Discovery Bay Coastal Park

Discovery Bay Coastal Park is a majestic 50 km sweep of ocean beach, huge dunes, Aboriginal middens and coastal lakes.

Things to Do

• Attractions include freshwater lakes, massive dune systems, magnificent coastal cliffs, volcanic features and sweeping ocean beaches.
• Outstanding features of Discovery Bay Coastal Park at Cape Bridgewater include a seal colony, blowholes, the "petrified forest" and the highest coastal cliffs in Victoria, 130 metres above sea level.
• The Bridgewater Lakes within the Park, 16 km west of Portland, are popular for picnics, swimming, boating, water skiing and surf-fishing.
• Other activities include surfing, scenic driving, walking (The Great South West Walk passes through Discovery Bay Coastal Park) and camping at Swan Lake and Lake Monibeong.
• Ocean beaches are near Nelson, Lake Monibeong and Bridgewater Bay.

Heritage

Discovery Bay was named by Lieutenant Grant in 1800 during a voyage along the south-western coast of what is now Victoria.  The first Europeans to traverse the Discovery Bay area were Stephen and Edward Henty who set out west from Merino Downs (near Portland) in June 1839 and discovered Mount Gambier.

Three schooners that worked the coastal routes were wrecked along the Discovery Bay coast from the mid to late 1800s. Many lives were lost from the two 1860s wrecks.

Precautions

Discovery Bay Coastal Park can be a friendly or quite hostile place, so come prepared for fluctuations in weather.