 Natural
Attractions
There are many natural attractions that may be encountered on
your walking adventure along The Great South West Walk.
Some features are permanent and are always visible while others
such as the abundant native flora may only be seasonal or as with
most of our animals, birds, reptiles, and marine creatures, they are more
usually encountered by chance.
- Natural Features.
- Animals.
- Birds.
- Flora.
- Marine-life.
- Reptiles and Frogs.
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Natural Features
Ship Wreck Rock
Discovery Bay
Moleside Creek
The GSWW takes you past many naturally occurring land
formations, sea scapes and places
of profound beauty that are a delight for keen nature lovers and
photographers alike.
The walk also connects two of Victoria's South West National
Parks. Some of the more notable features are listed below.
- Lawrence Rocks
- Yellow Rock
- The Enchanted Forest
- Bridgewater Bay
- The Blowholes
- The Petrified Forest
- Mount Richmond and Lower Glenelg National Parks
- The rugged Southern ocean along Discovery Bay
- The Cobboboonee Forest
- The Gannet rookery at Point Danger
- Seal colony at Cape Bridgewater
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Sunset at the Blowholes |
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Animals
The Mammals listed below are known to inhabit the area.
Some are common but shy, while others are nocturnal and difficult to
locate. You may also encounter some introduced and feral animals
such as foxes, rabbits or even a cat. Keep your eyes open for
footprints, scratchings and scats that will indicate the existence
of particular animals.
- Monotremes.
Echidna
Platypus
- Marsupials.
Red-necked Wallaby
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Short-nosed Bandicoot
Brush-tailed Possum
Ringtail Possum
Koala
Common Wombat
Brown Antechinus
- Placentals.
Swamp Rat
Bush Rat
Water Rat
Australian Fur-seal
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Birds
Galah
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Emu with young
Kookaburra
Azure Kingfisher (Glenelg River)
Approximately 277 different species of birds can be found within
the area that the GSWW is situated in.
One bird in particular that is a virtual certainty to be observed is
The Australasian Gannet. (pictured right)
These birds can be seen on and around Point Danger, which is the
site of the only Australian mainland Gannet rookery.
The GSWW is unique in that it passes through a variety of vegetation
and land form habitats. These range from marine habitats, cliffs and
exposed rock faces, coastal dunes, inland waters, open forest, open
scrub, heath and pastoral lands.
The walk is a very enjoyable experience for those who can take the
time to listen to the varied calls and observe the abundant bird
life.
During March 2009 on the long walk, one group of walkers who were
also keen 'Twitchers' are reported to have recorded 110 different
bird species on their two week round trip. Their highlight was
a flock of 62, highly endangered, Red- tailed Black Cockatoos.
Considering that many species are migratory and move with the
seasons for breeding etc, this is a very worthy testament to our
claim that the area supports a healthy bird population.
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Bird Species of Southwest Victoria.- Clicking here
will take you to an external web site that has a comprehensive list
of 277 birds that are
found in the area that GSWW passes through.
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Bird Atlas.- An external site that has comprehensive
information on migration, breeding, and other details regarding
Australian birds.
-
RAOU Birds of Australia.- The "nest" for Birds of
Australia.
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Flora
The Walk takes you through a variety of natural vegetation
including forests, woodlands, heathlands, wetlands and coastal
dunes.
If you have a particular interest in a specific form of
flora, you will require more research and further information as most orchids,
wattles, fungi and wild flowers, bloom at different times of the
year. The list of common plants below will be of some assistance in
helping you to get started.
- Tall Trees.
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Pomanderris Family |
| Manna Gum |
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Hazel Pomanderris |
| Brown Stringybark |
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Dusty Miller |
River Red Gum
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Burr & Bramble Family |
- Medium Trees.
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Native Raspberry |
| Blackwood |
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Bidgee-widgee |
| Black Wattle |
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Pea Family |
| Coast Wattle |
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Parrot-pea |
| Golden Wattle |
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Leafless Globe-pea |
She-oak
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Showy Bossiaea |
| Native Cherry |
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Orchid Family |
| Soap Mallee |
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Pink Finger |
| Moonah |
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Spider Orchid |
- Under Storey.
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Helmet Orchid |
| Heath Family |
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Wallflower Orchid |
| Coast Beard Heath |
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Cinnamon Bells |
| Common Heath |
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Hare Orchid |
| Flame Heath |
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Greenhood Orchid |
Honey pots
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Sun Orchid |
| Protea Family |
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Others |
| Beaked Hakea |
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Sticky Boobialla |
| Lavender Grevillea |
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Giant Hop Bush |
| Silver-leaf Banksia |
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Kangaroo Apple |
| Wattle Family |
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Sweet Bursaria |
| Spike Wattle |
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Currant Bush |
| Prickly Moses |
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Rice Flower |
| Boronia Family |
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Guinea-flower |
| White Correa |
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Grass Trigger-plant |
| Common Correa |
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Black-anther Flax-lily |
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Austral Grass-tree |
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Bracken |
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Marine-life
The waters of the Southern Coast are influenced by a phenomenon
known as the "Bonney Upwelling' and contain vast numbers of fish
and other marine-life. These waters have long been recognised as a
haven for sport and recreational fishing, diving and other water
related activities. During the autumn months many species of whale
arrive including the largest of them all, the Blue whale.
The Glenelg River
which is Victoria's largest estuarine river is also
a very healthy waterway, providing habitat and breeding opportunities
for a large range of freshwater fish and water related creatures.
Some of the species found in the river include.-
- Mullet
- Bream
- Mulloway
- Pigmy Perch
- Hardyheads
- Common Galaxias
- River Blackfish
- Blue-spotted Goby
- Australian Smelt
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Reptiles and Frogs
Spotted Marsh frog
Copperhead snakes mating
Blue Tongue lizard
Skink Shingle Back lizardReptiles and frogs are abundant in many habitats that the walk
traverses. There are no crocodiles this far south to contend with,
however ALL snakes that you may encounter are poisonous and should
not be provoked. Snakes are also protected. Should you find yourself
near one, simply move back and allow it to feel safe enough to take
its eye off you. It will then usually flee, if it has an escape
route.
Often one or more of the many different species of frogs can be
heard calling, when you are near a frog friendly environment.
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Lizards |
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Frogs |
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Snakes |
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Turtles |
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Whites Skink |
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Spotted Marsh Frog |
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Copperhead Snake |
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Long-necked Turtle |
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Grass Skink |
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Striped Marsh Frog |
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Tiger Snake |
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Three-lined Skink |
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Common Froglet |
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Red-bellied Black Snake |
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Southern Water Skink |
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Southern Brown (Ewings) Tree Frog |
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Brown Snake |
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Legless Lizard |
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Southern Smooth Froglet |
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Bearded Dragon |
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Pobblebonk (Banjo) Frog |
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Blue-tongue Lizard |
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Growling Grass Frog |
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Shingleback |
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Common Spadefoot Toad |
-
Alcoa Frogwatch.- An external site that has
comprehensive information on frogs..
-
Frogs of Australia.- A link to an Australia wide site for
information on frogs.
- Amphibian
Research Centre. - Link to a great Frog site.
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