FEBRUARY 2015: VIC OTWAYS: Hammond Road Campsite

Located in the Great Otways Ranges, Hammond Road Campground is barely a stone’s throw from Airey’s Inlet. Driving into the camp from town, you don’t quite believe how quickly the land changes from salty coastline to moist Victorian rainforest. Even at the end of Summer, and I mean the very end, as our trip was arriving on February 28th, the very last day of Summer herself, the smoothly graded gravel roads leading into the forest were soft and spongy. Absolutely beautiful they were to drive on, and maintained so well they are a credit to the forest management. I chose to take the most direct route out of Airey’s as I could, given that until my payday on the Monday, I was extremely limited for fuel, and I’m not usually the luckiest person in the world. So this was up Bambra Road from the Lighthouse, passing the horse farm on your left which the kids loved, a left onto Airey’s Inlet Road, then a right onto Hammond Rd. Too easy.

On arriving, there was a large RV, and a smaller caravan, so I decided to check out the Hammond Road North campsite to see if that were a little more isolated. This was just a bit further up the road, and a free campsite to boot. Unfortunately, there was a group of blokes who had 4x4’d it from Winchelsea there, which was not a problem for me, but my introverted eldest daughter was frightened, and even though I explored the site a little to see if I could find a spot that she’d feel comfortable pitching the tent in, she was not to be pleased at all, so a u-bolt back to Hammond Road proper was called for.

Setting up the new Coleman Instant Up was a breeze, even with a big storm rolling in. The tent really was up in minutes, the fly was the hardest part with the winds turning it into a bit of a sail. But we were set up just in time to get a quick dinner cooked on the bbq and take shelter for the night. The thunder and lightning and winds were relentless and as much as I loved it’s ferocity, I loved the tent even more, as this was its first outing and what a test! Not a drop made it inside, not one peg lifted out of the ground, not one bent pole. I am NEVER going back to dome tents again, nuh uh!

Breaky the following morning was frootloops for the kids, followed by pancakes on the bbq hotplate once my morning coffees (yes, that is plural) started to kick in. We started to notice the resident grey kangaroos that had taken on the role of campsite gardeners, keeping the grass down whilst the magpies were the resident garbologists, clearing up any food scraps left out on the grass. Neither of which were frightened of us, but they did keep their distance, thankfully. Mind you, those magpies always recognise a Collingwood supporter, I’ve never once been swooped by a magpie – we stick together!!!

Although we camp fully self sufficiently, with our own water, right down to our own loo, I always check out the facilities for my reviews. So over we walked to the toilet block. As you do, you pass a small dam on your left, which is full of teeny tiny fingerling fishies of some sort. The kids were fascinated, and we watched them for ages. Whilst we were watching a tiny spider landed on the water surface, light enough to walk on the water! The fish loved it, immediately attacking, causing the spider to dance like a victim of a gunslinger in an old western movie. Dance, spider, dance! Then the spider figured out if he

played dead, the fish would swim away, at which point he’d try to make an escape, bringing the fish in for another attack. It was fascinating! Anyhoo... back to the review. The toilet block was clean, well maintained and featured a men’s, ladies, and a disabled toilet, all with lockable doors. The toilets were all drop toilets, but weren’t smelly at all. There was also a water tank next to the building with non-drinkable water available, good enough for putting out fires, cleaning down boots, filling up the solar shower, or boiling up for dishwashing.

The rangers stopped by on the Sunday, and as a birthday present, or maybe just because it was their job and because they were just friendly and helpful, they gave us a map and pointed out all the free campsites in the region, as well as giving the kids starfish stickers each, which they subsequently stuck on their car windows with pride.

After the littlest one had a nap, we took a drive down to visit the lighthouse. The kids were blown away by how BIG it was! It was a shame I didn’t take them on this trip a month earlier, as the lighthouse is open for tours in January, but oh well, excuse for another trip another time! As we explored all the walkways along the cliff tops my youngest one was a little bit scared of the winds until her big sister put her arm around her at one of the look outs! Such a good big sis! They loved spotting all the waves, the footprints down on the beaches below, and the rocks that the ‘seals sunbake on’! And as I took one of the most beautiful photos I’ve ever taken, on my cruddy phone, I promised yet again that I must invest in a decent camera – and LEARN HOW TO USE IT.

Returning to our campsite, it was a pleasure to see that we now had the place to ourselves! Until one person rocked up – a very good lookin fella indeed, and for the few minutes we spoke before he crashed into his swag, it was a very enjoyable bit of scenery. In no time at all I had the campfire roaring – I lie, it took a little bit of time, the wood was still damp from the rain the night before, but once it did get going it was wonderful! At this point I realised that the one and only thing I forgot to bring on this trip was marshmellows. I truly felt as if I had let those kids down. But as they ate their steaks and potato salad I think they forgave me. After burning all my wood reading by the light of a battery operated UFO tent light I finally gave up the ghost about 3am, only to find I couldn’t sleep, so I turned the light back on and kept reading until about 6:30am, hearing the kangaroos trimming the grass around the tent until I finally did pass out. Mind you, those UFO lights are still on the same batteries, and after two nights of reading my books, still going! Amazing things.

Last morning on camp I awoke to find my eye candy had already left. What a shame, always pleasant to have good scenery!

Kids were very excited to pack up, because they knew we were heading off to spend the day at the beach! The tent was so easy to pack back up, I honestly think if I had’ve timed it, I’d find I spent more time deflating mattresses and rolling up the sleeping bags than packing away the tent! Was a sad moment leaving the campsite, I really felt that the place deserved a week long stay, and I really think that it’s such a well grassed area that the kids should have had their bikes to play on, but there’s always next time!

The drive to Lorne, in typical Great Ocean Road style, was breathtaking. The entire way I had the windows down to breathe in the salty sea air, and drove the kids nuts pointing out all the lucky buggers that got to live on the cliff tops outside of the towns. My eldest wanted to stop at every single beach along the way, but I was determined to fill up that fuel tank before I did anything else so express to Lorne it was. I’ve been to Lorne before, but it must have been more than 20 years ago now, and boy it was a shock to see it. Driving into the town you drive THROUGH a caravan park. Maybe its separate parks on either side of the road, or several parks grouped together,

I’m not sure, but it was caravan park city. Even though it seemed very touristy, there was ample parking so we didn’t struggle to find a well-placed spot between the main shopping strip and the beach.

Brunch was had at a lovely bakery with outdoor tables. We sat outside and watched the confident cockatoos fly down to the tables to intimidate the tourists into feeding them. Mind you, whilst there are signs everywhere ‘do NOT feed the birds’ there will always be some mongaloid that will feed them, and think it’s hilarious until the birds keep landing on them and climbing up their necks and heads with their huge clawed feet to take their food. At which point, the birds suddenly become scary – but not scary enough that the tourist stops feeding them! *FACEPALM* Naturally, the kids thought this was fantastic, and wanted to feed the cockies too, leaving mummy-me to scramble through all the reasons why this is a bad idea whilst frantically taking all the torn bits of food out of each kids’ hands before it got thrown to the ever-greedy cockatoos that were getting closer and closer with each excited giggle from said children. Hmmm.

Taking the back way out of Lorne on Deans Marsh Road, the kids were asleep in minutes. I enjoyed the drive climbing up through rainforest and out Bambra way back towards Winchelsea, before crossing farmland back up to Ballarat. Dinner was going to be fish and chips, a fitting end to a seaside holiday I thought, until realising that most fish and chip shops are closed on Mondays, so McD’s it was. No matter, kids loved it, they expended their newly found energy on the playground whilst Mummy had a well-earned rest, before the final hour drive home.

In typical Fiona-fashion, my campsite review has journeyed into a holiday journal, but that is the value of a good campsite, isn’t it? It’s not just a patch of grass you pitch a tent on, but a part of the holiday story itself.

Pros: Easy to find, easy to access in Summer, great ground, not-too-invasive wildlife, well maintained ground, clean and pleasant amenities block. Campfires allowed!

Cons: Previously a free campsite, it can be off-putting to pay – though after staying there I can say it is worth it! Not such a great site for camper trailers, they would have to pitch in the gravel carpark, unless they are a rear-opening trailer, but there isn’t enough room to pitch the awning on the side. Firewood collection is strictly prohibited, so BYO firewood and kindling.

Price: $11-13 per night, with concessions available.

Web: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/great-otway-national-park/things-to-do/hammond-road-camp-ground

http://www.parkstay.vic.gov.au/great-otway-national-park-east-torquay-to-kennett-river

***NOTE: as of time of printing this was a charged campground - please double check with VicParks before travelling, as this may have changed or still remain charged since the Vic Govt camping fee re-structure in 2015***

#Otways #VICTORIA #Camping #Holidays #Tent #Lighthouse #Rainforest #Wildlife #Feb2015