Great Ocean Walk - 4 Days

Great Ocean Walk - 4 Days

4 Days
Moderate to Challenging

Great Ocean Walk - 4 Days

from $2,495 / person

Overview

We've condensed the highlights of the Great Ocean Walk to take in all of the best walking on this iconic track. Breathtaking coastal scenery, magnificent forests, abundant wildlife and sheer diversity of landscape, this walk bears the mantle of being one of Australia's most spectacular walks.

The walk shows off the diversity of the region,  traversing coastal forest with an abundance of native fauna. The trek ends at the Twelve Apostles, but not before taking a walk down Gibsons Steps, a stunning perspective of the Apostles that not many walkers are lucky enough to experience.

A pair of expert guides will lead the way, providing the flexibility to walk at a pace that suits you and with the option to shorten the walking if you prefer.

Highlights

  • Stunning views as you progress along the track at Castle Cove and the Gables, then at the Wreck and Station Beaches
  • Cape Otway Lighthouse
  • The sheer enormity of the limestone cliffs and the sea stacks
  • The Gables lookout - spectacular views and super for whale watching
  • Beautiful Milanesia Beach, only accessible by foot

Itinerary

Day 1

Melbourne to Blanket Bay Walk to Cape Otway Lighthouse
10 km5-6h

We will depart Melbourne at 7:15 -7:30 am to embark on the Great Ocean Walk travelling on the world-famous Great Ocean Road that starts near Bells Beach, stopping at Lorne on the way. The walk begins from Blanket Bay hiking to Parker Inlet along cliff tops and through coastal forest. If the time permits, we will walk to the lighthouse via Crayfish Bay. This lighthouse has been in operation continuously longer than any other lighthouse in Australia. 10 km Shorter option available

Accommodation

3-star Motel in Apollo Bay

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

What's Included

Accommodation

3-star Motel (3 nights)

Meals

3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 2 dinners

Transfers

  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

4

Auswalk Walking Grade

Moderate to Challenging

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Regular hills and varied terrain. These walks involve more challenging sections. Regular walking beforehand is recommended.

View Fitness Guide

4

Days on the trail

10-18 km

Daily distance range

Daily ascent range

5/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

You'll spend three comfortable nights in en-suite rooms across two special stretches of this coast. The first two nights are in Apollo Bay, right on the foreshore, where your hotel has all the modern comforts you'd expect and there's plenty of time built in to wander this quaint little seaside town. On your final night you'll stay at Port Campbell, in private rooms with their own ensuites at a welcoming local motel. Port Campbell itself is one of the coast's real gems and one of the few spots where the cliffs give way to a safe swimming beach, so pack your togs. After a day on the trail, there's nothing better than settling into a room you know is waiting for you, in a town worth lingering in.

What You'll Eat

Good food matters on a walking holiday, and we make sure you're well fed and hydrated the whole way through. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included, with a la carte dining on most nights at quality local restaurants. You'll also get two free evenings to choose your own spot in town, whether that's the pub, a quiet bistro or something in between. Your walkers' lunches come from local cafes who know exactly what a hungry walker needs, and breakfast comes with tea, coffee and juice included. Alcohol and other drinks with meals are at your own cost. It's the kind of food that makes the end of a long day's walk feel like it's been earned.

More About This Trip

We run our departures in autumn and spring, when the Otways are at their best and the coast isn't fighting you with the extremes of summer heat or winter squalls. See the Bureau of Meteorology’s information about temperatures and rainfall ahead of time to ensure proper clothing.


Source; BOM

The trip starts and ends in Melbourne, with pick-up and drop-off at the Mercure Southbank on Riverside Quay. You'll need to be there by 7:15 am for a 7:30 am departure, so it's worth booking a night nearby beforehand rather than racing across the city that morning. You're driven out along the Great Ocean Road, with a stop in Lorne on the way to the start of the walk. On the final day, you're driven back to Melbourne after finishing at the Twelve Apostles, with a dinner stop along the way, arriving back at the Mercure Southbank around 6:00 pm.

Expect well formed, well graded tracks for most of the way, with a handful of short beach sections thrown in. A few hills will get the legs working, particularly on day two's stretch to Johanna Beach. Shorter options are available on the tougher days if you'd rather bank the energy for the views. With two guides walking with you, you can always dial the pace, and the distance, up or down to suit how you're feeling.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

For over 30 years, we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you'll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure, outlining all the fine details and much more.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

Due to limitations of catering at certain accommodations we are unable to cater for vegans on this tour unfortunately.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Departure

Select a fixed group departure - places are limited

Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Great Ocean Walk reviews

4.9
157 reviews
5 Star
148
4 Star
9
3 Star
0
2 Star
0
1 Star
0

Frances B
3 months ago

My husband and I completed this walk in October 2025. The scenery was amazing, something different around almost every corner, it was just fantastic to walk this coastline and to see so many different landscapes! This was probably the most challenging and memorable thing we have ever done. The accommodation and meals were excellent and way above expectation, we loved everywhere we stayed!

Scott O
3 months ago

The notes were interesting and helpful, and the pace each day was good for a couple of fit sixty-somethings. We appreciated having both hard copies of the notes and the very useful information available via the hiking app. It was a lovely, stress-free way to walk. It was especially helpful that we didn’t have to bring, buy, or rent our own backpacking gear, considering we had come from overseas. So, yes…definitely tempting, just not sure where to yet!

Caroline H
4 months ago

I feel very confident in the way we were supported. This was so smooth…I appreciated the information and advice which helped me organise and prepare for the walk. Thankyou so much

Rowan H
4 months ago

I think the self guided version of the walk is really well organised and very well supported by the accommodation, food and transport people. Initially it feels a little odd to be in your room and packets of food in the fridge . We anticipated potentially sharing meal times with others but were not dissappointed when we didn't. In fact as we went along it added to the personal aspect of the walk as we didn't need to have any group encounters. That may not suit everyone but I think it worked for us. We have walked self guided in Japan and spent way more time in a group and there were group evening meals. We encountered plenty of people on the trail so I think this mode works well. The food and food logistics were fantastic. The transport team were timely, flexible and great ambassadors for the walk. We had most of the weather variables that you might expect and plenty of wildlife encounters . Always knowing that there was food and shelter waiting and someone to ferry us there when we couldn't walk straight into the evening stop. The walk is very picturesque, challenging enough without being hard and is easy to recommend.

Carolyn D
4 months ago

The trip ran very smoothly. Apollo Taxis were very professional and very friendly always on time or early. Great ocean walk beautiful scenery great tracks beautiful beaches.

Josie B
4 months ago

Rose and Neil were excellent Guides. Friendly, attentive and caring.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Great Ocean Walk begins in the charming seaside village of Apollo Bay and finishes at the iconic Twelve Apostles — 104km of some of Australia's most spectacular coastal scenery.

Your main luggage is transported between accommodations each day while you walk, so you only need to carry a lightweight daypack on the trail. Bags are limited to 23kg. On the odd occasion, you may need to move your luggage to or from your room to reception — but that's the extent of it.

Coverage is patchy in parts of the Great Ocean Walk — don't rely on it as your main line of communication. Keep your phone charged and carry a backup power bank. Auswalk provides 24/7 support by phone and email throughout your trip, and their local driver and partner network is on the ground if you need assistance.

Daily vehicle transfers along the track with a knowledgeable Auswalk driver are a genuine highlight of the trip — they handle the logistics so you can focus on the walking. If you're driving to Apollo Bay, you can leave your car there, and Auswalk will transfer you back to collect it at the end. For those using public transport to get home, transfers to Camperdown for train services back to Melbourne can also be arranged.

Your daypack should hold a waterproof jacket, warm mid-layer, sun hat, sunscreen (SPF 50+ for the Australian sun), sunglasses, 1–2 litres of water, your packed lunch, a first aid kit, toilet paper, and your phone. Walking poles are optional but useful on steeper sections.

The Great Ocean Walk is genuinely walkable year-round thanks to its temperate coastal climate. Spring (September to November) brings wildflowers and full waterfalls. Summer (December to February) offers sunny days and little rain. Autumn (March to May) has long, clear days and cooler temperatures — ideal walking conditions. Winter (June to August) is cooler and occasionally stormy, but it's also when humpback and southern right whales migrate through the area.

Yes. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. Some properties along this walk have limited capacity to accommodate complex requirements at short notice, and changes made after booking may not always be possible. If your diet is particularly specific, providing a list of what you can eat — rather than just what you can't — gives the best chance of a good outcome.

Want to Know More?

The Great Ocean Walk Experience

Wonder
Auswalk from Apollo Bay to the ever-changing limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles
Explore Cape Otway Lightstation, museum and displays after forest and clifftop walking
Follow mesmerising clifftop tracks to Parker Inlet, Castle Cove and The Gables
Wellness
The science of blue space, the measurable restorative effect of proximity to the ocean
The physical rhythm of long daily walking delivers a quality of mental and physical restoration that is genuinely difficult to achieve any other way
Savour regional produce breakfasts, walkers lunches and chef-prepared two-course dinners
Nature
This is coastal wilderness at its most dramatic and most diverse. Step beneath giant Mountain Ash forest, the world’s tallest flowering plants
Ancient rainforest gullies and rainforest, wind-sculpted heathland & clifftop paths above the Southern Ocean that stretches, uninterrupted, all the way to Antarctica
Auswalk past Johanna Beach, Rainbow Falls, Aire estuary wetlands and wildflower heathlands angaroos, echidnas, sea eagles and whale