I have once been down these steps at Parker Hill Walk Track, Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia, near Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road. The steps lead to Parker Beach at the mouth of the Parker River. A delightful spot. We explored the wide open beach, with the remains of the sailing ship Eric the Red clearly visible – see pic below. But by the time I reached the top of the steps again I said to my hosts ‘Thanks for taking me there. I reckon that’s the last time I’ll be able to do those steps’.
But when my Terrain Hopper Overlander arrived I could do it again! It was still pretty challenging, though!
This was a particularly challenging track. Quite steep and long, with rocks laid to form steps. The Overlander’s suspension got a good workout! These steps are part of the Great Ocean Walk that runs along the south coast of Victoria, just south of the Great Ocean Road. It runs from Apollo Bay to the Gibson Steps just east of Port Campbell, a distance of about 100 kilometres. June 2017.
You can begin to dream again! Check out the current model Overlander 4ZX here.
Once we were down the steps we were free to explore. It’s a magnificent spot. The remains of the Eric the Red can just be seen in the centre of the middle-ground. June 2017.
You can begin to dream again! Check out the current model Overlander 4ZX here.
Up the creek, near the mouth of the Parker River, Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia. Having crossed the Parker River – quite shallow – where it crossed the beach we found a little creek and decided to explore. A hundred or so metres up the creek we came to the place that the Great Ocean Walk crossed the creek. On the other side was a set of wooden steps going up the hill. We walked fifty metres to a beautiful rock pool with a waterfall trickling into it. A large cave covered much of the pool. We were the only people there, and we just sat and enjoyed it for quite a while. June 2017.
See what happens here. I can walk short distances quite well. But I would never have been able to walk to this spot. On the Overlander I was able to get close enough to be able to walk the last little bit. The Overlander makes it possible to get to the places that are otherwise beyond what I can do.
You can begin to dream again! Check out the current model Overlander 4ZX here.
Heading back we took the time to quietly explore the beach area. It was very quiet, with few people around. When we went back up the steps we came cross a group of young people from a school in Melbourne who were walking the Great Ocean Walk. They were halfway up the steps, huffing and puffing! It’s a long way up and gives you quite a workout! It gave the Overlander a workout, too. We needed a bit of extra push on the steeper sections. June 2017.
You can begin to dream again! Check out the current model Overlander 4ZX here.
Eric the Red was a wooden ship of about 1580 tons displacement, from New York, with a cargo for the Melbourne Exhibition of October 1880. She was wrecked on the Otway Reef and broke up in 15 minutes. The remains of the wreck were later driven into the the mouth of the Parker River in a storm, where they remain to this day.
You can begin to dream again! Check out the current model Overlander 4ZX here.
Watch this space for videos and pics of the adventure! All pics are Copyright © Willem Schultink
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