Great Ocean Walk End to End Challenge

The walk starts in Apollo Bay, on the Great Ocean Road in the morning. Leave the tourists behind as you meander along the coast. The track follows the coast before heading inland through Mountain Ash forest with an array of other flora; be surprised if you don’t spot at least a couple of koalas around Shelly beach. This is also a great place to spot black wallabies, echidnas, seabirds, dolphins and in season whales.

The walking finishes at delightful Blanket Bay an ideal place for a swim. This day can be split into two parts if you wish which adds another nights accommodation to the trip.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 23.4 km / 6.5 – 8 hrs
*This day can be split into two parts if you wish which adds another nights accommodation to the trip.

Meals: Walkers lunch and 2 course dinner

Accommodation: Ensuite rooms at Cape Otway Lightstation

From Blanket Bay, we walk to the beautiful Parker Inlet, the track contours through coastal forests and along cliff tops. There’s an optional side-trip to Crayfish Bay. The track continues through Manna Gum forests that are home to large numbers of koalas, eventually emerging at Cape Otway Lightstation. Visit the Lighthouse grounds walking up the 18m high lighthouse, one of the oldest in the region. There’s also a fascinating indigenous centre here. It’s then onto Station Beach. The track continues through wind-sculpted dunes and along the cliff tops to the Aire River estuary and wetlands. Stunning coastal scenery awaits you on the route to Castle Cove, the end of today’s walk. This day can be split into two parts if you wish which adds another night’ accommodation to the trip.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 25.4 kms / 6-7 hrs
*This day can be split into two parts if you wish which adds another night’ accommodation to the trip.

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and 2 course dinner

Accommodation: Ensuited rooms at Aire Valley Guesthouse or the Great Ocean Retreat

Today’s section has some of the most spectacular coastal views of the entire track. It’s also a great day for wildflowers with colourful heathlands and numerous grass trees. In the winter months, there are native orchids and masses of pink heath – Victoria’s floral emblem. Another highlight is the long, white, sandy expanse of Johanna Beach. The last part of the walk has you walking briefly through farmland before ending at Milanesia Gate.

Walking: Moderate / 15.5 kms / 5 hrs / plus a 2 kms optional 50 min  walk

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and 2-course dinner

Accommodation: Ensuited rooms at Aire Valley Guesthouse or the Great Ocean Retreat

Milanesia Beach is one of those secret beaches, not many people get to and one of the most special places on the walk. It is only possible to access this beach on foot. From here the track continues along the cliff tops, and you can see all the way back to Cape Otway lighthouse. The walk is characterised by high sea cliffs, breathtaking views and coastal forests that lead you to Moonlight Head. The last highlight today is the Gables Lookout, perched on one of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia. This is a superb spot for whale watching between June and September.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 18.5 kms / 5 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and 2-course dinner

Accommodation: Ensuited rooms at Southern Anchorage

From the Gables, it is another walk through a grove of casuarinas to Wreck Beach, where the remains of two shipwrecks can be inspected. Walk via the small town of Princetown before finishing the hike at the impressive 12 Apostles, a group of limestone sea stacks that are constantly changing. An epic way to finish this epic trek. We will collect you at 4pm to take you back to your vehicle in Apollo Bay arriving at approximately 5.30pm.

Walking: Moderate / 20 kms / 6-7 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast and walkers lunch