GENERAL INFO
Travel down on the Great Ocean Road to the start of the walk. You will have to arrive by 12:00 midday on your first day to commence the walking. This walk is for people that are wanting to condense the number of nights on the walk and/or are looking for a bit of a challenge.
Each day we move your luggage ahead for you to the next accommodation. All you need to carry is a daypack with what you need for the day. We provide comprehensive walk notes for you. It’s easy to find the way on this track but with our notes, you’ll also receive lots of information to help you better appreciate the flora, fauna, history and geology you’re experiencing along the route.
We’ve mapped a point-to-point walk to maximize the highlights, staying in different accommodations on the route. This means more variety, less backtracking and time spent in a vehicle and more time to relax at the end of the day. You’ll walk an average of 15 km each day, with some optional side walks for those wanting to extend themselves.
The walking terrain is varied following clifftops, wide forest tracks, rough trails, beach traverses, including Wreck Beach and tracks shaded by the forest canopy. It’s mostly easy-going, flat stretches, with some steady, challenging climbs and long downhill descents. The walk is moderate to challenging with some longer days, these provide a great opportunity for fit walkers to challenge themselves.
For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.
HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY
The trip starts in Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road. You will have to arrive in the morning (by midday at the latest) on your first day. There are various ways to get the start, however, if you are going to use public transport (a train to Geelong and a connecting bus to Apollo Bay) then you will need to arrive the day before. This walk is for people that are either in a rush, perhaps live in Melbourne or want to challenge themselves (or all three).
If you drove to Apollo Bay we will transport you back there, arriving late afternoon. If you arrived by Public transport we will drop you in Camperdown to catch the train back to Spencer St Station in Melbourne CBD.
WEATHER
December through February is usually warm to hot with excellent swimming weather. Book well in advance for January due to the summer school holidays as the Great Ocean Road walk gets very busy. March through May is usually cooler, with long sunny days, perfect for walking. The winter months (June to August) are cool and sometimes stormy, providing exhilarating walking along the beaches. In winter, the hills are covered with pink heath, Victoria’s floral emblem. September to November are usually cool to warm and this is when most of the colourful wildflowers appear.
See the Bureau of Meteorology’s information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.
Source; BOM
INSURANCE
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
INFORMATION PACK
For nearly 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 detail and much more.
CONTACT
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.
7 DAYS
Moderate to Challenging
Judith R
A great well organised 4 night trip designed for keen walkers who like comfortable accommodation and good food at the end of the day. This trip allowed us to explore this corner of Australia while our luggage was moved along each day. We started with an overnight stay in the atmospheric Cape Otway Lighthouse but all the properties we stayed in had there own character and our hosts were welcoming.
Jenny & Chris
We loved every step of the way, even the uphill ones! This walk rates highly among the great Australian Walks in our experience of several of them. It’s achievable without going too far off the grid, and by anyone of average fitness (for reference we are in our late 50s and not hugely fit but do have some multi-day walking experience). The variety of scenery is fabulous, from beaches and cliff tops, to fern glades and green lanes, to eucalyptus forests and grass tree plains. There is an astonishing amount of bird life, both visible and audible. Accommodation and food was wonderful, from the simple but atmospheric Cape Otway Lighthouse to the boutique B&Bs. Highly recommend this wonderful walk to anyone seeking a breath of fresh air.
Chris S
So good we did it twice! Everything was great, but special props to Johnny both as an accommodation host and a driver. He really adds to the experience!