OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
The Great South West track has got to be Victoria’s best kept secret – a 250km continuous loop of untouched environment, from dramatic isolated coast with massive limestone cliffs and pristine beaches, to meandering rivers and remote bushland teaming with wildlife. Aboriginal heritage sites, the mighty Southern Ocean and freshwater lakes make this one of the most varied walks in Australia. This walk is a “Symphony in Four Movements”, depicted beautifully in this video.
The first stage of the Great South West Walk is the Cobboboonee Forest containing the headwaters of the Surry and Fitzroy Rivers. Here kangaroos are visible bounding across the track with the loud calls of red-tailed black cockatoos in the background. Next is the picturesque Glenelg River, which stretches out as it nears the coast then carves its way through a spectacular limestone gorge. Onto the pristine sandy beaches, rocky outcrops and freshwater lakes of Discovery Bay Coastal Park. The grand finale is the Three Capes and Bays section where the track hugs the clifftop all the way. These rugged, wave-bashed headlands are the highest in Victoria and are perfect for whale spotting in season. The colony of Australian fur seals at Cape Bridgewater is there year-round, so they can’t be missed. The variety of habitats makes this a great place to see all the iconic creatures like kangaroos, echidnas, koalas and emus range freely.
The full Great South West Walk option is a “walker’s walk” and a real challenge. This is why we also offer the Great South West Walk Highlights, a challenge in itself, but with the added advantage of experiencing the combined variety of this walk in a more manageable 8 days.
WALK OVERVIEW
TYPE OF WALK
SELF GUIDED
TRIP LENGTH
13 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate 
Grade 3 – Moderate
Short, steep hill sections. Moderate active lifestyle and some walking experience recommended.PRICE FROM
$ 3155
per person twin/double share
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 655
Accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there are one or two people occupying it. To cover the cost of the accommodation when occupied by one person we need to charge the single occupancy fee.
per person
ITINERARY
WHAT’S INCLUDED
-
Pack-free walking
-
25+ years experience
-
Customised
-
Eco Travel
- 13 day pack free walking holiday
- Vehicle transfers and luggage transport
- We shift you along the track from accommodation to accommodation to limit time in a vehicle, creating more time to relax and enjoy the region
- 12 nights’ accommodation with ensuites (except at Nelson)
- Cooked breakfasts, two course dinners and substantial Walkers Lunches
- National Park admission
- Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, map case, insulated lunch bag and container
- 24/7 support with our local partner network on the ground
ACCOMMODATION & DINING
OVERVIEW
This supported hike has you walk in and out of remote tiny hamlets and staying at small bed and breakfasts and lodges. Your hosts Denis, John, Trish and Roger have been part of our team for nearly twenty years and love accommodating and feeding our walkers. The rooms all have ensuites except at Nelson Lodge. Nelson Lodge was an old police station and has real character and it is most likely that you will have the place to yourself. The views from Sea View Lodge at Bridgewater make you feel like you never left the track. On some of the days’ walks, you are literally walking in and out of accommodations.
The food is prepared by your hosts and the local restaurant at Bridgewater where the food is prepared by a chef.
Each day whilst you’re walking you’ll be provided with a substantial Walkers Lunch and get to eat it at a fabulous location on the track. A Walkers Lunch is varied and may include a high protein type salad, roll or a wrap, muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit.
Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).
GENERAL INFO
This trip starts and finishes in Portland, which is a 5-hour drive from Melbourne. If you prefer, you can fly to Portland from either Melbourne or Adelaide. There are also public transport services from Melbourne. Contact us for more details.
We have rated this walk as moderate as some days are quite long. Full day walks average about 22km, 5 to 7.5 hours walking each day. The walking is mostly flat over reasonably well-walked paths, bush tracks and with some sandy sections. This is a great opportunity for fit walkers to rack up some long distances.
For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.
WEATHER
This walk can be done any time of the year except for the winter months of June, July and August. September to April is the ultimate time of the year for walking. Sea breezes usually keep the temperatures comfortable in summer, although there can be a period of quite hot weather, especially during February.
Warning about tide times – we may have to a little flexible with your start date to make sure that the walking on the beach at high tide is avoided.
This walking holiday includes some sections of beach walking, so you need to take into account the tide times when choosing a starting date. To check tide charts, go to the Bureau of Meteorology and select your location as Portland. We can assist you if you need help understanding the charts.
INSURANCE
We strongly recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy as we charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your Auswalk holiday after we have confirmed it. We want to help make insurance more affordable by offering you a discount on policies purchased through NIB Insurance. This applies to any NIB policies issued via this link. Get an instant quote and purchase online now.
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.
MAP
REVIEWS
Customer Reviews
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Overview
SELF GUIDED
13 DAYS
Moderate
Book now
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
The Great South West track has got to be Victoria’s best kept secret – a 250km continuous loop of untouched environment, from dramatic isolated coast with massive limestone cliffs and pristine beaches, to meandering rivers and remote bushland teaming with wildlife. Aboriginal heritage sites, the mighty Southern Ocean and freshwater lakes make this one of the most varied walks in Australia. This walk is a “Symphony in Four Movements”, depicted beautifully in this video.
The first stage of the Great South West Walk is the Cobboboonee Forest containing the headwaters of the Surry and Fitzroy Rivers. Here kangaroos are visible bounding across the track with the loud calls of red-tailed black cockatoos in the background. Next is the picturesque Glenelg River, which stretches out as it nears the coast then carves its way through a spectacular limestone gorge. Onto the pristine sandy beaches, rocky outcrops and freshwater lakes of Discovery Bay Coastal Park. The grand finale is the Three Capes and Bays section where the track hugs the clifftop all the way. These rugged, wave-bashed headlands are the highest in Victoria and are perfect for whale spotting in season. The colony of Australian fur seals at Cape Bridgewater is there year-round, so they can’t be missed. The variety of habitats makes this a great place to see all the iconic creatures like kangaroos, echidnas, koalas and emus range freely.
The full Great South West Walk option is a “walker’s walk” and a real challenge. This is why we also offer the Great South West Walk Highlights, a challenge in itself, but with the added advantage of experiencing the combined variety of this walk in a more manageable 8 days.
WALK OVERVIEW
TYPE OF WALK
SELF GUIDED
TRIP LENGTH
13 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate
Grade 3 – Moderate
Short, steep hill sections. Moderate active lifestyle and some walking experience recommended.PRICE FROM
$ 3155
per person twin/double share
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 655
Accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there are one or two people occupying it. To cover the cost of the accommodation when occupied by one person we need to charge the single occupancy fee.
per person
Itinerary
ITINERARY
What’s Included
WHAT’S INCLUDED
-
Pack-free walking
-
25+ years experience
-
Customised
-
Eco Travel
- 13 day pack free walking holiday
- Vehicle transfers and luggage transport
- We shift you along the track from accommodation to accommodation to limit time in a vehicle, creating more time to relax and enjoy the region
- 12 nights’ accommodation with ensuites (except at Nelson)
- Cooked breakfasts, two course dinners and substantial Walkers Lunches
- National Park admission
- Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, map case, insulated lunch bag and container
- 24/7 support with our local partner network on the ground
Accommodation & Dining
ACCOMMODATION & DINING
OVERVIEW
This supported hike has you walk in and out of remote tiny hamlets and staying at small bed and breakfasts and lodges. Your hosts Denis, John, Trish and Roger have been part of our team for nearly twenty years and love accommodating and feeding our walkers. The rooms all have ensuites except at Nelson Lodge. Nelson Lodge was an old police station and has real character and it is most likely that you will have the place to yourself. The views from Sea View Lodge at Bridgewater make you feel like you never left the track. On some of the days’ walks, you are literally walking in and out of accommodations.
The food is prepared by your hosts and the local restaurant at Bridgewater where the food is prepared by a chef.
Each day whilst you’re walking you’ll be provided with a substantial Walkers Lunch and get to eat it at a fabulous location on the track. A Walkers Lunch is varied and may include a high protein type salad, roll or a wrap, muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit.
Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).
General Info
GENERAL INFO
This trip starts and finishes in Portland, which is a 5-hour drive from Melbourne. If you prefer, you can fly to Portland from either Melbourne or Adelaide. There are also public transport services from Melbourne. Contact us for more details.
We have rated this walk as moderate as some days are quite long. Full day walks average about 22km, 5 to 7.5 hours walking each day. The walking is mostly flat over reasonably well-walked paths, bush tracks and with some sandy sections. This is a great opportunity for fit walkers to rack up some long distances.
For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.
WEATHER
This walk can be done any time of the year except for the winter months of June, July and August. September to April is the ultimate time of the year for walking. Sea breezes usually keep the temperatures comfortable in summer, although there can be a period of quite hot weather, especially during February.
Warning about tide times – we may have to a little flexible with your start date to make sure that the walking on the beach at high tide is avoided.
This walking holiday includes some sections of beach walking, so you need to take into account the tide times when choosing a starting date. To check tide charts, go to the Bureau of Meteorology and select your location as Portland. We can assist you if you need help understanding the charts.
INSURANCE
We strongly recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy as we charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your Auswalk holiday after we have confirmed it. We want to help make insurance more affordable by offering you a discount on policies purchased through NIB Insurance. This applies to any NIB policies issued via this link. Get an instant quote and purchase online now.
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.
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Reviews
REVIEWS
Customer Reviews
Leave a Reply
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kathijean
23 December, 2017 at 5:34 AM We recently completed the Great South West Walk self guided trek facilitated by auswalk and what wonderful walking holiday it was! I can’t imagine a better introduction to the beauty and wonders Australia has to offer. We trekked though the forest, along a limestone gorge with the Glenelg River flowing peacefully below followed by a dramatic coastline complete with sandy beaches and rocky outcrops continuously pounded by and incredibly blue ocean. And that was just the scenery. First time sightings of kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, emus, a countless variety of new birds and snakes added to the down-under experience. As fabulous as all that was, I have to say each BnB also holds a special memory of outstanding welcomes and accommodations. Also, a huge thank you to the team at auswalk for their complete and accurate descriptions of trail conditions and times.It took the worry out of the day and left us to enjoy.
What a wonderful country! I am already planning my next trip for 2019.
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ENQUIRE NOW
If you’re looking for further information on any of our walking holidays please fill out the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
Gat16
I was a member of a group that did sections of the Great South West Walk on a self-guided basis, customised by Auswalk to the group’s requirements. All the details and logistics were handled by Auswalk, and everything worked like clockwork. The notes were good and the maps provided by Auswalk were outstanding.
Both of the places we stayed at were obviously familiar with dealing with Auswalk and all the arrangements, including the drop-offs and pick-ups went without a hitch. On the two longest days, the arrangements provided options for drop-offs allowing some shortening of the days concerned, which the B&B hosts (who provided the transport) were happy to work with.
The arrangements included some self-catering and the B&B proprietors were very helpful in assisting with this aspects.
AussieApples
A well organised walk. Accomodation and meals were excellent and the flexibility of the hosts and taxis enabled us to adapt our days to suit our needs. We would book with Auswalk again.
kathijean
We recently completed the Great South West Walk self guided trek facilitated by auswalk and what wonderful walking holiday it was! I can’t imagine a better introduction to the beauty and wonders Australia has to offer. We trekked though the forest, along a limestone gorge with the Glenelg River flowing peacefully below followed by a dramatic coastline complete with sandy beaches and rocky outcrops continuously pounded by and incredibly blue ocean. And that was just the scenery. First time sightings of kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, emus, a countless variety of new birds and snakes added to the down-under experience. As fabulous as all that was, I have to say each BnB also holds a special memory of outstanding welcomes and accommodations. Also, a huge thank you to the team at auswalk for their complete and accurate descriptions of trail conditions and times.It took the worry out of the day and left us to enjoy.
What a wonderful country! I am already planning my next trip for 2019.