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Map of Walk the Great Ocean Road including Australia

Experience the rugged beauty of the Great Ocean Road on your own two feet.

Experience one of Victoria’s most famous areas, the Great Ocean Road, on this 4-day walking tour. Starting and finishing in Melbourne, you’ll get to drive part of this iconic stretch of road before arriving at the heart of the region. Enjoy spectacular daily walks with views of the towering clifftops, tumultuous Bass Strait and the beaches in between. Spend time walking through the nearby ancient rainforests, whose greenery provide a stark contrast from the dramatic coastline nearby. See iconic sites such as the Twelve Apostles, and the Cape Otway Lightstation, all the while being led by your local leader and a range of other expert guides, who’ll teach you about the natural landscape and history of the area.

Flexi Pledge

Travel local with peace of mind - $99 deposits, the ability to change your dates or to cancel up until 24 hours before departure.

Terms & Conditions
Start
Melbourne, Australia
Finish
Melbourne, Australia
Destination
Australia
Style
Original
Theme
Walking & Trekking
Code
PRXG
Physical rating
Ages
Min 16
Group size
Min 4, Max 10

Why you'll love this trip

  • Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation, Australia’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse, with a local shipwreck historian.

  • Take an interpretive walk at Milanesia Beach with a local First Nations guide.

  • Walk on Castle Cove, a beautiful beach surrounded by towering cliffs where dinosaur fossils have been found.

  • Visit the world-famous Twelve Apostles and nearby Loch Ard Gorge.

  • This trip's not only good for you and the places you visit, it's also good for the planet, with a tree planted for every trip booked.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding domestic travel prior to booking this trip.

  • A fair level of fitness and appropriate footwear and clothing will allow you to fully enjoy this adventure.

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

PRXG - Person Overlooking Milanesia Beach
PRXG - Group walking across Station Beach boardwalk
PRXG People hiking to the top of 12 Apostles
PRXG Group walking across Cape Otway Station Beach
PRXG_Woman Hiking Milanesia Beach Ryans Den
PRXG Cape Otway Koala sleeping on tree
PRXG People walking beside Gibsons Steps

Itinerary
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Welcome to Melbourne! Today will begin bright and early. Once on the bus, you’ll have a chance to meet your fellow travellers and local leader at the travelling ‘Welcome Meeting’ as you make your way to Lorne, your first stop along the spectacular Great Ocean Road, to stretch your legs. From here you’ll continue to Maits Rest, a perfect lunch spot surrounded by an ancient rainforest with giant Myrtle Beech trees. After lunch, you’ll begin your first 11-kilometre walk starting from Blanket Bay. The track meanders along the cliff tops and through coastal forests – expect to see black wallabies, echidnas, black cockatoos, and rosellas. Continue along the beach (tide permitting) to see some of the shipwreck relics in this area until you reach the Cape Otway Lightstation. Built in 1848, it is Australia’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse and marks the entrance to Bass Strait. You’ll be joined by a local shipwreck historian who will share fascinating stories about the Lightstation’s history. You’ll be staying in Apollo Bay, so after checking in to your accommodation you’ll join the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Activities
  • Great Ocean Road - Walk with Local Shipwreck Historian
Meals Included
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today's pickup location and time is 7:30 am pick up from the Melbourne Arts Centre on St Kilda Road.

Today's walk is approximately 11 kilometres, 4-5 hours.

After breakfast at a local cafe you’ll begin your 17-kilometre walking day from Cape Otway to Johanna Beach. Walk past the pioneer cemetery and large sand dunes before reaching a narrow coastal path overlooking Station Beach, before descending to the beautiful Aire River estuary and surrounding wetlands. After stopping for a picnic lunch you’ll board the bus for a short drive to the start of your afternoon walk at Castle Cove. Castle Cove is a beautiful beach surrounded by towering cliffs where dinosaur fossils have been found! From here, the track winds its way along the cliff tops, through heathland and forests, occasionally emerging to give breath-taking and extensive views along the coast, before you emerge onto Johanna Beach. Tonight you will have a free night to explore the restaurants of Apollo Bay at your own leisure.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today's walk is approximately 17 kilometres, 5 - 6 hours.

After breakfast at a local cafe you’ll be joined by a local First Nations guide for the start of another 17-kilometre walking day, beginning with an interpretive walk at Milanesia Beach. Isolated, rugged, and hidden, Milanesia Beach receives few visitors and is all the more special for it. From here the trail continues along the high sea cliffs to Ryans Den with breath-taking views all the way back to Cape Otway. After a picnic lunch, you’ll continue through coastal forests that lead to the evocatively named Moonlight Head. From Moonlight Head the track dips down into a valley and ends at The Gables Lookout, perched on one of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia. If you’re visiting around September, you may be lucky enough to see one of the departing Southern Right Whales which frequent this coast in the winter months. Tonight, you’ll be staying in Port Campbell and will have dinner at either a local pub or brewery.
Included Activities
  • Milenasia Beach - First Nations Guided Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today's walk is approximately 17 kilometres, 6-7 hours.

This morning after breakfast at a local cafe you’ll set off for your final day of walking – a seven-and-a-half-kilometre walk starting above the bird-filled wetlands around Princetown. From here you’ll walk through to the Gellibrand River Estuary before embarking on the final leg of this journey into Port Campbell National Park, where the world-famous Twelve Apostles come into view. Tides permitting, you’ll descend Gibsons Steps to view two of the Apostles from sea level. Next, you’ll transfer to the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre before heading to the spectacular Loch Ard Gorge and then back into Port Campbell where you can choose a lunch option that suits you. After lunch, you’ll head back to Melbourne (via a little chocolate treat stop!), arriving at approximately 5 pm when your trip comes to an end.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's walk is approximately 7.5 kilometres, 2-3 hours.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, walking

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights)

Included activities

  • Great Ocean Road - Walk with Local Shipwreck Historian
  • Milenasia Beach - First Nations Guided Walk

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Walk the Great Ocean Road trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

From 01 September 2021, all travellers on Intrepid trips will be required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Excludes Australia, New Zealand and Cook Islands tours. Read details here.

1. This trip is operated and run by our trusted partner, RAW Travel. You will be travelling with a mixture of both RAW customers and Intrepid customers. Intrepid has worked very closesly with RAW to ensure that all of our customers will enjoy their time away, and experience all that the region has to offer.

2. Trip pickup will be at 7.15 am at the Melbourne Arts Centre. The Driver/Guide will have on a RAW shirt, and the bus will show RAW branding.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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