Gellibrand Lower - Wreck Beach
Wreck Beach, near Moonlight Head in the Great Otway National Park, is one of the most atmospheric locations on Victoria's Shipwreck Coast. Reached via a steep descent of more than 350 steps, the beach is famous for the rusted anchors of two historic shipwrecks - the Marie Gabrielle and the Fiji - which can still be seen at low tide.
Marie Gabrielle (1869)
The Marie Gabrielle was a large French barque carrying tea from China when it was driven ashore during a powerful south-westerly gale in July 1869. The vessel was wrecked on the beach west of Moonlight Head, but remarkably all crew members survived. Today, the ship's massive anchor remains embedded among the rocks and is the first wreck relic encountered when walking west along Wreck Beach.
Fiji (1891)
The Fiji was an iron barque travelling from Hamburg to Melbourne when it struck reefs near Moonlight Head in September 1891. The rescue attempt became one of the great tragedies of the Shipwreck Coast. Although some crew members reached shore, many others perished in heavy seas. An anchor from the Fiji was later placed on the reef as a memorial and can still be viewed at low tide. The wreck itself lies offshore in a sandy gully beneath the ocean.
Visiting the Wrecks
From the Wreck Beach car park, a staircase with about 350 steps leads down to the beach. The Marie Gabrielle anchor is about 400 metres west of the stairs, while the Fiji anchor is a further 650 metres along the shoreline. Access is safest at low tide and calm sea conditions, as sections of the beach become inaccessible during high tides or rough weather.
How to get there
To reach Wreck Beach and the Fiji and Marie Gabrielle shipwreck anchors:
- Drive along the Great Ocean Road (B100).
- Turn onto Moonlight Head Road at the signed intersection between Lavers Hill and Princetown, about 34 km east of Port Campbell.
- Follow Moonlight Head Road for approximately 4.5–5 km. The road is unsealed (gravel) but is generally suitable for normal passenger vehicles in good conditions.
- Continue to the Wreck Beach / The Gables car park at the end of the road.
- From the car park, walk down the track and descend about 350–366 steps to the beach.
Location
Moonlight Head Road, Gellibrand Lower 3237 View Map
