Saturday 25/02/2023 Cunninghame Arm Footbridge – Entrance Walk – Birds Lookout – Lakes Entrance Lookout – Flagstaff Lookout – Boardwalk Track – Flagstaff Jetty
Lake Tyers Coast Reserve, Lakes Entrance, VICTORIA
Gunaikurnai Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
After successfully completing our first The Entrance parkrun we returned to our campervan for breakfast. Shortly thereafter we were walking off again towards the esplanade crossing the Cunninghame Arm Footbridge. The Entrance walk commences just over the bridge next to the Lakes Entrance surf club.
Max elevation: 34 m
Total climbing: 201 m
Total descent: -186 m
Average speed: 4.59 km/h
Total time: 03:55:12
Today Victoria was forecast to experience heatwave conditions and although it was already hot here there was a light breeze part of the time to tone it down somewhat. The walk follows along the foredunes of Ninety Mile Beach, which here form a long, thin barrier between the ocean and the neighbouring lake.
Being a latish start the birdlife was probably a little quieter and less visible than at dawn or dusk but we did briefly glimpse many very small birds as they went about their day or darted away from us as we approached.
Entrance Walk
The highlight of this walk for us today was watching an Australian Fur Seal in the entrance channel as it devoured a fish it had just caught. Out past the breakwater was a group of seals “sailing” at their leisure, this describes their behaviour of floating on the surface with their fins held skyward. It was of concern that two separate jets operators thought it was OK to approach them within 20m.
There are a few buildings near the entrance built in the early 1900s that form a historic precinct. The most interesting was probably the rocket house which was built for the purpose of being able to send a rocket with attaching line over any floundering vessel, this line then being able to be used to pull a rope on board and assist in the rescue of everyone on board if needed.
Sue managed a quick dip before we headed back. On the way, we saw a few more birds and a small snake. By the end I had managed to photograph seven different animal species, the highlight being the feeding seal.
The local flora, fauna, geology, history and some other walks (ChatGPT)
Lake Tyers Coast Reserve, a stunning corner of Victoria that was once home to a vast array of flora and fauna, shaped over millions of years by the forces of nature.
The flora of the reserve was characterized by lush vegetation, including towering eucalyptus trees, dense shrubbery, and a variety of wildflowers. Many of these plants were endemic to the region and had adapted to the unique environment.
As for the fauna, the area was teeming with life, both on land and in the water. Kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats could be spotted hopping and burrowing through the undergrowth, while koalas nestled in the branches of eucalyptus trees. Meanwhile, the waters of the lake were home to an abundance of fish, including bream, flathead, and mullet, as well as a variety of birdlife like pelicans, swans and ibises.
The geology of Lake Tyers Coast Reserve was equally impressive. The reserve was situated on a narrow strip of land between the ocean and the lake, with rugged cliffs and sand dunes forming the coastline. Over time, the constant action of wind and water eroded the cliffs and shaped the dunes, creating a stunning landscape that changed with the tides.
The history of the reserve is also fascinating. For thousands of years, the land was home to the local indigenous peoples, who lived off the land and the waters of the lake. European settlers arrived in the area in the mid-1800s, bringing with them a new way of life that would forever change the landscape and the ecosystem.
Today, visitors can take a number of different walks through the reserve, each offering a unique glimpse into the region’s natural and cultural history. The Lake Tyers Beach walk, for example, takes visitors along the shoreline of the lake and the ocean, while the Nungurner Jetty walk offers a chance to see some of the local marine life up close.
Overall, Lake Tyers Coast Reserve is a truly remarkable place, offering a glimpse into the natural and cultural history of this part of Victoria. While the flora and fauna may have changed over the years, the beauty and wonder of the landscape and the waters remain as awe-inspiring as ever.
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