Great Ocean Walk Adventure

Your Great Ocean Walk Adventure starts today in Adelaide.

Our journey to Port Fairy allows us to arrive mid afternoon for a local walk and explore the quaint, cute streets of this picturesque coastal town.

Your accommodation tonight is a comfortable motel in Port Fairy. This evening we’ll enjoy a restaurant 2 course dinner, relax, and discuss the next day’s walk.

Meals Included: – Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 2km

Grab some breakfast from one of the many cafes and bakeries in Port Fairy before we drive to Apollo Bay along the scenic Great Ocean Road. Apollo Bay is a pretty seaside town and the starting point of the Great Ocean Walk. You will be staying in an ocean view cabin at Apollo Bay for the next 3 nights.

We enjoy a fresh and healthy lunch, then prepare for our walk. Your walk today meanders along coastline from the Apollo Bay Visitor Centre trailhead towards Shelly Beach. It’s not long before you pass Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary, home to a colony of Australian Fur Seals. Then it’s a comfortable afternoons walk with fine views as you enter the Great Otway National Park.

Upon reaching Shelly Beach, you will be transported comfortably back to Apollo Bay. Where tonight, you can relax and enjoy a sumptuous 2 course dinner. A wonderful introduction to your first day along the Great Ocean Walk.

Meals Included: Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 9km

Creeks, beach and forest trails with towering eucalypts await.

Your morning trail section follows easy walking inland tracks. These tracks are sheltered by large Mountain Ash canopy and provide comfortable walking to beautiful Blanket Bay. Once arriving at this pretty little bay, we enjoy lunch on a clearing overlooking the picturesque beach.

After lunch we continue to Point Franklin. The trail runs parallel to the coast for this section. Negotiating the Parker River crossing we ascend stone steps and reach our days finishing point.

Our vehicle will be waiting to return you back to your accommodation in Apollo Bay this evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 21km

Shipwreck spotting and soaking up the views and maritime history is on the cards today.

We re-join the Great Ocean Walk trail at Point Franklin. Then continue west along the cliff line with Cape Otway Light Station in the distance. Passing Crayfish Bay we arrive at the lighthouse for morning tea. Here we have time to wander and explore. Plus if in luck the café may be open for a treat.

Walking from Cape Otway we come across a small pioneer cemetery. The final resting place for deceased lightkeeper families and shipwrecked sailors.

There is an opportunity for you to walk along Station Beach to spring-fed Rainbow Falls this afternoon, if the tides and weather permit.

The end point today is the peaceful Aire River.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 15km

It’s all about amazing coastal views today.

Returning to Air River we continue west along cliff lines. Then we wind our way up to Castle Cove Lookout. You are rewarded with spectacular vistas peeping out from the forested trail along this section.

Down to the powerful surf we follow Johanna Beach for 2 kilometres. Including a crossing of Johanna River as it flows out to sea. Then we head inland off the beach and uphill for more amazing views.

Finishing todays Great Ocean Walk section with an incline to the Milanesia Track. Then we return to our new villa accommodation at Port Campbell for a hearty 2 course feed and relaxation time.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 21km

A big day of walking and plenty of challenge for you today.

Todays section of trail is regarded as the most difficult but also the most rewarding. The start of the Great Ocean Walk trail today is a decline on unsealed road but soon enters a wildlife reserve. Here the gradient increases as we approach Milanesia Beach. This remote beach may be a challenge to get to, but this is what makes it so special and isolated.

Then the trail undulates and winds it’s way to Ryans Den, Moonlight Head and to The Gable. All three lookouts provide you with amazing views. Expect steep descents into valleys and some steep climbs today. Including wet gully forests and varying landscapes. Also, keep an eye out for Southern Right Whales which may still be making their way south.

Finishing 130m above sea level at The Gable. Take a breathe and sit back as we drive to our accommodation in Port Campbell.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 20km

After a challenging hike on the most difficult section the previous day, your legs might be getting tired. Therefore, today’s walking distance is shorter.

This shorter distance also allows you the best opportunity to follow Wreck Beach if the tides are low. Wreck Beach is the final resting place of the Marie Gabrielle and the Fiji. Two shipwrecks from the late 1800’s who’s ghostly anchors are reachable at low tide. There are 382 steps down to Wreck Beach but it is well worth the visit.

You will experience dense coastal vegetation and sandy trails today. A great chance for wildlife and bird-life spotting. Especially by the river mouth at Princetown.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 13km

Our final day on the Great Ocean Walk. Plus a leisurely sunset visit for you to spectacular Loch Ard Gorge.

Today, we reach the end of the trail from the peaceful Gellibrand River.

Along the way, we capture first glimpses of the famed Twelve Apostles as we approach the Port Campbell National Park. With plenty of lookout locations there is plenty of time allocated for you to admire the views.

Finishing with enough energy to marvel and enjoy the spectacle that this land form is famous for is what our itinerary is about. Upon reaching the end of the trail, it’s packs down and sandals on, as we explore at a leisurely pace.

We then make our way to the nearby Loch Ard Gorge. An equally spectacular coastal wilderness with towering vertical cliffs, sandy beaches and maritime history.

From here we make our way to Port Fairy stopping for a bit of sightseeing and short walks at London Bridge, the Grotto and Bay of Martyrs.

Completing the full trail over 7 continuous days is a fabulous achievement and one to celebrate this evening in Port Fairy.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 9km

Today we make our way back to Adelaide but not before a visit to Budj Bim National Park.  Here, our Gunditjmara guide will welcome you and take you on a 90 min informative cultural walk through this world heritage site.

At Budj Bim we walk bush trails and boardwalks to significant sites including remains of ancient Aboriginal stone houses and fish traps. You will learn about the Gunditjmara creation story, and culturally significant flora & fauna.

We return to Adelaide at approx 7pm stopping for meal breaks and optional waffles at Coonalpyn en-route.

Meals Included:
Walking Distance: 2km

We grade the overall walking on this itinerary as MODERATE
(see our grading system)

This grading is provided as general advice only, and is based on our assessment and also feedback from past participants. Please consider your level of fitness and experience in regard to this rating, and if you’re unsure please contact us for more information

Apollo Bay to Shelly Beach

Distance: 9km
Elevation Gain: 275m
Elevation Loss: 175m

Shelly Beach to Point Franklin

Distance: 21km
Elevation Gain: 650m
Elevation Loss: 750m

Point Franklin to Aire River

Distance: 15km
Elevation Gain: 325m
Elevation Loss: 275m

Aire River to Milanesia Track

Distance: 21km
Elevation Gain: 625m
Elevation Loss: 425m

Milanesia Track to The Gable

Distance: 20km
Elevation Gain: 675m
Elevation Loss: 825m

The Gable to Gellibrand River

Distance: 13km
Elevation Gain: 300m
Elevation Loss: 425m

Gellibrand River to Twelve Apostles

Distance: 9km
Elevation Gain: 225m
Elevation Loss: 175m

10 REASONS TO WALK WITH US

Realistic Itineraries
we want you to love and be inspired by the Great Ocean Walk. This tour itinerary is well-designed and realistic, allowing you to complete the full itinerary ….. we don’t over sell and under deliver

Be Fulfilled
this itinerary is designed to maximise your awe and leave you fulfilled. From South Australia a scenic drive takes you to the eastern trail head, you will then walk every step of the Great Ocean Walk trail from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, then visit Budj Bim for a cultural tour with our Gunditjmara guide on the way back to Adelaide. We’ve planned this itinerary so you get the full experience and time to relax ….. you won’t leave feeling unfulfilled

Nature Connection
we want you to feel de-stressed and re-energised. So, our guides are also nature facilitators with skills to immerse you with your surrounds. Not only do we safely guide you and share our knowledge, we also provide invitations for you to slow down and connect deeper with nature whilst walking the trail (included activities such as an introduction to Shinrin-yoku ‘Forest Bathing’ ) <learn more about Forest Bathing here> ….. we’re pioneers of hiking with deep nature immersion

Group Fitness
we want you to succeed and maximise your enjoyment, so pre-tour training walks, training programs, and group chats online are provided leading up to your walking tour (included as part of the tour price). These will assist you to practice on terrain that you are likely to encounter, meet your guides and other group members, ask questions on what to expect, receive advice on the trail, travel, and the destination, and gauge your level of fitness. Many people underestimate the difficulty of walking this trail and end up under-prepared and unfulfilled ….. so we invest in your preparation

Meaningful Moments
we will bring your Great Ocean Walk experience alive ….. a guide book and phone App alone can’t do this as well as our guides

Flexibility (2 guides)
our departures have 2 experienced guides. Having 2 guides means we can better cater for group dynamics and individual needs. Factors such as walking pace, injuries and incidents can mean changes to the itinerary become necessary, and if there was only 1 guide then these changes will impact on your expectations and your level of enjoyment ….. avoiding this is why we always have 2 guides

Safety
our wilderness trained guides carry comprehensive group first-aid kits, satellite communication devices, and safety equipment. In addition, safety procedures are in place, and constant communication is undertaken with local emergency services. There isn’t mobile phone coverage along sections of this trail ….. so for your safety, we always have multiple communication devices

Timing
we go at the best time of the year for comfortable walking conditions. We can’t guarantee perfect weather everyday, but you can book with confidence 

Small Groups
a maximum of 12 only on each departure. Meaning, it’s better for the environment, you get your own bedroom overnight after walking, and you won’t feel like you’re just a number in the crowd

Travel Assistance
our in-house travel specialists can assist you with travel insurance. If you’re arriving from interstate or from international destinations we can also package any accommodation, flights, and add-ons in addition to this tour. Package your Great Ocean Walk with us and save stress, time and money

There are stairs, uneven surfaces and moving luggage to and from accommodation, plus walking bush trails on this trip. Please talk to us about your accessibility needs before booking