Anglesea Perimeter Track – Western Section

The Walk in Detail

Much of the area covered by this walk is in an environmentally sensitive area and walkers are asked to respect the land and not walk off track.

The walk goes in a anti clockwise direction and follows walking tracks, roads and sandy beaches.

Coogoorah Park to Mt Ingoldsby   The track leaves Coogoorah Park up the embankment west of the playground equipment in the shape of a ship.  Here is the first of the aluminium Alcoa Surf Coast Walk track markers.  Follow these west behind the houses, and at a gap in the fence the track moves into the heathland.  The track continues west to a T-junction, turns south then west again at a dogleg, marked with a green Surf Coast Walk marker.  Continue west at the same elevation under power- lines opposite Golf Course Track until reaching Messmate Track, a very wide asset protection area.  If time permits, cross Messmate Track and walk through to Coalmine Road, turn right and walk to a viewing point over the Alcoa Mine. Return to Messmate Track by the same route.  The track turns south here and is undulating (mainly uphill) to the top of Mt Ingoldsby.  This is a good spot for a break.

Mt Ingoldsby/Harvey St to the corner of O'Donohue Road and the Great Ocean Road    From Mt Ingoldsby the track passes the end of another obvious walking track on the east, and continues to Harvey Street.  Turn east along Harvey Street for a short distance to a gap in the fence south of the road just before the 50 km sign and at the start of the properties.  This is an entrance to the O'Donohue section of the Great Otway National Park.  The track skirts the back of the properties until reaching close to the corner of Harvey Street and O'Donohue's Road.  There are three tracks to the south and while they all go to the coast, the track marked W1 on an orange arrow is probably the best.

Corner O'Donohue Road and the Great Ocean Road to Anglesea    Cross the Great Ocean Road and walk along the beach to the Point Roadknight Boat Clubhouse, up through the car park onto the clifftop walk, then along the coastal reserve to return to the Anglesea River.  Warning: Cliffs in the area are unstable.  On reaching the river, turn right and follow the western bank of the river to where the Great Ocean Road crosses the river.  Cross the Great Ocean Road and take the River Reserve Road (which follows the western bank of the river) back to Coogoorah Park.  Please note that it is necessary to take the clifftop option between Point Roadknight and Anglesea at medium to high tide.  Rocks in this section are extremely slippery when wet.

Variations:

There is an option to shorten the walk by about 4km (to 10 km total) by following Harvey Street to the Great Ocean Road instead of traversing the O'Donohue section of the National Park.
Alternatively cars can be left at the car park at the south end of O'Donohue Road and the final beach section omitted.
If the Anglesea river is in flood, it may be necessary to park adjacent to the Anglesea River bridge, and start the walk by walking up River Reserve Rd to Coogoorah Park.