great ocean walk
group guided walking holiday
highlights
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Victoria's new long-distance walking track, bound for iconic status
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Wreck Beach, Milanesia Beach, Station Beach - remote, beautiful, rarely visited
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Twelve Apostles limestone sea stacks and wind-sculpted coastline of Loch Ard Gorge
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Koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, whales, birds of prey, sea birds
This walking holiday focuses on a recently constructed walking track that traverses the dramatic coastline for 91km from Apollo Bay to Glenample historic homestead. Together with our extension to include the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, Auswalk is offering the very best way to experience this region. The setting is the Great Otway National Park, Victoria’s newest park and the largest coastal park in the state. The breathtaking coastal scenery, remote terrain, magnificent forests, abundant wildlife and colourful heathlands will ensure that this new walk will quickly become an iconic walk both within Australia and internationally.
The Twelve Apostles in all their glory
Highlights include the spectacular limestone sea-stacks known as the Twelve Apostles, groves of Manna Gums inhabited by koalas, pretty spring-fed Rainbow Falls cascading to the sea platforms below and deserted beaches featuring some of the highest sea-cliffs in Australia.
Wildlife abounds too. The animals you might spot on the walk range from kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and koalas to sea eagles, wedge-tailed eagles, whales and dolphins.
Click here to see more photos of the Great Ocean Walk.
Rusting anchor on remote Wreck Beach
One of many deserted beaches along the Great Ocean Walk
location
Starts and finishes at Melbourne airport.
travel
Air conditioned mini bus. Total travel distance 700km.
grading
You should be in reasonable shape, but there’s certainly no need to be a triathlete! On some days we’ll do a full day walk and on other days there may be several shorter walks. Our full day walks generally involve 5-7 hours on the track at a moderate pace, though this might be broken into two or three separate sections. We have designed this itinerary so that there will be shorter options offered each day or you will have the chance to pull out part way along. So, most people should find options that suit their fitness level.
The Great Ocean Walk is a long distance continuous walking track. Those who want to walk the entire track will be able to do so. Generally, what will happen is everyone will start walking together at the start of each day with one guide. The second guide will drive around to a half way point to meet the group. Those wanting a shorter, easier day, can travel on the bus whilst the remainder of the group will finish the day's walk. The terrain is generally undulating and there are some sections of sandy beach. Overall the walking would be classed moderate - the days are quite long if you do the entire track.
Spend two nights staying at the lighthouse
keepers cottages at Cape Otway lighthouse
accommodation
We want you to enjoy every aspect of our walking holidays. So, in addition to finding great walks, we have also made an effort to find interesting and comfortable accommodation for you. In Apollo Bay we will stay in hotel style rooms. At Cape Otway we will spend two nights staying in the lighthouses keepers cottages and enjoying a candle-lit dinner on the wide veranda. Note that the cottages have shared bathroom facilities and single rooms are not available for these night. The final 3 nights will be spent in a motel in the pretty seaside village of Port Campbell.
regional wine & food
The area is noted for Great Ocean Road / Geelong wines, freshly caught seafood and fresh berries.
what's included
6 nights accommodation, most meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners), 2 guides, all transport from Melbourne airport, entry to Cape Otway Lightstation, National Park fees, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, notes, maps.
not included
Alcohol, meals not listed in itinerary.
Pristine white sandy beaches feature on this walk
departure dates
12th October 2008, 15th March 2009, 30th March 2009, 13th September 2009
Also available for private groups
NOTE: We also offer daily self-guided departures on the Great Ocean Walk
itinerary guide - 7 days
(includes 6 nights accommodation)
Day 1: Departs Melbourne airport at 10.00am. Travel via Geelong and the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay. In the afternoon we’ll leave the tourists behind as we walk along the coast away from Apollo Bay. The track hugs the coast at first before heading inland through tall eucalypt forest and patches of rainforest to Elliot River. Back in Apollo Bay our accommodation here will be in modern hotel style rooms.
Meals included today: Dinner
Day 2: Today’s walk meanders through delightful mountain ash forest to Blanket Bay then contours through coastal forests and along the cliff tops to Parker Inlet – a picture-postcard setting and definitely one of our favourite places! An optional side-trip to Crayfish Bay is also a highlight. The track continues through Manna gum forests that are home to large numbers of koalas, eventually emerging at Cape Otway Lightstation. We will stay in the lighthouse keepers cottages for 2 nights and enjoy a tour of the lighthouse.
Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
One the beach at pretty Elliot River
Day 3: On to Station Beach and pretty Rainbow Falls where a spring cascades down to the rocky coastal platforms below. The track continues through the wind sculpted sand dunes and along the cliff tops to the Aire River estuary and wetlands. Stunning coastal scenery awaits you on the route to Castle Cove. Transfer back to Cape Otway for the night.
Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: 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. Another highlight is the long, white, sandy expanse of Johanna Beach. At the end of the day we’ll travel on to Port Campbell where we’ll settle in for a three night stay.
Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Milanesia Beach is one of those secret beaches not many people get to and what a special place it is! From here the track continues along the cliff tops and you can see all the way back to Cape Otway lighthouse. High sea cliffs, breathtaking views and coastal forests lead you to Moonlight Head. Back to Port Campbell for the night.
Meals included today: Breakfast & lunch
On the beach at Loch Ard Gorge
Day 6: The first highlight today is The Gables Lookout, perched on one of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia. Continue through a grove of casuarinas to Wreck Beach where the remains of two shipwrecks can be inspected. Onwards to the Gellibrand River and wetlands. Next comes the first impressive views of the 12 Apostles, a group of limestone sea stacks that are constantly changing. Descend Gibsons Steps that have been cut into the limestone cliff by hand by an early settler and explore the boardwalks and viewing platforms around the Apostles. Back to Port Campbell for the night.
Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: The grand finale is the fascinating geological formations at Loch Ard Gorge where you’ll learn the amazing tale of survival of the Loch Ard shipwreck. Evocatively named places indicate the turmoil that hardy pioneers of the area endured, including the crews of over 150 ships that have been shipwrecked along this rugged coast. Then we travel back to Melbourne, arriving around 3.00pm.
Meals included today: Breakfast
At the 12 Apostles
Magnificent sculpted coastline near the 12 Apostles
fact sheet
Would you like more detailed information about this trip?
Download our Great Ocean Walk Group Guided Walking Holiday Fact Sheet.
Note: If you are having trouble opening this Fact Sheet, please click on the link to download the latest version of Adobe Reader. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html?promoid=BUIGO
prices
See the prices section
how to book
See the booking section
Auswalk also offers a Self-Guided walks along this same stretch of coast - Great Ocean Walk INN-to-INN.
We also offer guided and Self-Guided walks along another section of the coast, from Torquay to Lorne. Called the Surf Coast Walk, this walking holiday has been a favourite with thousands of walkers for over ten years, and is still one of our most popular walking holidays.
Choose another guided holiday destination
Need accommodation before or after your Auswalk Tour? Book Melbourne hotels online at Wotif.com.
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Auswalk Pty Ltd |
4 Red Gum Lease Track |
Halls Gap Victoria 3381 | Australia
Phone +61 (0)3 5356 4971 |
Fax +61 (0)3 5356 4970 | Email info@auswalk.com.au |
