Great Ocean Walk End-to-End Challenge - 5 Days

Great Ocean Walk End-to-End Challenge - 5 Days

5 Days
Moderate

Great Ocean Walk End-to-End Challenge - 5 Days

from $2,695 / person

Overview

The Great Ocean Walk stretches 105 kilometres from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles through a diverse range of landscapes and changing flora. The route slices through the Great Otway National Park and meanders along the coast atop some of the highest sea cliffs in Australia.

The track winds through Mountain Ash and Manna Gum forest, with koalas often just metres away. The coastline shifts constantly, from sheltered coves and wild beaches to dramatic headlands carved by the Southern Ocean. The massive sea cliffs of the Twelve Apostles bring the walk to a fitting and spectacular close.

Highlights

  • Walk beneath Mountain Ash forest, the tallest flowering plants in the world
  • Traverse inaccessible pristine beaches and witness the awesome power of the Southern Ocean
  • Ample opportunities to spot wildlife in their natural habitat from kangaroos and koalas to wedge-tailed eagles and even whales
  • Walk the full track from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles passing Castle Cove, the Gables, as well as Wreck and Johanna Beaches, one of the world's ultimate beach walks
  • The challenge of averaging 21kms a day

Itinerary

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What's Included

Accommodation

3-star Motel (1 night), Guest House (3 nights)

Meals

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners

Transfers

  • Luggage Transfers
  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • Walking App for Navigation
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

3

Auswalk Walking Grade

Moderate

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

Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.

View Fitness Guide

5

Days on the trail

15-26 km

Daily distance range

253-549 m

Daily ascent range

5/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

Apollo Bay opens the first night of this walk, a lovely seaside town that rewards a wander along the foreshore or up to Marriners Lookout before the days on the trail begin. The remaining three nights are spread across a selection of lodges and retreats in beautiful bush settings right on the edge of the national park, all with en-suite facilities and placed conveniently along the route.

On occasion, properties may be swapped for alternatives of equivalent standard, and you will always be kept informed when this happens.

What You'll Eat

Expert hosts and local caterers take care of the cooking at the lodge and retreat properties on this walk. Each morning begins with a proper breakfast, with five included across the walk before heading out on the trail. Four walker's lunches are provided daily at some of the most spectacular locations on the Great Ocean Walk, each one varying but always packed with a high-protein salad, a roll or wrap, a muesli bar, something sweet and fresh fruit, carried in your own insulated lunch bag. Three two-course dinners are prepared each evening at your accommodation.

Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source along the way.

Note: Drinks and alcohol are not included with meals, with the exception of tea, coffee and juice served with breakfast.

More About This Trip

The walk starts in Apollo Bay and finishes in Port Campbell, along Victoria's Great Ocean Road.

Please note that you must arrive in Apollo Bay by 9.00am on the first day to allow sufficient time for the 23.5km opening stage. An overnight stay in Apollo Bay before the walk is strongly recommended.

The most practical public transport option is the V/Line combined train and coach service from Melbourne to Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre, taking around 4 hours in total, with a change to a coach at Geelong. The earliest train from Melbourne departs at 9.00am, making a pre-tour night in Apollo Bay essential for those travelling by public transport. Those flying into Melbourne Airport can take a direct coach to Geelong Station in around 1 hour. From Avalon Airport, a pre-booked shuttle connects to Geelong Station in around 30 minutes.

Those driving can follow the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay and park near the Visitor Information Centre; please advise your arrival time in advance so luggage can be collected. A transfer back to Apollo Bay is included at the end of the walk. Public transport users will be transferred to Camperdown Station for train connections back to Melbourne in around 2 hours 45 minutes. Private transfers can be arranged on request, subject to availability.

This walk is available throughout the year, with no fixed start days. Spring and autumn are the finest seasons, with mild temperatures, wildflowers and quieter trails. Summer is warm and excellent for swimming, though January is the busiest month and early booking is essential. Winter brings stormy seas and dramatic coastal scenery, with the pink heath covering the hills. Pack a waterproof, warm layers and sun protection whatever the season.

The terrain is varied, covering clifftops, wide forest tracks, rough trails, and beach traverses including Wreck Beach, with mostly flat stretches broken up by some steady climbs and long downhill descents. Optional additional walks are available for those who wish to extend themselves. Sturdy walking boots with reliable grip are essential.

A solid level of fitness is important for this tour. A regular training routine of three to four times per week, with hill work and longer walks incorporated, is recommended in preparation. Daily walk notes, maps, and GPX tracks are provided.

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.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

The Apollo Bay Museum occupies a heritage-listed former cable station and houses three rooms of artefacts relating to local shipwrecks, pioneer life and the coastal history of this stretch of the Shipwreck Coast. The Cape Otway Lightstation, at the heart of the walk route, is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia (built 1848), with guided Shipwreck Discovery Tours and a museum covering the maritime history of the region.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

August 2026

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

Notes

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SURCHARGE APPLIES

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