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Cape Nelson
State Park is set on 210 hectares featuring craggy, coastal cliffs, sea
birds and the unusual Soap Mallee gum trees, which are unique to the area.
There are many walking tracks including a 5km lighthouse walk. If you
love the outdoors an entire day can be spent in this area.There are wood
barbeques, a picnic area and cafe at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse.
Cape Nelson
Lighthouse
Standing 32 meters tall, the Lighthouse was built in 1882 of local stone.
Cape Nelson
Scenic Drive
Cape Nelson scenic drive is a pleasant 24km round trip, leaving from Portland
via Bentinck Street and returning via Sheoke Road. Yellow Rock, (see picture)
a popular surfing spot can be found on this drive.
Feed Lots
The feed lots are a 15 minute drive from Portland and were opened in 1982
to service the live sheep trade. The feed lots are situated on 300 acres
and can hold up to 125,000 sheep - the capacity of the largest sheep ships.
Sheep are usually held for a 10-day programme to allow them to adjust
to the diet of pellets that they will be fed on their ocean voyage to
the Middle East.
Sea Cliff
Nature Walk
The Sea Cliff Nature Walk takes in views out to the Southern Ocean around
the cliff tops and farmland of Cape Nelson. It is a gentle 3km loop walk
leaving from the carpark adjacent to the Cape Nelson Road and Scenic Drive.
The Enchanted
Forest
This 45 minute round trip walk takes you through the canopy to lookouts
and boardwalks where you can view the ocean and spectacular cliff formations.
The dense, almost tropical vegetation has been created due to an old landslip
below the level of the cliff top and covered by Moonah Trees (Melaleuca
lancealata).
Gannet
Colony
Point Danger is home to the Australasian Gannets, Australia's first mainland
gannet bird colony, currently estimated at around 6,000.
Follow the 'Gannet Colony' signs along Madeira Packet Road before turning
off down an unsealed road to the car park overlooking Lawrence Rocks.
Yellow
Rock
A popular surfing spot and painting subject for local artists, Yellow
Rock is a limestone formation postioned on the edge of the cliff. Boardwalks,
platforms and staircases make this area accessible for prams and wheelcharis.
A 10 minute return walk from the car park.
Smelter
Nature Walk
Together with 'The Friends of the Great South West Walk', Portland Aluminium
has constructed a paved nature walk along the cliff top south of their
site (adjacent to the Gannet Colony).
The 4 km return walk features wonderful coastal scenery and diverse and
unique flora with several rest areas along the way. A carpark is situated
at each end, making the walk suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
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