Great Ocean Walk

Great Ocean Walk

The Great Ocean Walk: Strap on your walking boots and hit the spectacular Great Ocean Walk to explore the diverse and inspiring landscapes of Victoria’s rugged west coast. Take your time and walk the whole 104km coastal route with our 6 day guided walk, prefer to do it yourself ask about our self guided option. Weave through lush national parks teeming with wildlife, discover deserted beaches and historic shipwreck sites, and gaze out over pristine marine sanctuaries. At the end of the day, throw down your backpack at a gorgeous beach retreat. More information from Visit Victoria here

Our guided walk sets us apart from the rest, using lovely accommodation in the middle of the Great Ocean Walk this allows walkers to relax in their accommodation, unpacking once, if you do not wish to walk on any of the walking days you can relax and take it easy! Fully supported allowing walkers to carry day packs only no heavy packs required, just the way walking is supposed to be.

Great Ocean Walk: Day by day itinerary

Day 1: Great Ocean Walk Arrival day

Arrive into Apollo Bay in time to meet at Apollo Bay Hotel at 3pm transfer to our accommodation, unpack once and relax

Day 2: Great Ocean Walk Apollo Bay to Blanket Bay 20km

After a quick stop for any last minute supplies for the day we start our walk from The Great Ocean Walk starting point of Apollo Bay Visitor Centre and out through the town centre along the road to the suburb of Marengo, named by French explorer Nicolas Baudin.
If you arrive a day or so up your sleeve you may want to do a kayak tour out to a colony of fur seals who hang out on rocks at Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary in the bay. Our walk follows the foreshore as we leave Marengo and enter the Otway forests, coming out at Shelly Beach our walk leaves the coast and into the towering forests of Mountain Ash that characterise this part of the Great Otway National Park. At up to 70m these are some of the tallest trees in Australia and walking under these giants is a wonderful experience, a few ups and downs to negotiate along the way.
Re-joining the coast at Blanket Bay, a remote stretch of coast that was a port used for unloading supplies for the Cape Otway Light station. Upon reaching Blanket Bay relax before our shuttle bus back to our accommodation

Day 3: Great Ocean Walk Blanket Bay to Cape Otway 10km

From Blanket Bay we wander along the cliff tops and through coastal forests to the quiet haven of Parker Inlet., a small beach with a creek running through it, beautiful place to relax for morning tea!
We then climb up a section of steps to the escarpment taking a short break at the top to catch our breath and follow the coast to Cape Otway, along the way our first views of the Lighthouse. Plenty of wildlife too regular spotting of wallaby, echidna, koala, black cockatoo, rosella and many other wildlife along our track. If the light station shop is open grab a cold drink or ice cream before we jump in our shuttle bus back to our accommodation.

Day 4: Great Ocean Walk Cape Otway – Castle Cove 16km

This morning we start from the Cape Otway Light station; Australia’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse. Then climb to the escarpment and walk along a narrow coastal path overlooking Station Beach. (If the tide is low and weather conditions permit we will descend to the beach). The path meanders along the cliff tops and sand dunes before descending to the Aire River estuary and wetlands, a beautiful section of the walk as we pass Lake Craven
We continue along the coastal path with gorgeous views on the way to Castle Cove. Located on a sharp bend of the Great Ocean Road itself close to the village of Glenaire. Castle Cove is a lovely beach surrounded by towering cliffs of which we get a chance to explore before walking to our accommodation for the night, yes no shuttle bus today!

Day 5: Great Ocean Walk Castle Cove to 3 Ways 14km

As we walk out from our accommodation this morning, saviour the views from Castle Cove, walking on enjoy some of the most spectacular coastal views of the walk. The track meanders along the cliff tops, through heath, forests, and coast scrub occasional glimpses of breathtaking views along the coast. The forest of Grass Trees and Mana Gums offer an interesting alternative very photographic before finally dropping to a huge sprawling Southern Ocean Beach, Johanna Beach.
Johanna Beach has often been rated one of Australia’s best and for good reason as we walk along its sand, surf crashing onto the beach, wind blowing in from the south it’s hard to imagine anything better. As we leave Johanna Beach up through farmland and over cliff tops offering gorgeous views along the coast of Milanesia to our pick up point of our shuttle bus at the gate

Day 6: Great Ocean Walk Milanesia Beach (The Gate) to the Gables (Moonlight Head) 16.5km

Our shuttle bus drops us at the gate and we continue through coastal forests and down a fairly steep rough track to Milanesia Beach a remote soft sand Southern Ocean Beach. After a short break enjoying the beach, southern ocean rollers and scenic beauty of this remote beach that few have the opportunity to visit, we climb up a long path to the cliff tops plenty of ups and downs and following the cliff line past Ryan’s Den campsite offering magical views up and down the coast, undulating with sporadic views along the coast around Moonlight Head and Cape Volney over some of the highest sea cliffs in Australia before arriving at a wonderful lookout point at The Gables, our pick up point for our shuttle bus.

Day 7: Great Ocean Walk The Gables (Moonlight Head) to 12 Apostles 19km

Our last day on the Great Ocean Walk! We start our walk from The Gables Lookout, savouring the view one last time before walking on to Wreck Beach at low tide we can descend and see the anchors and remains of two of the many shipwrecks that lie submerged along this coast (The Fiji and Marie Gabrielle) Ascending up past Devils Kitchen campsite we follow a new section of track that hugs the wild coastal cliffs towards Princetown and the Twelve Apostles Marine Park, views of The Twelve Apostles start tempting us to walk faster!
The wetlands of the Gellibrand River, harbour a wide variety of bird life and is a significant wetland habitat and sees many birdwatchers (Twitchers) camp here hoping to spot a rare species. We are now on the last section of the walk to the world famous Twelve Apostles taking time for photographs at the lookout point and plaque marking the end of The Great Ocean Walk.
Our shuttle bus awaits to whisk us down the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay and our farewell…

We suggest booking a night at the YHA Ecolodge Apollo Bay Victoria its a gorgeous youth hostel, has private rooms as well as dorms, fantastic facilities and a great place to spend a couple of nights.

Whats included: Great Ocean Walk 7 days

Great Ocean Walk prices:

From $1990 per person no single supplement (unless wanting own room ask for details as space is limited) Ask for special deals?

Dates scheduled:

October 29 2016 FULL
February 04 2017 $1990 per person early bird price $1390 (book and deposit by 01 November 2016)
April 22 2017 $1990 per person early bird price $1390 (book and deposit by 01 November 2016)

Transfer from Apollo Bay to your accommodation on day 1. All transfers whilst walking the Great Ocean Walk. 6 nights accommodation on a twin share basis including breakfast (share with fellow same sex walker or ask for single supplement) A food kitty will be collected ($40 for the 6 days) on arrival any dietary requirements please let advise at the time of booking. You will be required to help out with cooking and food preparation duties.

Please note with sleeping arrangements are twin share with same sex walkers. (Private queen bed room is available for couples please ask at time of booking subject to availability)

Price excludes: Flights to and from Victoria, transfers to/from Apollo Bay, accommodation before and after the walk.

Avalon airport is easiest airport to arrive at, Gull Shuttle bus operates from Avalon Airport to Geelong Station, http://gull.com.au/ VLine runs a bus service to Apollo Bay departs Saturdays from Geelong Station 10:15 arrives 12:48 please check VLine for details as times may change. Departs Sundays Apollo Bay 06:50 arrives Geelong 09:15 more information www.vline.com.au

We suggest booking a night at the YHA Ecolodge Apollo Bay Victoria its a gorgeous youth hostel, has private rooms as well as dorms, fantastic facilities and a great place to spend a couple of nights.