Discovery Bay Coastal Park
Table of Contents
Discovery Bay Coastal Park is somewhat hidden on the route from Melbourne to Adelaide on the coast of South Australia. The beautiful attraction is located around 115 kilometres west of Warrnambool, which marks the start and end of the popular Great Ocean Road in the west.
Many tourists come or drive directly from there to the Grampians National Park north of the coast, which is also well worth seeing. The dreamlike, deserted Cape Bridgewater at Discovery Bay Coastal Park is often skipped. What a shame!
Not only do turquoise-blue dream bays await visitors there, but they are also one of the Australian mainland’s largest colonies of fur seals. The seal species makes its home on rock platforms on the cliffs of Cape Bridgewater. When the marine mammals are not resting on the grey-brown rocks, they dash through the azure blue sea for food.
The enchanting Cliff Top Walk to the Seal Colony Lookout is a must-do! It takes you to a lookout high up on the cliffs. From there, you can observe the animals in peace: With fantastic views of the turquoise-blue waters of Bridgewater Bay included. A petrified forest also awaits you…
Discovery Bay Coastal Park - A petrified forest and the fur seal colony
Entrance fee
USD 8 per car per day
opening hours
all year round
time planning
only the most interesting: 3 hours
with more time: ½ day minimum
Highlights of Discovery Bay Coastal Park
Shelly Beach
As soon as you turn into the fabulous Bridgewater Bay, the view of the turquoise-blue ocean waves becomes visible. For kilometres, the waves are carried towards the beautiful Shelly Beach. Towards the horizon, the ocean slowly becomes darker.
You can get a great view of the fantastic bay from the sand dune above the beach. There you will be able to overlook large parts of Bridgewater Bay. The wooded cliff of Cape Bridgewater also rises up on the right-hand side of the bay. A short path through the dunes takes you to the long Shelly Beach. This place is simply magnificent!
- Great South West Walk, Cape Bridgewater VIC 3305
Petrified Forest
Have you ever wondered what a petrified forest could be? Here is the answer. On the west side of Cape Bridgewater, you will find the Petrified Forest, which is well worth seeing. It consists of fascinating limestone columns that resemble thin tree trunks. The name originated from an old theory about the origin of the rock formation.
The theory was that sand encased ancient tree trunks and fossilized them for eternity. The reality is somewhat different, but no less fascinating. The interesting rock formations were formed by rainfall. The mineral-saturated water seeped into sand hollows for millions of years and moulded them. The limestone columns were finally formed through hardening. A truly fascinating highlight that can be reached via a short path from the car park.
Tip: The long hike to the Seal Colony is signposted at this location. There is a much shorter route, which I will tell you about below. If you prefer to do this shorter hike, ignore the signs at Petrified Forest.
- Cape Bridgewater VIC 3305
Cliff Top Walk to Seal Lookout / Seal Colony
The Cliff Top Walk at Cape Bridgewater is one of my favourite hiking trails and one of Australia’s top sights. I wonder if you’ll like it as much? The hike offers breathtaking views of the turquoise blue sea and a special reward at the ‘end’ of the trail.
A great must-see awaits you. The hiking trail takes you to one of the Australian mainland’s largest colonies of fur seals. You must conquer a few meters in altitude between lush green fields, but it’s worth it! You can admire the marine mammals from the Seal Lookout on the highest point of the rocky cliff. Incidentally, they belong to the southern fur seal family.
As the area is home to a very large colony, there is a good chance you will spot some animals. New Zealand and South African fur seals can be found on the rock platforms at the foot of the cliffs. This hike is the top attraction in the area. It offers a lot of variety and is well worth it!
- Cape Bridgewater VIC 3305
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