Victoria

Victoria punches above its weight given its size when it comes to walking destinations. It has Australia’s most iconic coastal walk and the Great Ocean Walk that ends at the 12 Apostles.

The 104km long Great Ocean Walk is possibly Australia’s most iconic coastal walk; it traverses one of Australia’s most dramatic coastlines from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles through the Great Otway National Park. The Southern Ocean’s azure sparkle looks spectacularly inviting, but its awesome power will remind you why this coastline is known as the Shipwreck Coast. There are opportunities to witness wildlife in their natural habitat, including kangaroos, echidnas and koalas to black cockatoos, sea eagles and whales.

The Grampians Mountains are much more than the spectacular Grampians Peaks Trail (“GPT”). The GPT is one of the most scenic and also most spectacular walks in Australia. As you walk you often have outrageously beautiful views of the mountains, in some instances 360-degree views as you traverse the track. Then on top of that, you’ll encounter the stunning MacKenzie Falls, Wartook and Zumsteins. Halls Gap and Dunkeld are two quaint country towns that serve as a great place to stay and rest up as you walk this amazing destination.

The Victorian Alps and the Great Alpine Walk is one of the few places in Australia that offers striking alpine and stunning forest landscapes with breathtaking panoramic views over the Alps and surrounding plains. The walk from Falls Creek to Mount Hotham and the walk to Mount Feathertop on the Razorback are just some of the amazing walks.

The 250km continuous loop that is the Great South West track is Victoria’s best-kept secret. Explore the dramatic isolated coast with its massive limestone cliffs and pristine deserted beaches. And walk via the beautiful Glenelg River and through bush landscape teeming with wildlife. Bolt on aboriginal heritage sites, the large swells of the Southern Ocean, freshwater lakes, and three distinctly different National Parks, and you have one of the most varied walks in Australia.

Wilsons Promontory, or the Prom as the locals call it, is an unspoilt pristine natural wonderland. Wilsons Promontory is also a sanctuary for a vast array of fauna namely emus, wombats, echidnas, and a plethora of birdlife. With 15000 hectares of seascape also under protection this is Victoria’s largest marine park. The Oberon Bay and Seals walks are two of the many hikes that are worth undertaking, though note this walk is currently unavailable due to an extreme weather event.