Monday 6 January 2014

Wilsons Promontory National Park

On Thursday after hearing I would not be working until the following week I, on a whim, packed my bag in preparation for some much needed time in the outdoors. 

After two months of stressful job hunting and worrying about when the cash flow would start coming in, I accumulated a great deal of stress and unease. This stress is only compounded by the other noise and static that you are bombarded by when living in a big city. So I needed a little respite, the best kind I have. 

So, on Friday morning I set out for some backpacking and to explore this new home country. Wilsons Promontory National Park had been on my radar for quite some time after some recommendations from friends and some research peaked my interest.


I left Southern Cross Station in Melbourne on a V-Line bus bound for Foster in South Gippsland. From there I hitchhiked into the park and began my journey at the Telegraph Saddle car park (only accessible by shuttle bus). My first day of hiking was a steady decline along a gravel road into the valley that separates the Wilson Ranges and Boulder Ranges to the south. Along the way to my destination at Roaring Meg campground I witnessed a number of beautiful cockatoos, lizards and a friendly little fox whose curiosity had him following me for around 2 km. 


The entire track from Telegraph Saddle to Roaring Meg and through to the historic light station, follows the old telegraph line that stretches through the park. Built in 1860 the telegraph line was operated by the workers and families to communicate via Morse Code to Yanakie and request supplies that were later delivered by boat. From the onset, the line was riddled with problems due to the rugged terrain, and the link was severed on the first day by a felled tree. 


I settled at Roaring Meg for the night and prepared to set out early to the light station and onward to Waterloo Bay. Over the night the high winds whipping over the forest canopy above really proved that the campgrounds name was appropriate! It was a loud night, but none the less I slept well.

The next day was grueling, 17 km of rugged coastal trail. But this was not without spectacular views along the way, and a few rock wallabies and lizards! Along the way is also a stop at the historic Wilsons Prom Light Station, which was really neat to stumble into this little jewel of civilization while being so secluded.



The Light Station was built over the course of 17 years with the use of convict labor and put into operation in 1859. Back in the day the cape in which it stands was home to the workers and families and even had its own school house. During the onset of WWII the light station was home to a top secret RAAF Radar station and barracks. The barracks housed 36 RAAF personnel including radar operators, mechanics, guards, and cooks. Again a really neat piece of history tucked away.

*A note to prospective prom hikers, the light station has potable water, so bring your bottles.




After an amazing hike through the high hills above the sea and a spectacular decent into Waterloo Bay I set up camp at Little Waterloo Bay and took a walk on the beach and around on one of the rocky points for some photos. The campsite was busy but very nice, and I was whisked off to sleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach near by. 



The last day was an 12km hike from Little Waterloo to Telegraph Saddle Car park. It was a way better walk then I thought it would be, with sweeping views away to both sides of the valley and to the ocean bounding the park on both sides. The panoramic at the top is of the highest point on that trail and you could at that point see ocean on both sides. Along the walk I made friends with three guys that were out for a similar hike and they ended up giving me a ride all the way back to Melbourne!



Whether it is the satisfaction of accomplishing a trek, standing on the top of a mountain, meeting great people along the way, or just the serene views and uninterrupted silence of nature, it all unwinds me and resets me. This experience was no different, I came back a new person. Next up maybe Wilsons Prom again, or perhaps the Grampians or Dandenong Ranges?

Stay tuned,

W




Sunday 5 January 2014

Melbourne; Pic's of the Day

On my Instagram feed I have been updateing frequently with a set of photos that are my "#Melbourne Pick's of the Day". I have not upheld the picture a day but it is pretty well close, and you can follow me at http://instagram.com/lyle_lanley#.

Here is Melbourne thus far, from the eye of my iPhone.