Great Ocean Walk Unplug - 6 Days

Great Ocean Walk Unplug - 6 Days

6 Days
Moderate

Great Ocean Walk Unplug - 6 Days

from $2,870 / person

Overview

Walk the full length of Australia's most iconic coastal trail over six days, tracing the Great Ocean Walk from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles through the Great Otway National Park. The route weaves between mountain ash forest and pristine deserted beaches, with the full force of the Southern Ocean to one side and the Otway ranges rising to the other. Koalas, kangaroos and abundant birdlife are constant companions along the way. The diversity of landscape shifts constantly, from sheltered forest canopy to dramatic clifftop traverses, building day by day to the grand finale of the Twelve Apostles — some of the most spectacular sea cliffs in the world.


Highlights

  • 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 whales and wedge-tailed eagles
  • Step through giant Mountain Ash forest, beneath the tallest flowering plants in the world
  • Mesmerising cliff top walk to Parker Inlet
  • Stunning views as you progress along the track at Castle Cove and at The Gables
  • The pristine nature and deafening surf of Johanna Beach
  • The imposing Twelve Apostles

Itinerary

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What's Included

Accommodation

Self-Contained Cabin (2 nights), Guest House (3 nights)

Meals

5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners

Transfers

  • Private Vehicle Transfers
  • Luggage 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

6

Days on the trail

8-23 km

Daily distance range

204-539 m

Daily ascent range

8/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

Nights are spent in a carefully chosen mix of properties, from a comfortable hotel in Apollo Bay to eco villas set in native bushland to a working farm retreat showcasing regional produce. All rooms have ensuites and each property has been chosen for its location and connection to the surrounding landscape. Occasional substitutions of equivalent quality may be necessary — you will always be informed in advance.

What You'll Eat

A cooked breakfast and two-course dinner are included each day, prepared by expert hosts or a local caterer depending on the property. One stop along the way is a particular highlight, with breakfast, lunch and dinner all showcasing the region's finest local produce. A substantial packed lunch is provided each day and enjoyed at some of the most spectacular spots on the track.

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, with a transfer back to Apollo Bay included on the final morning for those who have driven.

By public transport, take a regional V/Line train from Melbourne to Geelong, then a coach to Apollo Bay Visitors Information Centre — a total journey of around four hours. At the end of the walk, a transfer to Camperdown Station provides train connections back to Melbourne.

If driving, parking is available in Apollo Bay for the duration of the walk. Please note your car will need to be moved from the car park to the unmetered street in front of your accommodation before you set off.

Flying into Melbourne Tullamarine? A direct coach with Gull Airport Service connects the airport to Geelong Train Station in around one hour. Flying into Avalon? The Avalon Airport Shuttle meets every flight and transfers to Geelong Train Station in around 30 minutes — pre-booking is required for both services.

Note: If walking to Shelly Beach on day one, plan to start walking by 12 pm to reach the pick-up point on time. Private transfers are available for groups of four or more, subject to availability — speak to your destination consultant for details.

The Great Ocean Walk is available year-round, with each season offering a distinct experience. Summer brings warm to hot conditions and excellent swimming weather, though January is extremely popular during school holidays and early booking is essential. Autumn delivers long, sunny days and cooler temperatures — ideal walking conditions. Winter is cool and sometimes stormy, but the Southern Ocean scenery is at its most dramatic and the hills are blanketed in pink heath. Spring brings wildflowers and mild to warm temperatures from September through November, making it one of the most rewarding times of year to walk.

The terrain is wonderfully varied, moving between clifftop paths, wide forest tracks, shaded rainforest canopy, rough coastal trails and beach traverses, including the famous Wreck Beach. Most of the walking is relatively flat and easy-going, interspersed with some steady climbs and long downhill descents. Optional side walks are available on some days for those wanting to push further. Good footwear and a reasonable level of fitness are recommended to make the most of the experience.

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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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