Cape Bridgewater Trail

Cape Bridgewater Seal Walk

Length:  2.5 kilometres
Walk:  1 hour one way
Track:  Good
Grade:  Moderate
Start:  Bridgewater Bay Kiosk
Finish:  Seal viewing platform
Nearby:  Portland
Permits/bookings:  None required.

The trail south from the kiosk offers striking views across Cape Bridgewater, once a volcanic island that is now joined to the mainland by calcified sand dunes. The viewing platform at the end of the trail looks out over rock platforms and on to a colony of about 650 Australian fur seals.

Cape Bridgewater (Blowholes)

Length:  6 kilometres
Walk:  2 hours one way
Track:  Good/sand
Grade:  Gentle
Start:  Seal viewing platform
Finish:  Blowholes
Nearby:  Portland
Permits/bookings:  None required.

The trail continues through a petrified forest – the limestone remains of huge trees that once covered the sea cliff. Beyond the forest lies a series of exciting blowholes – rock tunnels that have been etched out of the volcanic rock by the waves. During rough seas, they spout spray high into the air. Old Aboriginal middens can also be seen along the cliff tops.

Cape Bridgewater (Petrified Forest)

Length:  Short
Walk:  10 minutes from the car park
Track:  Good/sand
Grade:  Gentle
Start:  Blowholes car park
Finish:  Blowholes car park
Nearby:  Portland
Permits/bookings:  None required.

The petrified forest was formed when the forest of Moonah trees was smothered by a large sand dune. Water seeping through the sand formed a crust of sandstone on the outside of the trunks, decaying the organic matter, leaving behind petrified trunks.