fbpx

Hike the Great Ocean Road

Hike the Great Ocean Road

From $ 2,935 AUD

Description

Taking you from Melbourne to Cape Otway National Park and on to the famous 12 Apostles via fur seal colonies, beaches, forests, sea cliffs, lightstations and lookouts, this six-day hiking tour showcases why the Great Ocean Walk is regarded as one of the world’s best coastal treks. With two knowledgeable leaders to guide the way, you’ll experience a landscape that has been shaped by the elements over thousands of years, immerse yourself in local maritime history, and enjoy delicious picnic lunches surrounded by dramatic coastal scenery. If you love immersing yourself in nature, the Great Ocean Walk is calling your name.

Trip Name
Hike the Great Ocean Road
Last Updated
2022-10-15
Days
6
Capacity
14
Highlights
  • Explore diverse and beautiful landscapes on foot – from pristine beaches and rocky terrain to stunning coastline, there’s always something amazing to look at.
  • Traverse this classic Victoria track with not one but two expert local leaders to share their knowledge about the region while taking care of the details along the way.
  • Hike through the mighty forests of Great Otway National Park where you’ll inhale the scent of eucalyptus as you make your way to pristine Shelly Beach.
  • Stride along the top of mighty sea cliffs and watch sunshine create dancing rainbows on the tumbling waters of Rainbow Falls.
  • With almost every meal included, you’ll enjoy wonderful fresh picnics in incredible locations, delicious breakfasts and hearty homecooked dinners.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Melbourne to Shelly Beach
Welcome to Melbourne! Meet your group at 8am at a central CBD pick-up location and drive the scenic route to Apollo Bay via Anglesea and Lorne. On arrival, we’ll pick up lunch and other supplies before our first walk of the trip from Apollo Bay to Shelly Beach. Along the way, we’ll see fur seas seals at Marengo, travel through scenic farmland before making your way along the coastline through stunning stunted messmate and heath forests. From here, we’ll head into the mighty forests of Great Otway National Park where you’ll inhale the scent of eucalyptus as you walk to Shelly Beach. Then it’s a 40 minute drive to the Cape Otway Lightstation (or Bimbi Park), your accommodation, where a warm shower awaits and your guides will have a freshly cooked dinner for you to enjoy tonight – the dream of every hiker!
Day 2 - Shelly Beach to Cape Otway Lightstation
After breakfast, drive to Shelley Beach and get ready for the first of two big walking days in a row. Today we’ll head inland once again to walk through mighty Mountain Ash forests and up and down the undulating plains and plateaus which make Great Otway National Park such a rewarding walking destination. After you reach Blanket Bay, keep an eye out for black cockatoos, wallabies, and echidnas on your way along the tops of the cliffs before you reach the Cape Otway Lightstation and your nearby accommodation.
Day 3 - Cape Otway Lightstation to Johanna Beach
With your accommodation so close to today’s starting point, you won’t have to do much more than roll out of bed and lace up your hiking shoes and you’ll be on the trail. Today’s walk is another long one but you won’t mind a bit with such stunning and diverse scenery to enjoy. Along with rolling sand dunes, coastal scrub and sea cliffs up above Station beach and Rainbow Falls. The inland route today offers stunning scenery up and down the coastline all the way to Aire River. Around Aire River inlet the trail heads inland briefly before making its way back up top of the coastal dunes to Castle Cove. From Castle Cove the trail heads behind the dunes into sheltered coastal forests before arriving at Johanna beach for a short 2km beach section all the way to the end of today's walk.
Day 4 - Milanesia Gate to Moonlight Head
After you’ve enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared by your guides, we’ll drive to Milanesia Gate for the start of our walk. Today’s hike showcases yet more spectacular highlights like Milanesia Beach, which is so isolated that it feels like this wildly rugged section of coastline is yours alone, and towering sea cliffs with views back to Cape Otway. From here, we’ll walk through coastal forests before we reach our pick up point at Moonlight Head. This afternoon we’ll move from our accommodation at Cape Otway to Port Campbell. As dinner is not included tonight, you’ll have the option to head out with your group to a local restaurant.
Day 5 - Moonlight Head to Gellibrand River
We’ll start today’s walk along a newly cut section of the track which offers breathtaking views from one of Australia’s highest sea cliffs. After a walk through large stands of casuarina trees, we’ll come out at the aptly named Wreck Beach where the anchors from shipwrecks can still be seen at low tide. If you can see the anchors, we’ll continue along this route to the Devils Kitchen and onwards to Princetown. Otherwise, we’ll take the new high tide route to this afternoon’s pick-up. After a long day of walking, the seaside village of Port Campbell is the perfect place to spend the night once again.
Day 6 - Gellibrand River to 12 Apostles
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Princetown and walk along the Gallibrand River and on to the famous 12 Apostles. Originally known as the Sow and Piglets, these iconic limestone formations were renamed The Twelve Apostles as part of a 1920s tourism campaign, despite the fact there were only nine pinnacles. Now there are eight. With the rapid rate of erosion caused by the wind and sea, soon there will likely be even less so it’s lucky you’re here to enjoy the view. At the end of the walk, we’ll drive back to Melbourne via Colac, arriving at approximately 5pm. No accommodation is provided tonight but if you would like to spend more time here, we can book additional accommodation for you (pending availability).

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
13-03-202318-03-2023AUD $ 3,045-
05-04-202310-04-2023AUD $ 3,045-
30-04-202305-05-2023AUD $ 2,935-
03-09-202308-09-2023AUD $ 2,935-
11-09-202316-09-2023AUD $ 2,935-
11-10-202316-10-2023AUD $ 2,935-
16-11-202321-11-2023AUD $ 3,045-
25-11-202330-11-2023AUD $ 3,045-

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights)

Transport

Private Vehicle,Walking

Map