BWV FedWalks weekend - Great Southwest Walk

Participation in the annual Federation Walks event is one of the benefits of our membership of Bushwalking Victoria.  

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: 20+ different walks are available. The walks range from Easy 5 km to Hard 20 km. Some walks have canoe/boating possibilities also.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: The FedWalks weekend happens in a different part of Victoria each year - this year it will be based in Portland to do sections of the Great South West Walk. Detailed maps and descriptions of all the walks on offer will be provided. 

The Great South West Walk (GSWW) is a 250-kilometer, 12-to-15-day loop hiking trail beginning and ending in Portland, Victoria, offering a diverse, challenging journey through forests, along the Glenelg River, and across rugged coastlines. It's an epic showcase of the natural beauty of far west Victoria. Meander through tranquil forests of the Cobboboonee, enter the limestone gorge of the Glenelg River and the long, lonely coast of Discovery Bay. It winds through the diverse landscapes of Lower Glenelg National Park, Discovery Bay Coastal Park, Cobboboonee National Park and Cape Nelson State Park. Starting from the township of Portland in south west Victoria, the walk takes you on an unforgettable journey across rugged cliffs carved by the Southern Ocean, over remote beaches, past ancient, pristine lakes and through majestic, tall forest.

Memorable features include the highest sea cliffs in Victoria, blowholes, Petrified Forest, and seal colony at Cape Bridgwater, historic Cape Nelson Lighthouse, Princess Margaret Rose Caves, Aboriginal heritage places and the beautiful seaside village of Nelson, where the Glenelg River meets the sea. Along the way you’ll discover a diverse variety of plants and wildlife such as koalas, kangaroos, Blue and Southern Right Whales, and a huge variety of native birds, including the Australasian Gannet.

The walk is maintained through a partnership between volunteers from Friends of the Great South West Walk and Parks Victoria. Many thanks to those volunteers as well as to the volunteers taking on responsibility for organising this FedWalks program.

The Nomads has booked the 4-bedroom Roantree House, 17 Julia Street, Portland for Friday and Saturday nights at a total cost of $721.56. The accommodation cost will be divided equitably depending on how many people are staying in the house. 

BOOKING: By 31 August, or ASAP to ensure you don't miss out! This event is only open to members of clubs affiliated with Bushwalking Victoria. Visitors should get a 1-month Temporary Membership prior to booking their tickets. Nomads tickets are free to book - the leader will collect accommodation fees directly from the attendees. The steps for booking are:

• Check out the BWV Walks Program to decide which walk(s) you would like to do.
• Click the TryBooking link to select the walks you wish to do on Saturday, and on Sunday and also select the Saturday Night Dinner option if you wish, then pay the FedWalks Registration Fee.
• Select Get Tickets on this Nomads events listing, so we know who is attending, to help with coordination.
• IMPORTANT: You must book, select the FedWalks walks you wish to do, and pay per walk ASAP. A ticket with The Nomads is not sufficient to grant you access to the weekend!
• NOTE: If travelling by public transport, the bus leaves Portland at 3:32pm on Sunday. If you don't get back from your walk in time to catch that, you'll almost certainly be able to get a ride to Warrnambool to catch the 5:32pm or 6:32pm train from there to Southern Cross.

Unsure if you've already booked with The Nomads? Click View my bookings.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

• FedWalks website: Detailed information is available on fedwalks.org.au.
• Overview Map (PDF): shows the location of each walk.

MEETING TIME | LOCATION: Meet the other Nomads at Roantree House, 17 Julia Street, Portland. Note that you will also need to register for the FedWalks program once you arrive in Portland - details will be provided here once they're available.

MAP REFERENCE: Google map - Roantree House: maps.app.goo.gl/6nuvbTFmLAEudiXZA. 

DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 350 to 400 km (depending on the route), allow 4 to 4.5 hours to drive from central Melbourne. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Public transport is highly recommended - Car pooling will be organised to get you to and from central Portland to the start of each FedWalks walk. Catch a V/lIne train to Warrnambool and a coach from there to Portland:

OUTBOUND (Friday: Southern Cross to Portland)

• 7:26am Southern Cross - 10:49am Warrnambool | 10:59am Warrnambool - 12:31pm Portland
• 10:12am Southern Cross - 1:44pm Warrnambool
• 1:10pm Southern Cross - 4:35pm Warrnambool | 4:55pm Warrnambool - 6:32pm Portland
• 5:09pm Southern Cross - 8:35pm Warrnambool | 8:46pm Warrnambool - 10:11pm Portland
• 7:25pm Southern Cross - 10:37pm Warrnambool | 10:47pm Warrnambool - 12:12am Portland (Saturday morning arrival)

RETURNING (Sunday: Portland to Southern Cross): the only feasible option is:

• 3:32pm Portland - 5:08pm Warrnambool | 5:27pm Warrnambool - 9:00pm Southern Cross

COST:

• WALKS: The minimum cost is $25 per person per walk, payable to FedWalks, which includes participation in your selected Saturday and Sunday walk.
• ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation cost will be divided equitably depending on how many people are staying in the house, and the type of bedding you have. A private room will be costed as "2 bed spaces". 
• SATURDAY DINNER: The optional Saturday night FedWalks dinner and entertainment costS $50 (and is recommended). 

ACCOMMODATION: The house has 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Three bedrooms have either a king or queen bed, and the fourth bedroom has two single beds. There's also a double sofa bed in living room 2 and an L-shaped lounge in living room 1.

FOOD: BYO breakfasts. For your walks, you will generally need to carry lunch, snacks and drinking water. Afternoon tea will be provided at the end of each walk. You can book and pay for a Saturday evening meal (cost $50) when you book with FedWalks for the weekend. There are also supermarkets and lots of dining establishments in Portland.

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes and dress according to the weather forecast. Be sure to bring plenty of warm, waterproof layers. The weather in Portland can be quite changeable, and is often very windy.

LEADER: The walks will be organised by various leaders from the FedWalks team. For queries about participating in activities with other Nomads over the weekend, email Alan D. on LeaderAlanD@nomads.org.au.
Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.

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