Great Ocean Walk - Day 5

Day 5 Johanna Beach – Ryan’s Den

From the fields looking back to Johanna Beach Campsite (the trees on the far right)

Day 5 starts off with a really nice walk through the fields, we saw Kangaroos, wallabies and raptors. We started early to beat the heat, but the path soon ends up on the Old Coach rd through the forest and is nice and cool. The route follows roads for some considerable distance but the views of the surrounding countryside make it all worthwhile. After some time the track moves into a nature reserve which heads down towards Milanesia Beach. 

Milanesia Beach

The track down is long and steep, so care is required for this bit. You soon hit a lovely beach with a small creek crossing. Again we hit the beach at low tide so could walk the beach route. We decided to stop about half way along in the shade to have lunch, thinking we had plenty of time to get off the beach. About 2/3 of the way along is a small scramble across rocks, this bit sticks out into the water a bit. By the time we had had lunch, 45 mins perhaps, the tide had appeared to have turned, and was encroaching a significant way up these rocks. We were quite glad we hadn’t left it any later as it seemed quite possible the beach would have been cut in two quite soon. 

Thinking that the hardest part of the day was over and the campsite wasn’t more than an hour away we continued onwards, taking the exit from the beach to the overland route. The steps off the beach are steep and to get out of the valley steeper again. These were also in the sun, making the trek out even more tiring!

At the top of the many steps! Still smiling- Just!

Earlier in the day we had met up with our German friends again, who were doing the day walk. They had left us behind again, as they only had day packs. But due to the nature of the track it was slow progress for all of us! The track from the beach to the campsite is not only longer than expected it is very up and down, with some very steep sections, particularly once you get near to the campsite. There is a lovely long flight of steps with a lovely and well needed beach at the top of the steps! 

We also caught up with the Germans again, who had stopped to enjoy their packed lunch, the offer of a drink at the top of the hill they were on was certainly very welcome!

The Germans!

This next section was the first place we saw some BIG snakes, or should I say the back end of some BIG snakes. Mostly they were sleeping on the side of the path and as soon as they noticed us slinked, very quickly I might add into the under growth! They were Tiger Snakes we think!

We were certainly very relieved to see the sign for the campsite, only for our German friends to turn up for a quick rest! Ryan’s Den campsite is very much squeezed onto the top of a spur with the sites down the side off a main path. The Shelter and Toilet is at the head of the site, with a view point at the other end, looking out to sea. 

Sunset from the lookout at Ryan's Den

The couple from Johanna Beach, turned up later on, so we weren’t alone again! 

We were certainly glad to see our beds that night, as it had certainly been the most difficult day so far! I was also beginning to appreciate my walking poles, not only as snake scaring devices but also for my knees!

More pictures can be found on Flickr - Australianminiadventure