Great Ocean Walk – ‘Victoria’s Iconic Coast’
8 day End to End Pack-Free Self-Guided Walk
The Great Ocean Walk in Victoria is a 100km bucket-list walk through the Great Otway National Park between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles. This striking coastal walk explores tall forests, coastal heathland and windswept cliff-tops showcasing amazing views and wildlife. Home to 372 fauna species you can often spot koalas lazing in the trees in the tall Eucalypt forests and an abundance of birds such as Rufous Fantails and Superb Fairy Wrens frolicking as well. The shy Black Wallaby may also be encountered along the track nibbling vegetation. This 8 day self-guided Pack-Free walk is an end to end walk so you can explore the entire trail without the burden of a heavy pack.
Follow our Walking APP
Exclusive to Life's An Adventure
Exclusively designed by Life’s An Adventure, the Self-Guided Walking Tours will be more than just a set of track notes on your smartphone. This fully interactive Self-Guided Walking App includes easy-to-follow walking notes with gps tracking, photos at track junctions and points of interest en-route, as well as information about the natural environment. The app will give average walking times, distances for each section and even optional side-trips as well as short and long options for each day’s walk.
As well as having the walking app on their phone, customers will be given the information on the google map platform, so each waypoint on each walk will be triggered when they arrive at that point, whether it be a fork in the track or point of interest. This gives real-time feedback so customers know they are where they think they are! On top of this, customers receive a good, old-fashioned hard copy of each day’s track notes.
Pack Free Self Guided Walk
Carry as little as your water, camera and lunch
Our self-guided walks are Pack-Free. We take care of all your transfers to the trail as well as the transport of your luggage allowing you to walk with just a day pack.
Personal Emergency Beacon
For extra safety
Life’s an Adventure want you to relax and enjoy your self-guided walking experience. To enhance this, we offer you the option of hiring a PLB (Emergency Beacon) to carry with you.
Flexibility and Freedom
Discover on your own
Take advantage of the preparation done for you and enjoy your self-guided walking experience. Walk independently at your own pace, relying on detailed track notes created by our guides who have a thorough knowledge of this region.
Local Accommodation
We have arranged accommodation that best suits your location along the walk to minimise transfer times at the beginning and end of each day.
During your 8 day walk you will spend the evening in a range of accommodation. As you progress along the trail your bags will be transported to your next location.
Day 1: Apollo Bay
Located in the centre of Apollo Bay your accommodation is the perfect base from which to begin your end-to-end self-guided walking adventure of the Great Ocean Walk. The main beach is only a short stroll away, and the shopping village can account for any last-minute purchases you may require.
Days 2 & 3: Cape Otway
We use a couple of accommodation choices in this area based on availability. Enjoy comfortable accommodation near the end of your walk.
Day 4: Glenaire
Located about mid-way along the Great Ocean Walk, the accommodation is a short walk from the track and is rustic and cosy and surrounded by farmland.
Day 5 & 6: Moonlight Head
Surrounded by natural bushland and providing spectacular views our accommodation is in individual cottages or rooms.
Day 7: Port Campbell
Our final evening is spent in the quaint seaside town of Port Campbell offering boutique-style accommodation that is light, bright and spacious.
Superb meals included
Providing you with “sustainance”
A packed lunch will be provided for you in Apollo Bay on Day 1, and from then on, all meals will be accounted for by your accommodation or delivered to you having been prepared by professional caterers off-site. Substantial breakfasts will provide a good start to the day, packed lunches will be prepared to carry with you, and your delicious evening meals will be accompanied by a glass of wine.
Dietary requirements can be accounted for if we are notified when booking – please provide as much relevant detail as possible.
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Why should you choose us?
Tour Itinerary
- Pack Free walk – Keep it light, simply pack your rain jacket, camera, lunch, and water
- Detailed track notes supported by access to Life’s an Adventure’s Walking App
- Transfers to and from the GOW each day and flexible walking options
- Transfer of your luggage to your accommodation during the walk.
- 7-nights’ accommodation at various locations along the trail
- 7 x dinners
- 8 x packed lunches and healthy snacks for walking days
- 7 x breakfasts
Optional hire of an EPIRB/PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) is available if required at an additional cost.
TRANSFERS: There are two options to join this walk. Choose to drive to Apollo Bay or enjoy private transfers from Melbourne.
WALK GRADE: 9kms. 3 hours. Grade: easy.
TERRAIN: At several points you have the choice of walking along the beaches or rock platforms at low tide or following the inland trail which can be sandy but with sections of boardwalk. Expect some small hills, stiles to climb over and some boggy sections of track after rain.
FLEXIBLE WALKING: Shorter option starting at Marengo Beach: 6km, 2 hours. Grade: easy.
WALK ITINERARY: Arrive in Apollo Bay. We begin our walk at the official start of the Great Ocean Walk and follow the foreshore where seals can often be seen out on the reef. The trail emerges into rural landscape and coastal scrub to descend onto the beach occasionally. Finally, the trail ascends into the beautiful coastal forest to end at Shelley Beach, where you may spot koalas high in the trees. Our driver will transfer you back to accommodation for the night. Tonight enjoy dinner in this pretty bayside town enjoying dinner in the restaurant.
TRANSFERS: This morning your driver will meet you for the short 10-minute transfer you to the start of the walk. This afternoon your driver will meet you after your walk for the short 13-minute transfer you to your accommodation.
WALK GRADE: 14kms. 5 hours. Grade: medium.
TERRAIN: There are some hills today, with steep sections but no Everest! The trail is well-formed, compact and mostly following old logging tracks.
WALK ITINERARY: After breakfast meet your driver for the transfer to the start of the trail. Today’s walk is mostly a forest walk, through regrowth vegetation after logging ceased in 1985. After a brief visit to the coast at Elliot River, you will head inland through coastal scrub and woodland before arriving at a wet sclerophyll forest. Here you will see Blue Gums, Blackwood wattles and the tall Mountain Ash trees shading an understory of Daisy bushes and Tree ferns. The Great Ocean walk returns through open woodland as it descends towards the coast. Look out for the shy Black Wallaby and a variety of song-birds. Snakes may also be sunbaking on/or close to the trail. After your walk your driver will transfer you from the end of the trail to your accommodation for the next 2 nights at Cape Otway where your overnight bags will be waiting for you. Relax tonight at your accommodation and enjoy dinner and the surrounds.
TRANSFERS: This morning your driver will meet you for the short 13-minute transfer you to the start of the walk. Afternoon: walk directly in to your accommodation.
WALK GRADE: 10kms. 4 hours. Grade: easy to medium.
TERRAIN: Lightly undulating with a lovely downhill section to Parker Inlet. Today’s walk includes a river crossing at Parker Inlet so be prepared to take off your shoes or risk getting them wet! There is a steep climb after this and some soft sand walking over dunes but otherwise the track is firm.
WALK ITINERARY: Enjoy breakfast before meeting your driver for the short transfer to the trail. Today’s walk from Blanket Bay, contours through moist forest gullies, Grass Tree thickets and wet heathland to Parker Inlet. The track crosses the river and climbs a steep hill to the plateau above. Clifftops are then followed, with a side-trip to Crayfish Bay being a highlight. As you continue onwards, intermittent views of Cape Otway Lighthouse are revealed. After traversing a number of sand-dunes, the track emerges from thick Tea-tree scrub at Cape Otway Lightstation. The afternoon is free to explore the Lighthouse, the Telegraph Station, and other historic installations. Afterwards, walk directly to your accommodation.
TRANSFERS: This morning walk directly from your accommodation to the trail. Afternoon: walk directly to your accommodation from the trail.
WALK GRADE: 16kms. 6 hours. Grade: medium.
TERRAIN: A combination of walking through sand dunes, on beaches, grassy tracks and 4WD sand tracks. Lightly undulating, the odd short steep pinch.
WALK ITINERARY: Enjoy breakfast before setting out on your walk directly from your accommodation. The walk continues westwards past Cape Otway Cemetery through thick coastal vegetation towards Station Beach. There is the option to walk along Station Beach instead of the Great Ocean Walk inland track. Either way, you can take a side trip to Rainbow Falls where a spring cascades down a cliff onto the beach. The beach option is dependent on having a calm sea and a low tide. The Great Ocean Walk inland route passes through sand dunes and along clifftops – both options arriving at Aire River estuary and wetlands. From here, the stunning coastal scenery on the route to Castle Cove is a highlight of the day. At the end of the trail walk directly into your B&B accommodation at Glenaire. Relax here tonight in this farm setting and enjoy a delicious dinner.
TRANSFERS: This morning walk directly from your accommodation to the trail. Afternoon: your driver will meet you after your walk for the 20-minute transfer you to your accommodation.
WALK GRADE: 15kms. 7-8 hours. Grade: medium to hard.
TERRAIN: A combination of walking through sand dunes, on beaches and firm tracks through forest. Lightly undulating, with occasional short steep ascents and descents. There is a water crossing again today.
WALK ITINERARY: Enjoy breakfast before setting out on your walk directly from your accommodation. Today’s section of the Great Ocean Walk encompasses spectacular cliff-top views, groves of wind-pruned Eucalypts, Casuarinas and ancient Grass trees. You will walk the wild and beautiful sandy expanse of Johanna Beach and inland through green undulating hills. Eventually, you reach pretty Milanesia Beach. At the end of the trail your driver will meet you to provide transfers to your accommodation. Spend the next two nights at Moonlight Head surrounds by natural bushland. Tonight relax and enjoy dinner.
TRANSFERS: This morning transfer back to the trail. Afternoon: 8-minute transfer back to your accommodation.
WALK GRADE: 16kms. 7-8 hours. Grade: medium to hard.
TERRAIN: Today is a roller coaster of ups and downs. Some are steep and others more graded. The track is compact and with few obstacles.
FLEXIBLE WALKING: Shorter walking option to Moonlight Head. 12kms
WALK ITINERARY: Enjoy breakfast before transferring back to the trail. This walk takes you to Milanesia Beach, a secret place seldom visited, being off the beaten track. Along the way marvel at wonderful views and coastal forests. More breathtaking views from the clifftops are revealed as you make your way to Moonlight Head, one of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia. From here, the Great Ocean Walk then navigates inland through beautiful Moonlight Valley to finally arrive at ‘The Gables,’ a special lookout for whale watching from June to October. After your walk, our driver will meet you for the short transfer back to your accommodation at Moonlight Head. Relax and enjoy a delicious dinner.
TRANSFERS: Morning 8-minute transfer back to the trail. Afternoon: 9-minute transfer to your accommodation.
WALK GRADE: 19-20kms. 7-8 hours. Grade: medium to hard.
TERRAIN: New, constructed track, well-formed and compact underfoot. Lightly undulating.
FLEXIBLE WALKING: Shorter walking option from Princetown to Twelve Apostles available. 8kms
WALK ITINERARY: After breakfast transfer back to the trail. Today, if the tides and ocean swells allow, you will have the opportunity to visit Wreck Beach where the remains of two shipwrecks are located. The Great Ocean Walk meanders across the cliff-tops and through coastal heathland, revealing a changing landscape. The track leads into Princetown overlooking the Gellibrand River estuary, a wetland paradise, before re-entering scrub-covered cliffs and sand dunes to finish at an impressive group of limestone sea stacks – the Twelve Apostles. Afterwards, meet your driver for your transfer to your accommodation in Port Campbell. Relax in the centre of town and enjoy dinner in this cute seaside town.
TRANSFERS: After our sightseeing transfers will be provided private transfers to Melbourne or if you drove to the start of the walk you will be transferred back to your vehicle in Apollo Bay.
ITINERARY: After breakfast we enjoy some sightseeing before departing. Today you will visit Loch Ard Gorge, a labyrinth of caves, islands and blowholes. It has been a tourist destination since 1878 when the clipper, Loch Ard struck Mutton Bird Island. Only two of the 54 passengers and crew survived. Their dramatic story has since captured the public’s imagination. From here you will be transferred to your chosen location. The end of a remarkable journey.
Tour Prices
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FIRST TIME TRAVELLER FROM
$
2899
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First time traveller with Life's An Adventure |
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8 day walk ex Apollo Bay…$2899 |
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PAST PASSENGER PRICE FROM
$
2799
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Travelled with Life's An Adventure previously |
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8 day walk ex Apollo Bay…$2799 |
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OPTIONAL
$
Xtras
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SOLO TRAVELLERS |
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Additional Information
- Prices are per person in Australian dollars and include GST.
- A non-refundable deposit of $300 per person is required to secure your booking.
- Note: If you are booking within 90 days of your departure date – we will require full payment at the time of booking
- Prices are based on twin share of rooms.
- Payments must be made online via our NAB (National Australia Bank) secure payment page via credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or over the phone.
- Your detailed self-guided kit will be sent to you in the post 6 weeks prior to your walk.
- Use of a Personal Emergency Beacon (EPIRB) is complementary however a $250 holding deposit will be charged at the time of booking which will be refunded to you after your tour. This deposit will be forfeited if the EPIRB is lost or returned damaged.
- We advise taking our Travel Insurance to cover items such as cancellation of tour due to adverse weather conditions, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, lost luggage, illness, etc.
Booking Terms and Conditions
Before you book please read our Booking Terms and Conditions. Click here.
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