GSWW Section 5 – Fitzroy Camp to Moleside Camp

Hiking Trails » Victoria » Great Ocean Road » GSWW Section 5 – Fitzroy Camp to Moleside Camp

Written by greenta| January 11, 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 Section 4 – Cobboboonee Camp to Fitzroy Camp. Else, let us continue on with this fifth section of the Great South West Walk from Fitzroy Camp to Moleside Camp.

This is a long (22.5km) section through varying terrain. Elevation gain isn’t too bad, but there are sections where the trail becomes sandy and difficult to hike in, and there are also sections with leeches in the tall grass about 3km from the start of the trail. You may be lucky enough to find some wild garlic growing in this area too. We did a small harvest and used it in our freeze dried meals over subsequent days, and also chewed on the stems for a bit of flavour along the way, very refreshing.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos become more plentiful in this area, and you’ll notice them flying overhead frequently screeching their lungs out. We also spotted a couple of Emus nearby.

A welcome sight for me after walking through the forest for 5 days was Glenelg River near the end of the trail and at the campsite. I was eager for a drastic change in scenery, however my hiking partner was very content with the entire forest section.

Moleside Camp is an overnight walkers camp in Lower Glenelg National Park set on the banks of the Glenelg River amongst tall eucalypts and blackwoods. The campsite offers a shared table, seasonal tank water (treat before drinking), shelter and a toilet. A shared fireplace is provided but fuel stoves are preferred by Parks Victoria.

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Watch for changes as the rich soil gives way to wet sandy country.

By now you may have been alerted to the alarming screeches of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – the security guards of the forest. They soon advise you if you are passing through their sections of the forest.

Things are changing around you as rich soil gives way to wet sandy country.

You will travel from tall forest on rich basaltic soils across sandy heathland towards Lower Glenelg National Park.

About 7km west of Heath Road you will come to an excellent vantage point on the escarpment of Jones’ Ridge. This is part of an extensive geological fault known as the Kanawinka fault line, which separates the relatively elevated Normanby Platform to the east from the Glenelg Plains to the west.

Further along stop at the inkpot. A natural depression formed by the action of water dissolving the underlying limestone. When full it is 10 metres deep. The black tea water colour is produced by tannins from decaying plants.

The transition from relatively rich basaltic soils to poorer sandy soils is marked by a change in the dominant tree species, from tall Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) to the lower, more spreading Brown Stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri) and heathland.

Moleside Creek and surrounds support the most westerly tree-fern gullies in Australia.

Examine the buds of any gumtrees and you will find that they are covered by a small cap.

Eucalypt is derived from two Greek words referring to the ‘well covered cap’ of the flower buds. The unopened flower is protected by a cap, i.e. ‘eu’ good or well ‘kalyptus’ covered.

Great South West Walk: Section 5 – Fitzroy Camp to Moleside Camp

Section 5: Fitzroy Camp to Moleside Camp.

Section Features: Increased bird life and sounds including Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Southern Emu Wren, Olive Whistler, Crescent Honeyeater, Tawny Crowned Honeyeater. And Stringybark trees.
Reported Distance: 22km
Measured Distance: 21.5km
Elevation Gain: 175 metres
Elevation Loss: 265 metres
Minimum Elevation: 12 metres
Maximum Elevation: 155 metres
Time to complete: 5-7 hours

Fitzroy Camp

If it’s been raining heavily you may need to take this alternative route as the following walkway may be flooded.

This walkway could become flooded over in heavy rains. Take the alternate route if this happens.

Cobboboonee National Park

More fire affected trees throughout this area. This is a natural way of growth in the Cobboboonee Forest.

When you reach the open farmland do yourself a favour and check yourself for leeches. I brushed off four of them from my pants, and manually removed another which had climbed up my pant leg past my knee. They were the size of my little finger.