The Great Ocean Walk is a one way long distance walk extending East to West, just over a 100kms between Apollo Bay and the iconic Twelve Apostles.
The spectacular walk weaves its way through the Great Otway National Park which is full of tall forests, coastal heathlands, wild rocky shores and windswept cliff tops presenting amazing views.
Step on and off the trail with convenience; enjoy comfortable accommodation and excellent local meals or pitch your tent at wild wildly picturesque campgrounds along the way.
The Great Ocean Walk Map & Official Visitors Guide is available for purchase at the Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre – Apollo Bay
(Fold-out map AU$14.95 or A5 Booklet AU$19.95, plus $5.50 postage)
Walk the entirety of the Great Ocean Walk taking in every inch of beauty, or put together your own itinerary selecting bite sized highlights to create your own experience.
Local knowledge can make all the difference when planning your walk experience. Find guided tours, pick up & drop off services, shops and luggage transfers to make the most of your Great Ocean Walk outdoor adventure.
The initial idea for a coastal walk along the west coast of Victoria was first mooted in 1974 and members of the local community developed the concept for the walk in 1994 (over bottles of port in a shed near Cape Otway). Initially known as the ‘Great Ocean Rad Walk Track’, it was later refined to be known as the ‘Great Ocean Walk’.
The Great Ocean Walk was officially launched by the Hon. John Thwaites, Minister for the Environment on January 9th 2006 and has since become one of Victoria’s iconic long distance coastal walks attracting many national and international walkers.
The TrailRider is an all-terrain wheelchair that will allow residents and visitors with physical and mobility issues to get out in the great outdoors and explore some of the Great Ocean Walk. The one-wheeled chair is a cross between a wheelbarrow and a sedan chair. The wheel supports the rider’s weight while the handles at the front and the back allow two, three, or four helpers (or Sherpas) to guide the rider up and down tracks.
It is free to book the all-terrain wheelchair, please contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre for bookings.
P: 13 1963
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however, in Victoria, there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy Victoria’s wonderful parks around the state. Please see additional information about All Abilities Access here.
Register and pay to camp on The Great Ocean Walk.
The Great Ocean Walk is a one way, long distance walk between Apollo Bay in the east towards the Twelve Apostles in the west. Overnight hikers using the purpose-built Great Ocean Walk hike-in, and the Great Otway National Park campgrounds, are required to make bookings and pay a fee in advance.
Visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/stay to book full, individual and group area Great Ocean Walk campsites and or Great Otway National Park campgrounds nearby, or call parks Victoria on 13 1963. Fees may apply for telephone bookings for Great Ocean Walk.
Overnight accommodation for those who prefer the extra comfort of a soft bed, hot shower or perhaps a spa.
Enjoy the Great Ocean Walk by day and overnight at special Great Ocean Walk accommodation providers. Step on and off the track to relax in luxury spa accommodation and comfortable beds nearby. Choose from privately operated campgrounds, bed and breakfast and self-contained cottages, located at convenient points along the walk. Shuttle services offer pick ups and drop offs for walkers.
For more information on accommodation contact The Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre – Apollo Bay
For nearby Great Otway National Park camping details CLOSE TO THE WALK visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/stay and search ‘Great Otway National Park’
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
