Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
Portland to
South Australia
From Portland you can go north to Heywood and rejoin the Princes Hwy to South Aus-
tralia, or head northwest along the slower, beautiful coastal route known as the Port-
land-Nelson Rd. This road runs inland from the coast, but along the way there are turn-
offs leading to beaches and national parks.
Cape Bridgewater
Cape Bridgewater is an essential 21km
detour off the Portland-Nelson Rd. The stunning 4km arc of
Bridgewater Bay
is perhaps one
of Australia's finest stretches of white-sand surf beach. The road continues on to
Cape
Duquesne
where walking tracks lead to a spectacular
blowhole
and the eerie
petrified forest
on
the clifftop (the wind farm is a blight, but adds to its surreal feel). A longer two-hour re-
turn walk takes you to a
seal colony
where you can see dozens of fur seals sunning them-
selves on the rocks.
There's plenty of accommodation available at Cape Bridgewater (enquire at Portland
Visitors Centre), but the following standouts have perfect ocean views:
Sea View Lodge B&B
(
03-5526 7276;
www.hotkey.net.au/~seaviewlodge
; 1636 Bridgewater Rd; s/d incl breakfast $110/140; )
,
Aba-
lone Beach House
( 0408 808 346;
www.abalonehouse.com.au
;
Bridgewater Rd; 2 people from $250)
and
Cape
Bridgewater Bay House
( 03-9439 2966;
www.capebridgewater.com.au
;
Bridgewater Rd; up to 4 people $170, ex-
tra person $15)
. Sprawling
Cape Bridgewater Coastal Camp
( 03-5526 7247;
www.capebridgewatercoastalcamp.com.au
;
Blowhole Rd; unpowered/powered sites $20/30, dm/d/house $25/50/150;
)
has budget options with large dorms, self-contained rooms, camping, a huge kitchen,
and a cinema in an old church (c 1870) on its grassy property; check it's not booked out
by school groups first. It also runs the exhilarating
Seals by Sea Tour
(
03-5526 7247;
Aug-Apr)
, a 45-minute zodiac cruise to see Aus-
www.sealsbyseatours.com.au
;
adult/child $35/20;
tralian fur seals.
Right on the beach,
Bridgewater Bay Beach Cafe
(
03-5526 7155;
www.bridgewaterbay.com.au
;
1611
)
serves meals all day, and
Bridgewater Rd; mains $10-16;
9am-5pm Sun-Thu, from 6pm Fri & Sat;
has a bar and free wi-fi.
