The Great Ocean Walk
(Ex Melbourne) Victoria - Wed 22nd March 2023

Depart Melbourne 7.30am from outside the National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road.

We head off from Melbourne and down the iconic Great Ocean Road stopping en-route in Anglesea for morning tea and a comfort stop. Arriving in Apollo Bay we prepare for our afternoon walk.

The walk officially starts by the Visitor Centre in Apollo Bay and you will travel the entire 105 km journey of the Great Ocean Walk. The trail winds out through the town to the beach-side suburb of Marengo, named by a passing French explorer. Marengo is home to a colony of Australian Fur Seals who hang out on rocks in the bay.

At several points along The Great Ocean Walk we have the choice of walking along the beaches or rock platforms at low tide or following the inland trail. Due to the unpredictable nature of the tides our guides will make a decision which is the safest route for the day.

Continuing onwards the countryside becomes more rural farmland. The trail continues up a small hill with a stile to climb over a fence. There are good views along the coast looking south-west towards Cape Otway and north-east over the ranges surrounding Apollo Bay. There is a conveniently placed rest bench, followed by a steep descent past The Blowhole. We descend down to a beach where we typically rest before heading into a small section of delightful Otway rainforest. The area after Three Creeks Beach can get a bit boggy after rain so be prepared with appropriate footwear.

The trail enters low forest initially, and then starts to climb into the higher forests of the Great Otway National Park just above Shelly Beach. There is a junction on the trail which leads left down to Shelly Beach or right to the car park at Shelly Beach picnic area.

Then its onto our accommodation at Cape Otway Lightstation to relax while the guides prepare a delicious two-course dinner.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cape Otway Lightstation/Bimbi Park

The first section of todays walk leads away from the coast and into the towering forests of Mountain Ash that characterise this part of the Great Otway National Park. At up to 65m high these are some of the biggest trees in Australia and walking through the heart of the giant forest is a wonderful experience, though there are some hills to be negotiated.

The trail rejoins the coast at Blanket Bay, an isolated stretch of coast that was one of the original ports for unloading supplies for the Cape Otway Lightstation. Blanket Bay is one of the few safe swimming locations along the walk.

The track then meanders along the cliff tops and through coastal forests to the quiet haven of Parker Inlet, where we finish our day out. Expect to see black wallaby, echidna, black cockatoo, rosella and other wildlife along the way.

Back to our accommodation at the end of the day, freshen up and enjoy a sensational two-course dinner prepared by guides

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cape Otway Lightstation/Bimbi Park

At Parker Inlet you can walk along the waters edge following rock shelves and beaches around Point Franklin or take the inland route. A worthwhile side trip is the short walk to idyllic Crayfish Bay, another safe swimming location. The trail then heads inland through manna gums to the Cape Otway Lightstation, which is Australia’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse.

The walk from the lighthouse to Aire River winds its way through wind sculpted landscapes of sand dunes, coastal scrub-land and magnificent calcified cliffs. At the Aire River Lookout there are great views down to the estuary where the Aire River meets the Southern Ocean and Glenaire Beach. It’s is a steady downhill walk to the Aire River Bridge which crosses the river to the picnic area where we have lunch and look out for koalas.

The trail continues through to Castle Cove following the cliff top, offering incredible views back along the coastline. After another fabulous day on the trail, we head back to our accommodation, settle in for the night and enjoy another fabulous two-course dinner prepared by the guides.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cape Otway Lightstation/Bimbi Park

Located on a spectacular bend of the Great Ocean Road at Glenaire, Castle Cove is a beautiful beach surrounded by towering cliffs which have high archaeological significance, as dinosaur fossils have been found here.

From Castle Cove the track winds its way along the cliff tops, through heath-lands and forests, offering extensive views along the coast, the forest a mixture of manna gums, spring wildflowers and magnificent expanses of grass trees.

Eventually you will emerge onto the broad expanse of Johanna Beach and cross Johanna river. This beautiful beach is one of the best in Australia with superb views and enormous crashing surf.

The trail continues uphill as you walk high above the Johanna River valley farmland. Don’t forget to look back for spectacular coastal views. Some steep climbing through tea tree scrub and blue gum woodland to Milanesia Gate. Expect to see Eastern Grey Kangaroo in the grassy valleys out from Johanna Beach.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cape Otway Lightstation/Bimbi Park

The walk from Milanesia Gate to Ryans Den is the wildest and most challenging section of the entire track. Isolated, rugged and hidden, Milanesia Beach receives few visitors and is all the more special for it. Look for the Beachcombers Cottage when you reach the beach. If time permits we will pause here and imagine life back then…

From here the trail continues along the high sea cliffs to Ryans Den with breathtaking views all the way back to Cape Otway, and west to Cape Volley.

Enjoy the view over lunch at the tip of Ryans Den hike-in campground before we continue along steep descents into valleys with sensational remote coastal sea cliff views and finish at Moonlight Head.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Southern Ocean Villas or Loch Ard Motor Inn Port Campbell

After Moonlight Head the track dips down into a valley and follows a newly cut section of track which will lead to The Gables Lookout, perched on one of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia.

Continuing along the track through a grove of Casuarina trees you will come out near Wreck Beach where at low tide you can descend and see the anchors of two of the many shipwrecks that lie submerged along this coast (The Fiji and the Marie Gabrielle). From Devils Kitchen you will follow a new section of track that hugs the wild coastal cliffs towards Princetown where our days walking concludes.

This evening we will dine at a local hotel (dinner at guest own expense).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Southern Ocean Villas or Loch Ard Motor Inn Port Campbell

Our walk starts above the wetlands around Princetown which support a wide variety of bird life. We walk down through the Gellibrand River Estuary and reconnect with the Great Ocean Walk on a new track section. This section replaces 1.5km of road walking with about 2km of pleasant walking through the coastal scrub and escarpment. We are now on the home stretch into Port Campbell National Park and the world famous Twelve Apostles soon come into sight.

The Great Ocean Walk now finishes at Twelve Apostles car park, and we recommend, tides allowing, you descend Gibsons Steps to view Gog and Magog (not strictly counted as two of The Twelve Apostles) up close from sea level.

The last few kilometres can be walked to reach The Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre where you can celebrate your achievements and view The Twelve Apostles up close.

We then begin our return journey back towards Melbourne, stopping enroute to eat our packed lunch along the way. Our arrival time in the CBD outside the National Gallery of Victoria (same location as pick up) is approximately 5pm

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch