A few photos taken on a short coastal stroll near Apollo Bay.
The Great Ocean Walk is 100kms or so of spectacular walking track along the coast beside the Southern Ocean, between Apollo Bay and the 12 Apostles on the south east coast of Australia. It’s very popular. Many do the full 7 night hiking trip, but sections of the walk are easily accessible for shorter walks. Our short walk involved heading west along the walking track from Marengo until we had strolled half as far as we felt like walking in total. Then we shared a banana and some Anzac biscuits, had a drink of water and returned. For the record, we walked 4kms in total. Simple pleasures.
Somewhere between the days of sail and shipwrecks which resulted in this part of the coastline being called the shipwreck coast, and the modern era of GPS and electronic navigation, this wooden structure was of use to mariners. The structure has lasted well, even if its period of usefulness is long gone. It is probably safe to assume though that its presence assisted ships in staying away from the the reefs in this area. 
The coast and the forests in the adjacent Otway Ranges are high rainfall areas, which sustain cool temperate rainforests and lush green vegetation right down to the beaches and cliffs. 
Geological formations on the rock shelves on some of the beaches are captivating, even if not understood by most observers, including me. 
Liz with a splash of colour at the foot of the dunes and coastal hills. 
Liz, in her blue jacket, is seated just to the left of the vanishing point of the perspective lines of this rock shelf. 
These beaches can only be used as an alternative to the walking track when the tide is out and there is not a huge swell. 
There was a moderate swell in the area, and an easterly wind this day. The seas were rough, but not huge. 
Native vegetation. 
The main reason I took this photo was that it is the little patch of grassy clifftop that I visit to photograph the Milky Way in winter. On a moonless and cloudless night this spot is very black, save for the white glow of the Milky Way. This site faces due south, and save for the occasional ship gliding across the horizon, is well away from man made light sources. I am usually very rugged up, with a head torch, gloves, and on very cold nights, thermals and my battery heated vest (which I normally use for winter riding on my motorbike). This spot in broad daylight looks much more ‘local’ than it does on the nights when I gaze into the heavens for an hour or two with my head amongst the stars. 
The Marengo caravan park is on a point, and offers premium camp sites such as the one shown. This tent is pitched a stone’s throw from the gate on the western side of the camping ground which I consider to be the start of the Great Ocean Walk.
Upon returning to our starting point at Marengo, the swell had picked up and the wind had backed a little around to the north east. This meant the wind was partially offshore where these waves were breaking (a good thing from a photographic point of view). So after collecting my telephoto lens from the house, I climbed on to my favourite elevated grassy knoll overlooking the reef at the point (covered in comfortable thick springy grass and sheltered on three sides by thick bushes), with an uninterrupted and elevated view of the channels and the Little Henty reefs and islands. The sky remained very overcast, and the light was generally dull. The air was full of salt spray.
An unrideable barrel. 
Crashing shorebreak. 
Seals in silhouette on the far outcrop of the reef. There is a permanent colony of 100 or more Australian fur seals on this rock. On this day the swell was allowing them to stay dry. 
The offshore wind blowing white manes of spray over the back of the waves. 
Image 1 of 2 of a larger wave breaking just before it reached the visible parts of the reef. 
Image 2 of 2. 
Image 1 of 3. This was the solid set. 
Image 2 of 3 
Image 3 of 3 
Beautiful colour in the eye of this barrel. 
Waves have been breaking like this since the earth began. Watching them gives perspective, the same way staring into the universe on a dark night does. 
This was not the only solid wave I saw on the day, but it was the only one I saw breaking like this. Wild and seemingly chaotic, and beautiful.
South 