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Great Ocean Walk
The Great Ocean Walk shadows the route of the iconic Great Ocean Road. Those stunning coastal landscapes you see from your car window are even better enjoyed at walking pace. The walk extends just over 100km and takes eight days, but you can also sample the experience with a range of half-day walks.
Book now Starting at Apollo Bay and finishing at the world-famous Twelve Apostles, the Great Ocean Walk is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The full hike is over 100 kilometres over eight days. Walkers stay at the seven hike-in campsites, which must be booked, or nearby.
What are you likely to see on this epic trek? All or some of the below:
- Koalas sleeping or chewing meditatively in the eucalypt trees.
- Cape Otway Lighthouse, where you can explore the stories of the Shipwreck Coast.
- Wreck Beach and the rusting anchors of the Marie Gabrielle and Fiji shipwrecks.
- Camp at the heritage-listed Aire River
- Quiet beaches at Blanket Bay and Johanna Beach.
- In winter you might spot Humpback and Southern Right Whales on their annual migration.
Bite-sized Great Ocean Walk experiences
If you don't wish to tackle the whole Great Ocean Walk, you can experience it in shorter snippets. Several half-day walks explore the tall forests of the 'tame side' or for the more experienced hiker, the remoter, steep and isolated coves of the 'wild side' in the sections closer to the Twelve Apostles. There are also short walks, day walks and overnight walks. Check out the Great Ocean Walk website for a selection of bite-sized experiences.How to get there
Great Ocean Walk
Apollo Bay, the start of the Great Ocean Walk, is three hours' drive from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. If you have only one or no vehicles, there are shuttle service providers. If you have one vehicle we recommend that you park at the Twelve Apostles Carpark and get shuttled back to Apollo Bay to start your walk.
We currently recommend the following shuttles:
GOR Shuttle: 0428 379 278
Walk 91: 0439 893 950
Timboon Taxi: 0438 407 777
Christian's Bus Company (V/Line): (03) 5562 9432.
Alternatively, use public transport. The V/Line bus stops at the Twelve Apostles Carpark, Princetown and Apollo Bay.
We currently recommend the following shuttles:
GOR Shuttle: 0428 379 278
Walk 91: 0439 893 950
Timboon Taxi: 0438 407 777
Christian's Bus Company (V/Line): (03) 5562 9432.
Alternatively, use public transport. The V/Line bus stops at the Twelve Apostles Carpark, Princetown and Apollo Bay.
When you're there
The full Great Ocean Walk is from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles and is walked over eight days:
Day 1: Apollo Bay to Elliot Ridge, 10km, 3.5 hrs
Day 2: Elliot Ridge to Blanket Bay, 12km, 4.5 hrs
Day 3: Blanket Bay to Cape Otway, 11km, 3.5 hrs
Day 4: Cape Otway to Aire River, 10km, 3 hrs
Day 5: Aire River to Johanna Beach, 14km, 5 hrs
Day 6: Johanna Beach to Ryans Den, 14km, 5 hrs
Day 7: Ryans Den to Devil’s Kitchen, 13km, 5 hrs
Day 8: Devil’s Kitchen to Twelve Apostles, 16km, 5 hrs
The official Information Guide and Map to the Great Ocean Walk can be purchased from the Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre in person or over the phone on 1300 689 297.
Download the comprehensive Great Ocean Walk Frequently Asked Questions guide for more information.
Day 1: Apollo Bay to Elliot Ridge, 10km, 3.5 hrs
Day 2: Elliot Ridge to Blanket Bay, 12km, 4.5 hrs
Day 3: Blanket Bay to Cape Otway, 11km, 3.5 hrs
Day 4: Cape Otway to Aire River, 10km, 3 hrs
Day 5: Aire River to Johanna Beach, 14km, 5 hrs
Day 6: Johanna Beach to Ryans Den, 14km, 5 hrs
Day 7: Ryans Den to Devil’s Kitchen, 13km, 5 hrs
Day 8: Devil’s Kitchen to Twelve Apostles, 16km, 5 hrs
The official Information Guide and Map to the Great Ocean Walk can be purchased from the Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre in person or over the phone on 1300 689 297.
Download the comprehensive Great Ocean Walk Frequently Asked Questions guide for more information.
Need to know
Great Ocean Walk
Accessibility
There are some sections of the Great Ocean Walk that are accessible for visitors with mobility limitations and for families with strollers. These sections vary in level of difficulty and are dependent on the type of mobility equipment used. Visitors to the Great Ocean Walk are required to travel in an east to west direction.
Many sections of the Great Ocean Walk are unsuitable for wheelchairs and strollers due to steepness and the presence of many steps. Some sections of the walk are also unsuitable due to very loose beach sand, river crossings and intertidal zones.
The most accessible sections of the Great Ocean Walk are:
- Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre to Marengo Caravan Park
- Cape Otway Lighthouse car Park to Aire River Camp Ground
- Gibson Steps to Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre.
All-terrain wheelchairs, called Trailriders, are also available for use from Colac Otway Shire and Surf Coast Shire.
Change of Conditions
Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.
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Herberts (Wymbooliel) Campground (Great Otway National Park)
Herbert's Campground closed
Herbert’s Campground is closed until further notice due to hazardous trees. -
Beauchamp Falls Reserve
Beauchamp Falls Reserve Closure
Beauchamp Falls campground, road and waterfall are closed to visitors until further notice due to upgrade works. -
Notices Affecting Multiple Sites
Speed limit and traffic changes around Twelve Apostles this summer
Visitors to the Twelve Apostles over the summer holiday period are encouraged to plan ahead, with traffic management being implemented from Christmas Eve.With COVIDSafe Summer restrictions in place and people being asked to physically distance, practise good hygiene and wear a mask when required, Park Rangers will be monitoring the narrow boardwalks and lookouts at the Twelve Apostles. If public health directions are not being maintained, a queuing system for access to lookouts may be implemented.Traffic and road safety changes24 December 2020 – 3 January 2021, then weekends through January.- Roadside barriers: To prevent illegal roadside parking, barriers will be installed along the Great Ocean Road, from approximately 200 metres west of the Twelve Apostles visitor centre to 300 metres east of Gibson Steps, and 200 metres each side of the Loch Ard Gorge carpark entrance.
- Speed limit reductions: To ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers, the speed limit will be reduced to 40kms along the Great Ocean Road, from approximately 200 metres west of the Twelve Apostles visitor centre to 300 metres east of Gibson Steps, and 200 metres each side of the Loch Ard Gorge carpark entrance. The speed limit will rise to 60kms in these locations outside of operational times (approximately 11am-6pm).
- Traffic control: Signage and dedicated traffic control staff will direct vehicles on the Great Ocean Road and in car parks to ensure safe and smooth traffic flow into and around the precinct
- Roadside barriers: To prevent illegal roadside parking, barriers will be installed along the Great Ocean Road, from approximately 200 metres west of the Twelve Apostles visitor centre to 300 metres east of Gibson Steps, and 200 metres each side of the Loch Ard Gorge carpark entrance.
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Gibson Steps (Port Campbell National Park)
Gibsons Steps beach access reopened
The Gibsons Steps beach access has been reopened after the the completion of a rock hazard works project. A geotechnical report commissioned by Parks Victoria confirms that the access can be reopened to allow safe beach access for park visitors.
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