The Cape Bridgewater Seal Colony hike is a 6.8km, grade 2 hike located in the Discovery Bay Coastal Park, Victoria. The hike should take around 2 hrs to complete.
Hike overview
The Cape Bridgewater Seal Colony hike follows a short section of the Great South West Walk. It is a moderate hike from the Bridgewater Bay Kiosk that follows stunning sections of Victoria’s highest coastal cliffs offering striking views across Cape Bridgewater; once a volcanic island that is now joined to the mainland by calcified sand dunes.
The Cape Bridgewater Seal Colony hike provides great views along the coast towards Cape Nelson. The viewing platform at the end of the trail looks out over rock platforms and on to a colony of about 650 Australian and New Zealand fur seals, the only mainland breeding site for Australian and New Zealand fur seals.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 125 m
Min elevation: 4 m
Total climbing: 410 m
Total descent: -410 m
Tips
- Enjoy remote camping, walks and canoeing.
- Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.
- Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.
Trail location
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Getting there
Discovery Bay Coastal Park is in south-west Victoria between Portland and Nelson adjoining the SA border, about 420kms from Melbourne and 490kms from Adelaide. The major access roads into the Park are The Blowholes Road, Scenic Drive and the Portland - Nelson Road.
Parking is available at the end of Blowholes Road, located in the Discovery Bay Coastal Park on the western side of Cape Bridgewater.
Gallery
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About the region
Discovery Bay offers a range of coastal environments with spectacular scenic values, including rugged cliffs, extensive beaches, mobile dune fields, wetlands and woodland forest communities. Victoria's highest coastal cliffs and the Cape Nelson lighthouse are located at the eastern end of Discovery Bay. The Cape Bridgewater fur seal colony is also a significant feature of the Park. A significant dune system extends from Nelson to Whites Beach limiting vehicle access to a few locations.
This remote coastal park protects 55 kilometre of ocean beach. Inland, the park encompasses high coastal cliffs, huge rolling sand dunes and freshwater lakes and swamps. Coastal vegetation and wildlife thrive.
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Gear to consider

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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.