There are two ways to walk to the Ocean View Lookout, a short and sweet uphill grind return walk or a longer walk that meanders through the coastal vegetation on a loop walk.
Ocean View Lookout – Moggs Creek – Short – 1.12km Return
Leaving from the end of Robyn Road in Moggs Creek this walk will get the blood pumping straight up a hill! I’ve said it before but I think the short Ocean View lookout walk is one of the most undervalued walks on the Great Ocean Road. Short and sweet and with 180 degree views I think its so worth the effort to get to the top and easy to fit in when you’re short on time (plus, dog friendly)!
Ocean View Lookout in Moggs Creek is a little known bushwalk but is one of my favourite short walks on the Great Ocean Road because it has beautiful 180 degree views from the top.
This walk is a great choice for those looking for a bushwalk under 1 hour return, that is dog friendly and that has coastal views.
| Quick Fact Box |
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| Distance: 1.2km return. Track Grade: Estimated Grade 3 due to steep uphill incline & well designated but narrow track Dogs: Dogs allowed on lead – yay! Walk Highlights: 180 degree coastal views of Great Ocean Road from the top! It’s a great shorter challange if your looking to improve your fitness and is a clearly defined track thats great for beginner bush walkers. Who should skip it: This walk is near a township so if your are looking for 100% natural views this isnt for you. Also avoid if your health dictates you can’t safely climb a hill or walk on a narrow path with some uneven surfaces. Getting There: Walk starts at end of Robyn Rd in Moggs Creek, which is in the eastern setion of the Great Ocean Road. There is – there is space to park at the end of the road. Please note there is a longer, also dog friendly, alternative route to this lookout that leaves from the Moggs Creek Picnic area a short drive away. |
Getting There & Starting the Walk
To get directions to this walk, click on view larger map to open in google maps.
You turn off the Great Ocean Road at Moggs Creek and then left onto Robyn Road. It is a no through road despite what the map shows. You can park at the end of the road in the large grassed area. The start of the Walk is about 50 metres west towards the ocean and is signed.
This walk is uphill from the start but only 500 metres (1.12km return). It’s long enough to get the blood pumping but short enough to fit in into a busy schedule.
I am very overweight and can complete this walk in under an hour taking photos (lots of them haha). There is a seat to rest on part way up the hill. If you are fit this walk will be a much quicker stop for you. Your effort is the reward of epic 180 degree Great Ocean Road views.
Personally I think this walk is one of the most underrated short walks on the Great Ocean Road.
The Track Condition
The track is well formed (easy to see) and appears to have been resurfaced with fresh gravel in the recent past. You could walk this walk in runners or hiking sandles (but boots always provide better ankle protection). Shoes with grip rather than thongs or similar will help with keeping your footing on the steeper sections walking back down the hill again.
The Landscape- ecosystem, plants & wildlife
This walk leaves from a township and looks over the great ocean road so the views to the east include houses, including the Lighthouse from Round the Twist.
The walking track starts by passing through whats called Coastal Scrubs & Grassland which is low scrubby vegetation where you can spot lots of wildflowers coming into spring.
The middle of the Walk includes some patches of heathy woodland which becomes more frequent as your reach the lookout at the top and is the predominant vegetation looking away from the coast.
At the top of the walk it is Heathy Woodland inland and on the opposite side sweeping views of the coastline heading west and Great Ocean Road views in both directions.
The Views
This walk is all about the views and you start to get some filtered ocean views on the way up including views back down the track of the Lighthouse and looking out to the west.
But the best views are when you get to the top and turn left out onto the lookout platform.
Here you get the full 180 degree views of the coastline. To the east is views of the Moggs Creek township and the Aireys Inlet Split Point Lighthouse, made famous to 90’s kids by the TV show Round the Twist.
To the west is views of the winding coastline and a chance to see where you are heading if your driving the Great Ocean Road from east to west (starting from the Torquay end).
Walking back down again
Keep in mind some sections of this walk can feel steep to walk back down and their are small sections of shallow erosion in some spots. For this reason shoes with good grip are nessasary and I image this walk would be quite slippery when wet because of the incline and soil surface.
Alternativly, if you have a group you can car shuttle from the Moggs Creek Picnic area prior to the walk and continue on to finish there. This option is longer by several km’s and winds its way to the picnic area through woodland.
So in Summary…
The Ocean View Lookout walk from the Moggs Creek township is a great steep but short walk. The steep incline is good exercise and the fantastic views at the top makes it worth the effort.
This quick walk fits into a busy holiday schedule. It’s also perfect to include a bushwalk rather than just car lookout stops on a Great Ocean Road day trip.
Travelling with your dog? See more dog friendly activities and walks here.
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This post was originally posted on my other blog seesomethingnew.com.au.
Ocean View Lookout – Moggs Creek – Long – 4.8km Circuit/Loop walk
Leaving from out the back of Moggs Creek at the Moggs Creek Picnic Area the long walk is a nice loop that takes you through the bush (crossing over some fire trails) to the lookout then back again on a different track.
The lookout is definitely the highlight of the walk but the bush is pretty and the understorey varies with grass trees in some sections and wild flowers at the right time of the year. This is a good longer option to get you and your doggo out for a longer dog friendly bushwalk on the Great Ocean Road.
