Screw Creek Nature Walk, Inverloch

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Screw Creek is a large creek that feeds into Anderson Inlet on the eastern edge of Inverloch.


It is accessed at the end of The Esplanade which ends at the Eastern Area camping ground and caravan park. At the far end of the park is a small car park where the Screw Creek Walk begins.


It is a 2.5 metre walk over boardwalks and salt marsh and includes the Townsend Bluff circuit walk with views over Anderson Inlet.


The first few hundred metres winds through tea trees along a winding gravel path. At times you are almost walking through a tunnel. It is actually a vegetated dune system.


There is then a boardwalk over a saltmarsh area, dominated by coastal spear grass.


My walk was in mid-winter. I experienced overcast skies, sunshine, wind and rain. Overcast skies are ideal for photos through the thick tea trees as the light is even with no harsh shadows.


I was rewarded with some bursts of sunshine which is nice for open areas.


The wind, while chilling, puts ripples on the water making it more interesting. The rain is just that – rain. Fortunately, it was light and was not prolonged. Although looking at photos I took in the rain, it produced small circles on the water with each raindrop.


Despite it being winter and cold, I encountered quite a few people and a couple of dogs. With Inverloch still essentially a holiday destination, I would suggest that the Screw Creek walk would be as busy as Bourke Street in summer.


Screw Creek is crossed by a bridge that was built in 1971 and upgraded in 1995.


From the bridge, you can see vast areas of white mangroves, the only southern species with their roots protruding from the mud to take in oxygen.


Seen from the bridge, a couple of little pied cormorants were diving for food and re-surfacing many metres away.


Apart from the many species of trees, bushes and native grasses the only other flora of note was a banksia tree and a couple of white correa plants.







After crossing the bridge you can follow the creek upstream along boardwalks for several hundred metres. A viewing and fishing platform protrudes over the water at one spot. Fish that have been caught in the creek include dusky flathead, Australian salmon and King George whiting.




Backtracking from the creek walk you can embark on the Townsend Bluff Circular Walk.



The bluff is composed of Jurassic mudstone. As the path rises towards its summit several views across Anderson Inlet awaits you. To the south west is Eagles Nest and to the south east, the distant Bald Hills Wind Farm can be seen on the horizon.


The circuit walk path has many almost tunnel walks and a pleasant surprise was a magnificent gum tree with its spreading branches.




You can also look down on clumps of several size mangroves.


Apart from a few undulating areas it is an easy walk with lots to see and experience.

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