For 100 years, tourists have driven the Great Ocean Road to see some of the world’s most beautiful national parks, beaches, coast, rainforests and hinterland.
But, did you know the Great Ocean Walk has been giving visitors an even more in-depth experience amidst Victoria’s stunning natural environment?
Not only does the walk showcase the diversity of the southern coast, but it’s also where people go for peace and quiet and for health and wellbeing.
Just a couple of hours’ drive from Melbourne, the Great Ocean Walk is one of the most cost-effective ways to escape the daily grind and let nature take care of you.
The Great Ocean Walk starts in the Great Otway National Park at Apollo Bay and finishes at a spectacular clifftop destination within the Port Campbell National Park, overlooking the Twelve Apostles near Port Campbell.
You can complete the entire walk (eight days, covering 100kms) or, depending on your fitness levels, you can choose three, four, five, six, or seven day trips.
Or, if you just want a taste of the walking experience, you can choose from several short ‘loop’ walks of up to three hours each – of varying difficulties.
Just remember, the secret to the best views and most favorable walking gradient is to only walk in the east-west direction.
If you’ve chosen to walk independently, you can camp along the route, or arrange to stay at local accommodation.
These days, you can call on the support of shuttle services like Walk 91 and Great Ocean Road Shuttle to help you along the way.
And, if you don’t have camping gear, Hike 2 Camp will set up your camp for you and drop off food.
Tip: always let the nearest Visitor Information Centre, as well as a friend know your itinerary plans before you go.
If you’d rather travel in a group, book your journey with Auswalk Walking Holidays and 12 Apostles Lodge Walk.
Not only do the tour guides have exceptional knowledge of every twist and turn along the walk, you can choose a package where you camp, or retire back at more comfortable lodgings (there’s even a 5-star option).
The Great Ocean Walk has it all: beautiful beaches, rocky beach platforms, clifftops, sand dunes and river estuaries. The landscape is a wild mix of coastal heathland, rainforest gullies and towering hinterland.
Here are some famous landmarks featured on the walk include:
You’ll also find these equally impressive natural wonders:
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
