Return again and again and build your own Great Ocean Walk experiences. Several half-day walks explore the tall forests of the 'tamer 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.

Short Walks

Less than 3 hours in length, ranging in difficulty and all are accessible from established visitor car parks.

Lighthouse Cemetery and Lookout Walk – 800m, walk grade easy

The gravel path leads walkers from the carpark out through beard heath to a hilltop lookout. You will be rewarded with views across to the lighthouse, and the ocean. Visit the historic cemetery which bears witness to the realities of lives lost at sea and the harsh isolation of early light station life. Fee applies for Cape Otway Lightstation entry.

Start: Cape Otway Lightstation carpark

End: Cemetery

Marengo to Shelly Beach – 4.4kms, walk grade medium

A mixture of rocky foreshore, wind swept hilltop views and tall shady forest. The exposed, and aptly named, Bald Hill traverses on and off the beach through the sheltered forest to picturesque Shelly Beach and up to the picnic area. Take the coastal route at low tide and during calm seas.

Start: Marengo caravan park

 End: Shelly Beach picnic area

Shelly Beach Walk – 900m loop, walk grade medium

This is one of the best short walks on the Great Ocean Walk. The track will take you through fern gullies, coastal scrub, to Shelly Beach.

 Start: Shelly Beach picnic area

 End: Shelly Beach picnic area

Princetown to the Twelve Apostles – 7.0kms, walk grade medium

The walk begins near the Gellibrand River Bridge. You will traverse cliff-tops and undulating heath-clad dunes as the distinctive rock stacks begin to reveal themselves. Continue past Gibson Steps Beach (which is not accessible at high tide) to end at the iconic Twelve Apostles kiosk and carpark facility.

 Start: Princetown Recreation Reserve

 End: Twelve Apostles kiosk and carpark facility

The Gables Lookout – 400m, walk grade easy

This easy return walk travels through a Casuarina tree grove to a spectacular clifftop lookout. Enjoy views over the ocean and the reefs surrounding Moonlight Head. This is one of the highest sea cliffs on mainland Australia. Keep a close eye out for seabirds, or whales from June to September.

Start: The Gable carpark

 End: The Gable Lookout

Wreck Beach – 350m, walk grade medium/hard

This difficult but rewarding walk descends over 350 steps to Wreck Beach. At low tide the walk takes you to the anchors of the Marie Gabrielle and the Fiji – haunting reminders of the treacherous nature of the sea. Make this walk at low tide only and beware of large sea swells.

 Start: Wreck Beach Carpark

 End: Wreck Beach Carpark

Day Walks

Day walks are up to 6 hours in length. All walks start from the main visitor areas and the distance and terrain make these longer walks more challenging and requiring preparation for safety and enjoyment.

Aire River to Johanna Beach Day Visitor area –12.5 km, walk grade medium/hard

This is a long but satisfying walk through diverse terrain to beautiful Johanna Beach. Pass through heathland with spring wildflowers and experience awesome sea views. Watch above for Sea Eagles soaring overhead. Johanna River is an unbridged beach crossing, so carefully assess before wading across following heavy rains.

 Start: Aire River Visitor Area (information shelter)

 End: Johanna Beach Day Visitor Area.

Cape Otway to Aire River – 10kms, walk grade medium

Explore the lightstation before you set out. The walk to Aire River carves its way through a wind-sculpted landscape of sand dunes, coastal scrubland and calcified cliffs. Along the way Station Beach (and Rainbow Falls) is side trip well worth taking. Rainbow Falls is spring-fed water trickling down through algae to the rock platform below. The Falls are a 3-kilometre return journey from where you first enter Station Beach at Decision Point 8. When you return from Rainbow Falls, exit Station Beach at either Decision Point 8 where you first entered the beach, or further towards Aire River at Decision Point 8B, which will take you back onto the main GOW route. Continue along to the Aire escarpment lookout, before descending down to the beautiful Aire River Campground.

 Start: Cape Otway Carpark

 End: Aire River Visitor Area