George Bass Coastal Walk
parknotes
Visitor Guide
What a sight it must have been when the explorer George Bass first sighted the coast of what
we now call Victoria. And now it’s your chance to follow the route of Bass’ voyage of discovery
along the Victorian coastline. The George Bass Coastal Walk offers panoramic coastal views
from a narrow winding path, along cliff tops rising high above the pounding surf of Bass Strait.
Location and access perhaps its equal in the annals of Maritime
history”.
The walk is situated 100kilometres south east of
Melbourne between San Remo and Kilcunda. William Hovell explored this coast on foot in
The walk commences at the southern end of the 1826, describing the area in his diary “….the
Punchbowl Road, off the Phillip Island Tourist land here is high, soil light but not good, very
Road. Visitors may also start the walk from the thick of low stunted trees (She Oak) with low
Bass Highway in Kilcunda. bush, excepting at, or near the point on the north
side of the entrance, the land ends abruptly,
The walk is 7km, taking approximately two hours towards the bay and the opposite side of the
one way. The Anderson to Wonthaggi Rail Trail entrance, facing Cape Woolamai and in many
can be used to extend your walk from Kilcunda parts ends in perpendicular bluffs”.
to Anderson, or east to Wonthaggi.
Flora and fauna
Remnants of history
Although grazing occurred on this coast for
For thousands of years the Bunurong indigenous many years, remnants of native vegetation cling
people looked out over the treacherous stretch stubbornly to the windswept cliff tops. These
of water known today as Bass Strait. This area is plants include Coast Beard-heath, White Correa,
marked by middens, hidden in the dunes behind Sea Box and Coast Tea-tree. An attractive stand
sandy beaches along the coast. of Coast Banksia is thriving at Half Moon Bay
and Boobiallas grow along the sheltered creek
gullies. Extensive tree planting has been done
by volunteers.
The low vegetation provides excellent
opportunities for observing bird life along the
coast. Pacific Gulls constantly patrol this coast
exploiting the strong updraught created by the
high cliffs. Black-shouldered Kites and Nankeen
Kestrels may be seen hunting in the
neighbouring farmlands.
Through winter, the high cliffs provide a vantage
point to view Southern Right Whales on their
annual migration to the warmer waters along the
southern coastline of Australia.
In 1797, George Bass set sail from Sydney Cove Please take care
in an 8.7 metre whale boat to prove the Caution must be exercised when undertaking
existence of a strait between Tasmania and New this walk. The track follows a narrow strip of
South Wales. During this epic voyage George public land along cliff tops, consisting of slashed
Bass discovered and named the first natural track through grassland. The track surface can
harbour on the southern mainland coast, be slippery, so sturdy footwear should be worn.
Westernport Bay.
Beaches along the walks are unsuitable for
Matthew Flinders said of the voyage made by swimming due to the presence of strong
George Bass “A voyage expressly undertaken undertows, rips and steep sloping sandy
for the discovery in an open boat, and in which bottoms. Fishing or walking near the waters
six hundred miles of coast, mostly in a edge can be extremely dangerous; swells and
boisterous climate was explored, has not large waves can crash up against the rocky
coastline.
For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963
or visit our website at [Link]
For further information .
Parks Victoria
Information Centre
Call 13 1963
or visit our website at
[Link]
Phillip Island Information Centre
Phillip Island Road
Newhaven VIC 3925
Phone: 1300 366 422
Bunurong Environment Centre
Ramsey Blvd
Inverloch VIC 3996
Phone: (03) 5674 3738
Personal safety
Beware of large unexpected
waves when walking or fishing
on rock platforms or beaches
Never travel alone in remote
areas
Keep to defined tracks and stay
away from cliff edges and
bases
Beaches along this walk are
unsuitable for swimming due to
the presence of strong currents
and undertows
When walking remember to
wear a hat, use sunscreen and
carry plenty of drinking water
This park is located in the
Central Total Fire Ban District
Caring for the
environment
Help us look after your park by
following these guidelines:
All plants and animals in the
reserve are protected
No fires may be lit within the
reserve
Bins are not provided in the
reserve; please take your
rubbish home
Please observe all regulations
and signs relating to dogs
Camping is not permitted
Please don’t throw this park
note away. Keep it, return it for
others to use, or recycle it
Healthy Parks Healthy People
Visiting a park can improve
your health, mind, body and
soul. So, with over four million
hectares of parkland
available to Victorians, why
not escape to a park today! August 2012
Printed on Australian-made 100% recycled paper
