Edwards Point Walk
9 Beach Rd, St Leonards VIC 3223, Australia
By
ParkWalks
This walk is part of the Heart Foundations 'Green Walks in the Park' Program. Follow the link above for more information.
Facilities
There is a large car park at the start of the walk, an information board and a picnic bench.
Access
By Car
The walk is 115km south of Melbourne and 33km east of Geelong. The walk starts at the end of Beach Road. To get to Beach Road, turn off Bluff Road at Cliff Street. Then turn left when you reach Beach Road.
By Bus/Walking
From Geelong you can take bus route 79 towards St. Leonards and get off at the corner of Spinnaker Drive and Main Sail Drive in St. Leonards. It is a 1km walk from here to the start of the walk. Head south along Cliff Street and turn left onto Beach Road.
Description
Starting at the Beach Road car park, this walk meanders along a very level path through a beautiful forest of Coastal Tea-tree and Wirilda (a type of wattle).
The forest canopy provides protection, food and shelter for the diverse and abundant birdlife. Bats also roost along here in the cracks of branches.
After about 1km the walk leaves the forest to reveal wonderful views of water-filled marches and Swan Bay. The salt marshes and dune vegetation in this area create a unique habitat for wildlife. This habitat is very precious as it has largely disappeared from the rest of Port Phillip Bay.
The track turns left, passing through a little more woodland before crossing a boardwalk that sits above a large lagoon. The Glasswort shrubland visible around the lagoon provides food for the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot.
The lagoons are not tidal and during long dry spells they can dry out, leaving a hard salt crust on top of the mud.
Waders from all around the world arrive in this area during the Summer months to feed in the saltmarsh, before returning to their northern homes to breed. Swallows and other small birds show off their acrobatic skills catching insects in mid flight.
When you reach the "Two-Bays Lookout Walk" sign, turn left towards the beach. (However if you are feeling fit, it is possible to continue your walk south along the Two-Bays walk, 6km return to Beach Road).
If the tide is out you can complete the walk by walking back along the beach to Beach Road. It is possible to get a tidal forecast at http://www.bom.gov.au.
Hairy Spinifex and Sea Rocket is abundant along the coast.
Some details above are adapted from Parks Victoria notes.
Heart Foundation Walking is funded nationally by the Medibank Community Fund and the Australian Government. It is also funded by the QLD Government to get more Queenslanders active and the ACT Government through ACT Health. The Green Walks in the Park program is funded by Parks Victoria and delivered by the Heart Foundation with support from Victoria Walks.