If you haven’t done so already, check out our Great South West Walk hiking trail summary or go back to GSWW Section 8 – Pattersons Camp to Simsons Camp. Else, let us continue on with this ninth section of the Great South West Walk from Simsons Camp to Monibeong Camp.
Simsons Camp is located 3km out of Nelson. Nelson is good. Nelson has food. A kiosk and a pub… and accommodation. So, in sight of this, we would highly recommend that after your 3km walk you rest in Nelson for a day. Add another night to your trip to recuperate because the beach stretches can be very difficult and to enjoy them fully it is much better that you are rested up. Else you may find yourself rushing through the final sections without taking in all the beauty that the Great South West Walk has to offer.
Now distance factors into this equation, because this section out of Simsons Camp is 24.5km long. That is the longest section of this walk. And it is along the beach, something which many people are not accustomed to walking on. If you can get the timing right and hit low tide, walking along the harder compacted sand (below the crab air holes that you may see), then walking is relatively easy, however if not, then you may be walking on the soft dry sand or the soft wet sand (read where the crabs create aerated pockets) and you may be in trouble. This is otherwise tough work.
Nelson sports a Kiosk that is usually open until 5pm (or 6pm during holiday times/if busy) which sells some hot food/sandwiches as well as basic condiments/fruits/vegetables/chocolates/drinks. There is also the pub which serves real food and a bar with drinks. The pub doesn’t have a good reputation for the quality of their meals, but I honestly found it to be fine, if not quite appetising, especially after having had eaten only freeze-dried meals and protein bars for the past 9 days. Friendly staff at both the pub and the kiosk.
Monibeong 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.
Nelson history – Europeans arrive
Major Thomas Mitchell was charmed by the scenery and the “finest body of water” he had encountered on his trek across Australia when he visited here on August 18, 1836. He named the river (known by Gundiitjmara people as Bocara) ‘Glenelg’ in honor of Lord Glenelg, the Colonial Secretary in the House of Commons of that day.
The walk takes on a completely different mood as it leaves the river country (Bocara) and meets the sea country (Koonang).
A number of shell deposits can be observed. Sand dunes moved by wind and rain alternately expose and hide Aboriginal middens. These shell and bone deposits (middens) are discarded food items and bear testimony to a rich lifestyle lived here by the Gunditjmara people.
Freshwater swamp shellfish, sea plants and other marine animals were harvested for food. The large number of middens present demonstrates a long history of occupation.
Look at the layers exposed, but please do not touch.
Please keep to the defined track through inland areas to avoid disturbing these delicate midden sites.
Livingstone Nature Walk is 2km west of Ocean Beach/Estuary.
Great South West Walk Section 9 – Simsons Camp to Monibeong Camp
Section 9: Simsons Camp to Monibeong Camp.
- Section Features: Nelson Hotel, Nelson estuary, Hooded Plovers, Little Terns, Oystercatchers, Shell middens exposed by winds, Wetlands wildlife – ancient Greenling dragonfly, Beautiful Firetails.
- Reported Distance: 26km
- Measured Distance: 24.5km
- Elevation Gain: 425 metres
- Elevation Loss: 430 metres
- Minimum Elevation: 0 metres
- Maximum Elevation: 20 metres
- Time to complete: 7-9 hours
Continue on to Great South West Walk: Section 10 – Monibeong Camp to Swan Lake Camp.