GSWW Section 10 – Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

Written by | January 17, 2018| Great Ocean Road

If you haven’t done so already, check out our Great South West Walk hiking trail summary or go back to GSWW Section 9 – Simsons Camp to Monibeong Camp. Else, let us continue on with this tenth section of the Great South West Walk from Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp.

Another long 17.5km walk along the beach. Look out for unique things as this stretch is mostly without rocks. Sand dunes abound. Get your tide timings right so you can enjoy an easier walk along the compacted sand low on the shoreline.

Walking along the beach may be considered boring for some but for every type of scenery, we must look for interesting things that make this scenery unique. As with anything we are looking at. One thing that caught my eye were the muscles tumbling in the waves and the pied oyster catchers chasing after them for a feast. The way the seagulls fly up and down the beach, watching their behaviour. And the other things that get washed up, like the very unique buoy barnacles…

Swan Lake Camp is an overnight walkers camp in Discovery Bay Coastal Park set amongst coastal scrub and heathland. The campsite offers shared table, seasonal tank water (treat before drinking), shelter and toilet. A shared fireplace is provided but fuel stoves are preferred by Parks Victoria.

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Discovery Bay is the gateway to the Great Australian Bight

The edge of the Southern Ocean

Discovery Bay is Victoria’s marine gateway to the Great Australian Bight and edge of the immense expanse of the Southern Ocean. The Discovery Bay Coastal Park protects part of the largest coastal basalt formation in western Victoria. Basalt rocks here were formed from lava which cooled and hardened over the last million years. White sand dunes of Discovery Bay and the Nelson estuary are found to the west of Cape Bridgewater.

The largest area of mobile dunes in Victoria is found in Discovery Bay Coastal Park’s dune field. Driven by strong winds the dunes continuously move and change shape. Fore-dunes can be very steep and up to 10m tall, often undercut by high tides. Dune fields are harsh environments for plants and animals to live in. They must be tolerant of abrasive salt laden winds and shifting sands.

Some plants colonise the young moving sand, holding it down for slower growing plants to take a hold and make a stand against the shifting landscape.

Look carefully for changes to plant size, shape and colour on the on the protected inland side of dune slopes.

See if you can notice the change from ‘mobile dune’ to ‘stable landform’ taking place.

Marram grass was introduced from South Africa and planted extensively along Victoria’s coastal dunes to slow the effects of windblown erosion.

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Great South West Walk: Section 10 – Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

Section 10: Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp.

  • Section Features: Hooded Plover, Little Tern, Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher, Harriers, Hawks, Falcons, Sea-Eagles, Beach flotsam and jetsam – indicators of marine life/habitats and species and passing ships, Dune buggies.
  • Reported Distance: 16.5km
  • Measured Distance: 17.5km
  • Elevation Gain: 355 metres
  • Elevation Loss: 355 metres
  • Minimum Elevation: 0 metres
  • Maximum Elevation: 20 metres
  • Time to complete: 4-5 hours
Great South West Walk: Section 10 - Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

Monibeong Camp

Great South West Walk: Section 10 - Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

Preparing for another day walking along the beach.

Great South West Walk: Section 10 - Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

Getting in and out of the campsites is some of the hardest walking. They are located inland about 1km. Not a far distance, but with this extremely soft and moving sand, it is a tough slog and wastes a lot of energy.

Great South West Walk: Section 10 - Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

Shifting sands … and tire tracks everywhere coming into Swan Lake Camp.

Great South West Walk: Section 10 - Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

As you wonder what types of vehicles could possibly drive over these shifting sand dunes, a dune buggy flies past at 150km/hr.

Great South West Walk: Section 10 - Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

Yes, dune buggies. Please take care crossing here. Paths cross each other. Dune buggy vs Great South West Walker.

Great South West Walk: Section 10 - Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp

It was new years eve when we arrived at Swan Lake Camp and so we decided to camp at Swan Lake itself instead in order to avoid the DJ setup near Swan Lake Camp so that we could get a good nights rest for the following day. No celebrations for us other than hiking the 265km Great South West Walk.

Continue on to Great South West Walk Section 11 – Swan Lake Camp via Mt Richmond to Tarragal Camp.

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Last modified: January 30, 2018