length: 6km
Time: 2 hours
Grade: Medium
Region: Townsville, Queensland

"This track passes through a cool patch of rainforest, then alongside Gustav Creek up a steady climb to the saddle of the ridge, with Nelly Bay on one side and Horseshoe Bay on the other. Many birds and wildlife can be seen, and at the right time of year, bush orchids. Continue along the ridge through open eucalypt forest to an excellent view of Horseshoe Bay."

Source: Magnetic Island Guide

My comments

I was in Townsville on business, so decided to take the opportunity of a short walk - my first in several months. I felt quite unfit struggling up to the saddle, but the views were fabulous. My knee held out on the steep parts of the downhill, but was starting to get sore by the end of the walk.

My rating

Not a bad walk. I'll come prepared with boot and do a longer one next time.

Photos from this walk

For more, see: Magnetic Island photo slideshow