If you haven’t done so already, check out our Great South West Walk hiking trail summary or go back to GSWW Section 5 from Fitzroy Camp to Moleside Camp. Else, let us continue on with this sixth section of the Great South West Walk from Moleside Camp to Battersbys Camp.
Continuing along the Glenelg River, elevation gain starts becoming a bit of a concern the further down you get as limestone cliffs start making an appearance. The following hiking trail sections follow the Glenelg River very closely, rising and falling over many of these limestone cliffs.
Boats, canoes, and wake-boarders become more commonplace, as do black cockatoos with a call distinctly different from the white Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.
Battersbys Camp is an overnight walkers camp in Lower Glenelg National Park set on the banks of the Glenelg River among tall eucalypts and blackwoods. 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.
Watch for the endangered Red-tailed Black Cockatoo feeding on Brown Stringybark seeds.
Living cycles – boom to bust
Some plants send out new shoots and leaves after frost, drought or bushfire. Others have to start fresh from the seed, usually after bushfires trigger the beginning of their life-cycle in the new ash bed.
More than 700 plant species thrive here where West Australian plant varieties meet with those from the east. At least 60 species of plants reach their western most range in this park.
Watch carefully. You may see the endangered Red-tailed Black Cockatoo feeding on Brown Stringybark seeds (Eucalyptus baxterii).
Stringybarks (Eucalyptus obliqua/baxteri) are gumtrees (eucalypts) with long fibrous strands of bark along the whole trunk and branches. They are in the same plant genus as gums, boxes and peppermints – all of which have a flower bud covered by a small cap which falls off as the flower opens. They grow shorter in the sandy heathland due to low soil nutrient levels. Messmate grows much taller in the fertile Cobboboonee soils and stringybark favours the limestone soils of the Glenelg River country.
More than 50 species of orchids abound in the heath and fringing forest areas. A sharp eye may not spot a variety of spring flowering native orchids. Their specialised roots systems sustain them through long dry periods. The leaves may only be present through winter and spring. Most of these grow less than 30cm tall. Orchids here include greenhoods, spider orchids and sun orchids.
Great South West Walk Section 6 – Moleside Camp to Battersbys Camp
Section 6: Moleside Camp to Battersbys Camp.
- Section Features: River views, boats & canoes, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Spring wildflowers (Orchids), Red-tailed Black Cockatoos.
- Reported Distance: 17km
- Measured Distance: 19.5km
- Elevation Gain: 260 metres
- Elevation Loss: 265 metres
- Minimum Elevation: 7 metres
- Maximum Elevation: 42 metres
- Time to complete: 5-7 hours
Continue on to Great South West Walk Section 7 – Battersbys Camp to Pattersons Camp.