Møns Klint

The clouds parted and the sun shone so it was time to go hiking, for a while now I had planned a visit to Møns Klint about 2 hours south of Copenhagen, whilst my original plan changed a little it still gave me the opportunity to spend a couple of nights and 2 glorious days in this beautiful area.

Møn is renowned for its cliffs (klints) of White chalk, these cliffs rise around 100 metres above the sea level and are visible for many kilometres, the area has been a popular tourist attraction for many years and now has a a large visitor centre with restaurant as well as tourist information facilities. However, Møn Rundt, part of the Sjællandsleden, offers opportunities for both day and overnight hikers.

For this trip I travelled down late in the afternoon and then camped in a spot which overlooked the Baltic Sea. I set up my bivy and made dinner before taking time to sit and reflect on the day at work and the trip to Møn, as a I sat quietly looking out to sea I noticed a deer grazing on the cliffs below, it made me realise how often in my rush to get somewhere I had not really taken the time to look around.

After a rainy night the sunrise the next morning was really special and as I stared bleary eyed out of my bivy I felt that sense of belonging that often comes with my visits to forested areas wherever they may be. After packing up I headed south along the well used walking path that follows the cliff line to the Møn's Lighthouse some 12 km away, this was to be my days walk. There are many fine viewpoints along the way where you can see the chalk cliffs as well there is plenty of evidence of the erosion that continually causes landslides and sees yet another part of the klint disappear into the sea. For me it was a surprise to see the changes in the facilities at the Geo Centre where a modern building now stands housing a restaurant, galleries and tourist information, once past the centre it is less than a kilometre to a free campsite with 4 new shelters and accompanying fireplaces, toilet and running water. I continued past the shelter place, passing a military radar system before reaching the lighthouse. It was here that I begun to retrace my steps to a secluded campsite overlooking the Baltic. Having set up my bivy I sat down to relax and take in the view whilst watching the many ferries sailing to or from Bornholm along with those sailing to Køge. The evening concluded with a beautiful sunset over the farmland adjacent to the Møn's forest. The following morning saw yet another wonderful sunrise over the Baltic, from here I traveled north along the coast to the Geo centre before heading inland along the Kridtstien which took me through the forest and past a wonderful area for children to play and finally back to the car.

Møns Klint is not the only white cliffs on Sjælland (see our earlier post) but they are perhaps the most well known and given that they are about 2 hours from Copenhagen they provide an ideal location for an overnight walk in this picturesque area.

Access to the are can be gained by car or by the use of public transport with a Regional Train to Vordingborg and then bus to area of Møn.

Hiking on the Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula in Victoria (Australia) is a well known tourist area, with many Melburnians spending their summer holidays camping on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay. On Mornington Peninsula you can find sheltered golden sandy beaches as well as surf beaches providing challenges for surfboarders and body surfers. Equally fishermen can try their luck with the bay beaches, surf beaches and rock fishing. There is also an extensive wine industry on the peninsula along with many restaurants and cafes. However, there is also many hiking opportunities which we have been able to explore over the past weeks.

Two Bays Track

The two bays track connects Port Phillip Bay with Bushrangers Bay and Cape Schanck, the trail is 26 km in length and commences ( if heading West) with a 280 metre climb from Port Phillip Bay to Seawinds Gardens which are adjacent to Arthurs Seat a 305 metre summit overlooking both Port Phillip and Westernport Bays. Seawind Gardens is an important botanical reserve consisting of many plants that were indigenous to the area and are now being regenerated to establish flora that is typical to the region. After leaving Seawind Gardens the trail heads wast to King Falls, these falls provide a respite from the settled areas around a Aurthurs Seat and the housing estates abutting the mountain. Upon leaving the falls the trail ultimately descends to the settled areas around Waterfall Gully Rd before coming to an an easement for the continuation of Gardens Rd, which links Duells Road with Browns Road. After crossing Browns Rd you soon enter Greens Bush, where you will never be far from the sight of the many Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Black Wallabies. The trail meanders through the Stringybark and Box forests of Greens Bush before arriving at Boneo Road. Upon crossing Boneo Road the trail heads west to Bushrangers Bay with its rugged rock outcrops, before finally turning south west to reach the Cape Schank lighthouse which provides an Easterly light for the ships heading towards Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne.

Greens Bush and its occupants


Peninsula Coastal Walk

The Mornington Peninsula is blessed by two coastal attractions, the calm of Port Phillip Bay and the ocean beaches of Bass Strait. The Peninsula Coastal Path follows the ocean coastline and commences at the Sorrento Ocean Beach, passing through Bridgewater Bay, Gunnamatta, Cape Schanck before concluding at Bushrangers Bay.

This 31.5 km walk along sandy beaches and trails provides outstanding opportunities for viewing Bass Strait as well as Cape Otway (to the west of the entry into Port Phillip Bay). The walk commences by following the lifesaver track (formed after 2 major shipwrecks in the 1890’s) above the rocky limestone cliffs east of Sorrento, before ultimately reaching Sixteenth Beach, from there it is a mostly coastal walk to Cape Schanck, however, high tides may impede progress and trails above the limestone cliffs may be required to complete the walk.

This walk, or parts thereof, can be recommended at any time of the year as watching the the ocean and the waves is a relaxing experience no matter what the weather.

Photos of the area are shown in our web gallery.