DESCRIPTION
Itinerary
Day 1: Melbourne to Apollo Bay, Apollo Bay to Shelly Beach 7kms walking, easy
Stop At: Great Ocean Road, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Depart Melbourne 7.30am from outside the National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road
We head off from Melbourne and down the iconic Great Ocean Road stopping en-route in Anglesea for morning tea and a comfort stop. Arriving in Apollo Bay we prepare for or afternoon walk.
Today we begin at Marengo Beach – home to a colony of Australian Fur seals which hang out on the rocks in the bay. Your Park Trek guide will lead off and along the way explain some of the local history.
Following the GOW trail, we enjoy excellent views along the coast looking south-west towards Cape Otway and north-east over the ranges surrounding Apollo Bay.
We descend down to a beach for a rest before heading into a small section of Otway rainforest. The trail enters forest then starts to climb into higher forest of the Great Otway National Park just above Shelly Beach.
Delicious two-course dinner prepared by guides at Cape Otway Lightstation
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Pre-dinner nibbles platter and trail mix included
•
Accommodation included: Cape Otway Lightstation or Bimbi Park
Day 2: Cape Otway Lighthouse to Aire River to Castle Cove, 16kms walking, moderate
Stop At: Great Ocean Road, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Today’s walk begins from Cape Otway Lightstation.
The walk from the lighthouse winds its way through wind sculpted landscapes of sand dunes, coastal scrub-land and magnificent calcified cliffs. At Aire River Lookout there are great views down to the estuary where the Aire River meets the Southern Ocean and Glenaire Beach.
Following on from Aire Rive we have a further 6km walk through to Castle Cove. From Aire River the track heads inland for a while, climbing up and around the next headland through tea-tree forests, it then continues along the coastal path with sweeping views of the rugged coastline. Expect some ups and downs with a little climbing before you get to Castle Cove. Located on a spectacular bend of the Great Ocean Road at Glenaire, Castle Cove is a beautiful beach surrounded by towering cliffs which have high archaeological significance.
Sensational two-course dinner prepared by guides at Cape Otway Lightstation.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Pre-dinner nibbles platter and trail mix included
•
•
Accommodation included: Cape Otway Lightstation or Bimbi Park
Day 3: Melanesia Beach to Ryan’s Den to Moonlight Head, 14km’s walking, moderate
Stop At: Great Ocean Road, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
After breakfast and lunch making we hit the trail and walk from Milanesia Beach, via Ryan’s Den to Moonlight Head.
From Milenesia Gate we descend to a beautiful and remote 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 Ryan’s Den with breathtaking views all the way back to Cape Otway and west to Cape Volney. This is usually our lunch spots and one of the most scenic locations along the walk.
From Ryan’s Den the track continues through coastal forests that lead over Cape Volney to Moonlight Head.
Two-course dinner prepared by guides
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Pre-dinner nibbles platter and trail mix included
•
•
Accommodation included: Cape Otway Lightstation or Bimbi Park
Day 4: Princetown to Gibson’s Steps / Twelve Apostles. 8.5 kms walking – 2.5 to 3 hours – easy/moderate grade
Stop At: Great Ocean Road, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
After breakfast and lunch making we head out on our last day walk which follows the cliff lines of the Great Ocean Walk finishing at the iconic Twelve Apostles.
The walk is easy to moderate nature, allowing plenty of time to soak up the views.
The walk starts above the wetlands around Princetown which supports a wide variety of bird life. We walk down through the Gellibrand River Estuary and reconnect with the Great Ocean Walk trail. We are now on the home stretch into Port Campbell National Park and the world-famous Twelve Apostles soon come into sight.
The last kilometre of the Great Ocean Walk takes you through to the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre where you can view the Apostles up close. We usually have our lunch here and then head back to Melbourne via the inland route.
Duration: 10 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, and trail mix included. Afternoon Tea is at guest own expense
•
Accommodation included: No accommodation included tonight, please arrange guest own expense accommodation in Melbourne if preferred.
