What we do
The Geelong Bushwalking Club offers its members a wide variety of activities to choose from:
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Bushwalking |
Canoeing |
Cycle Touring |
Cross Country Skiing |
Abseiling |
These activities can range from half day to two weeks in duration and from an easy family standard to very difficult.
Day walks
Half or full-day walks are offered every Thursday and on either Saturday or Sunday every weekend, these usually vary in standard from Easy/medium to Difficult (Walk gradings are explained on the 'Program' page). Once a month on Tuesdays an easier walk is offered.
We have a wide range of excellent day-walking areas near Geelong, from the Otway Ranges, to coastal walks, the Werribee, Anakie and Lerderderg Gorges, Brisbane Ranges, the Ballarat, Daylesford and Creswick areas, walks through forests, along rail trails, rivers and coastline, up ancient volcanoes and more.
Base Camps
On base camps walkers remain at one campsite or other type of accommodation, and walk out each day.
Recent trips have been to the Glenelg River, Nelson; Heathcote-Graytown National Park; Croajingolong Coastal Walk; Cathedral Ranges; Lamington National Park, Queensland; Wilson’s Promontory and more.
Extended walks
These are pack carrying walks usually lasting for several days, and often of a high level of difficulty, though introductory extended walks are sometimes offered. Extended ski touring trips, camping on the snow for up to one week are also occasionally on the program.
Recent trips have been to the 3 Capes Walk in Tasmania, several areas in the Grampians, Beeripmo Circuit near Beaufort; The Picton Circuit, SW Tasmania; from Mallacoota to Cape Howe and the Nadgee Nature Reserve in NSW; Great Ocean Walk; Coast to Coast in WA; Larapinta Track and more.
Overseas
Our members often get together for walks overseas. Destinations have recently included: New Zealand, England, Swiss Alps, Camino Trail in Spain and Portugal and Nepal.
Other activities
Abseiling in the You Yangs, canoeing along the Barwon River and cross-country skiing at Lake Mountain have occasionally been on our program.
We support Relay for Life (for cancer research) through various social functions.
Adopt a Track – we have adopted the Allambee Beek Falls and Staircase Falls track in the Otways. We keep the track clear and plan to extend it to incorporate other waterfalls into the route.
To become a member print and fill in this application form GBC_membership_form_2020-2021.pdf
Post it or attach to email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Visitors are welcome to take part in three activities before making application to join the Club as a Full Member.
The 6-months activities program and how to book are detailed in the ‘Program’ section. You should do a medium or easy grade activity for starters before attempting anything more difficult.
Fees for 2020 to 30 June 2021:
Individuals 18 years and over $37 Posted newsletter
$17 Emailed newsletter
Student Concession Full-time student $27 Posted newsletter
$7 Emailed newsletter
Family /couple One or two adults (18 years old and over) and any dependent children aged under 18 $54 Posted newsletter
$34 Emailed newsletter
These fees cover the cost of the newsletter, our affiliation with Bushwalking Victoria and our Public Liability Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance while on Club activities.
Members have access to our library, a variety of outdoor equipment and are eligible for discounts at selected retail outlets. They receive a monthly newsletter and the 6-month program twice a year.
Visitors are welcome at Club meetings which are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 7.30 pm at the South Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mount Pleasant Road, Belmont
We usually have a speaker, followed by refreshments. All visitors are welcome.
During December and January we hold a BBQ instead, in support of Relay for Life (cancer research).
If you have further queries please feel free to ask for more information from Joan at 0423 779 192.
The 4th Edition of the Geelong Bushwalking Club's "Walking The Otways", edited by John Chapman offers 43 walks from Anglesea to Apollo Bay and north to Gellibrand and Forrest. The walks vary from easy to quite demanding, and cover areas of magnificent forest, unique heathland, beautiful coastal views and many of the hidden Otways’ waterfalls.
Walking the Otways can be purchased by club members for $30 at a Club meeting, or by post for $35, which includes packing and postage. Click here to send a message to the coordinator
It is also available from information centres along the Surf Coast, hiking shops in Melbourne, or from the editor at: www.john.chapman.name/pub.html for $37 (includes postage).
Information about errors or significant changes should be sent to Walking the Otways Co-ordinator, email contact above. Updates are posted below. Most changes will result from notes made by leaders of Club walks along these tracks, but input from non-members will also be appreciated. Only major changes that affect trip planning or navigation will be included here.
These are the latest updates to the book:
Club History
Geelong Bushwalking Club was formed in 1973 by a group of people wanting to share their liking for the outdoors with others. For the first walk 6 people met under a special old pine tree at Steiglitz, a tree pointed out to members every time we pass that way!
While essentially a walking club, we have over the years developed into many other areas, such as canoeing and cross-country skiing.
Since the initial 6 people in 1973 the Club has grown and we now have over 200 members of widely varying ages, interests and experience.
Since those early days we have joined Bushwalking Victoria, provided volunteers for Bushwalking Victoria Search and Rescue squad, volunteered with Parks Victoria to develop and maintain walking tracks (Great Ocean Walk, Lake Elizabeth walk and others). We now support Relay for Life, (support for cancer research), more about this below.
Booklets celebrating our 10th, 20th and 30th anniversaries are listed here:
10th anniversary: 
GBC_10th_Anniversary_Edition.pdf22.83 MB
20th anniversary: GBC_20th_Anniversary_Edition.pdf
30th anniversary: GBC-30th-Anniversary-Edition.pdf
The Geelong Bushwalking club supports cancer research through Relay for Life.
Since its inception in 1973, the Geelong Bushwalking Club has felt the impact of cancer on members, their families and friends. The Club continues to support members who are undergoing cancer treatment, celebrating a successful outcome or remembering a loved one.
At the beginning of December 2005, a small group of Club members decided to enter a team in ‘Relay For Life’ to raise funds for the Cancer Council of Victoria over the weekend of March 4 and 5, 2006. A team of 24 walked a cumulative total of 818 laps (over 400 km!!). "To date we’ve banked $1650, can we make it $2000?” Maggie Bolton, April 2006 “The Geelong Walker”
Since 2006, the Club has continued to support this event, both as team participants and as supporters of the many and varied fundraising efforts, large and small, throughout that time (raffles, end of walk refreshments, and more). For several years, the Geelong Bushwalking Club team numbered around 50 walkers, leading to a request for the organisers to provide the team with 2 adjoining ‘camp sites.’ In 2017, the team had only 14 registered walkers, and 1 ‘camp site’ but with the support of many members and their friends, raised just over $8,000.
The Club Committee continues to support the Relay For Life team by donating the cost of hiring a small marquee for the event and by making time available at Club meetings and for space in our newsletter “The Geelong Walker” for promotion of both the Geelong Relay For Life and of fundraising events for the Club team.
Since its inception in 2006, the Geelong Bushwalking Club Relay For Life team has raised almost $110,000 for Cancer Council Victoria.
Geelong Bushwalking Club has an extensive library of walking magazines, and books about walking, stored at the South Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mount Pleasant, Rd, Belmont, where we hold our monthly meetings. Items from the library are available to members at Club meetings (2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.30 pm, though not in December or January).
Our committee meets on the first Monday of each month (except January) at 7.30 pm at the South Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mount Pleasant Road, Belmont
Members are listed in the Club Members section, with contact details. Email contact on 'Contact Us' page.
1st Aid trained leaders and other members
Back up in case of emergencies
For extended walks we have use of Club owned MT410G Personal Locator Beacons
All walkers carry their own First Aid kit and an Emergency Form in case of accidents
The current version of the GBC Risk Management Plan can be found under Clubprocedures and policies (below)
Club Aims
The main purpose of the club is:
To promote interest in and to encourage bushwalking and related outdoor activities
Secondary purposes are:
To promote interest in and to encourage the conservation of the natural environment
To promote good fellowship among those interested in bushwalking and related activities
To educate and encourage members of the Club
Club procedures and policies
GBC_Risk_Management_Plan_19_20.pdf
GBC_Child_Safe_Code_of_Conduct.pdf
New "Rules Changes of Club" for AI Reform Act 2012"including Appendix 1 Rule Changes of Club
including Appendix 1 Rule Changes of Club
