Great Ocean Walk

Great Ocean Walk is Victoria’s southwest-coast long-distance hiking trail, running east–west along the shoreline between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles area near Glenample Homestead (often done as an 8-day journey).

The trail follows the Great Ocean Road corridor but stays close to the coast for most days, moving through Great Otway National Park and Port Campbell National Park.

Expect sustained coastal walking with frequent undulations: high cliff-top sections, sandy-beach sections, and multiple crossings of small creeks and rivers. Route difficulty increases away from Apollo Bay, with rougher terrain developing toward the Johanna Beach → Ryans Den area.

Night options are built around seven hike-in camp sites spaced about 10–15 km apart, and camp sites must be booked in advance before you start hiking.

Wildlife is a major part of the experience: koalas and wallabies are commonly encountered on land, and from June through September whales can be seen offshore along the coastline.

Route use is planned to reduce environmental impact and manage tide-related hazards: some sections can be dangerous or impassable at high tide, and beach walking is limited to safer tidal windows where alternate land routes exist.

Logistically, the walk is designed as an east-to-west route to manage gradients and visitor flow; many travelers base themselves in nearby settlements for shuttles and overnight accommodation if they’re not camping each night.

More information: Official website, Wikipedia, Great Ocean Walk - Parks Victoria