Great Ocean Walk

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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.
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    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.
    Great Ocean Walk

    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.

    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.

    • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

      Great Ocean Walk hike-in campsite rainwater tank levels

      There is untreated rainwater currently available in tanks at each of the GOW hike in campsites at the following levels:
       
      Elliot hike-in campsite – shelter tank is 50%, toilet tank is 100% full
      Blanket Bay hike-in campsite – shelter tank is 80%, walkers can also utilise water from the vehicle based campground tap.
      Cape Otway hike-in campsite – shelter tank is 85%, toilet tank is 80% full.
      Aire River hike-in campsite – shelter tank is 80%, walkers can utilise water from the vehicle based campground tap.
      Johanna hike-in campsite – shelter tank is 100%, toilet tank is 100% full.
      Ryans Den hike-in campsite – shelter tank is 100%, toilet tank is 60% full.
      Devils Kitchen hike-in campsite – shelter tank is 100%, toilet tank is 100% full.
       
      There is also untreated rainwater available at each of the Great Otway National Park car based campsites in the West Otways.
       
      Hikers need to take care only to use what they need and to be mindful of others requiring water. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure they are carrying enough rainwater for themselves. Parks Victoria do not guarantee rainwater will be available at each site. If in doubt, recommend that hikers either carry what they need, do a water drop prior to commencing their walk, or organise an LTO to conduct a water drop for them.

      Untreated rainwater at Great Ocean Walk hike-in campsites

      There is currently untreated rainwater available in water tanks at each of the Great Ocean Walk hike-in campsites, with all rainwater tank levels being above 50% full. Hikers need to take care only to use what they need and to be mindful of others requiring water. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure they are carrying enough rainwater for themselves. Parks Victoria do not guarantee rainwater will be available at each site.

    • Great Otway National Park

      Kennett-Wye Jeep Track and Bird Track closed

      Kennett-Wye Jeep Track and Bird Track will be closed until 30 June 2020 due to a landslip undermining the road.

      Wye River Campground closed

      Wye River Road Camping Area is closed until further notice due to dangerous trees

      Upper Kalimna track closed

      The Upper Kalimna Falls walking track is closed until further notice due to damage to the boardwalk and lookout. The Lower Kalimna Falls are still accessible from Sheoak Picnic Area via Kalimna Walking Track and from Garvey Track via Kalimna Link Track.

    • Herberts (Wymbooliel) Campground (Great Otway National Park)

      Herbert's Campground closed

      Herbert’s Campground is closed until further notice due to hazardous trees.

    • Gibson Steps (Port Campbell National Park)

      Gibson Steps closed

      Gibson Steps is closed for public safety until further notice.

    • Melba Gully Day Visitor Area (Great Otway National Park)

      Melba Gully Walk Track- Temporary closure of section of track

      Melba Gully Walk Track- the top section of the track has been impacted by a fallen tree which has damaged the walk track.
      The walk track is open from the car park to Annes Cascade, the top section only is closed.

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