Great Ocean Walk Guided – 4 Days
4 Days, 3 Nights
43 Km, Day pack only
Grade: 2-3, Easy-Mod
All Inclusive
Fully Guided
10 Guest Max
Experience the Great Ocean Road Walk on an All-inclusive Guided Walking Holiday
“While normally an independent walker, I adjusted my expectations for a guided and curated tour. I was not disappointed – the tour with Park Trek was well-organised with fun and professional guides, tasty food and well catered for a vego, with beautiful accommodation at Cape Otway lighthouse and walks I could complete at my own pace each day. The scenery was magnificent! Highly recommend this tour!” – Sally, March 2024
Discover the rugged beauty and ever‑changing drama of Victoria’s southern coastline on our all‑inclusive, small‑group Great Ocean 4‑Day Walk. Limited to just 10 guests, this carefully curated journey invites you to slow down, immerse yourself in the raw coastal landscapes of the Otways, and reconnect with nature and likeminded travellers.
Covering approximately 43km with only a daypack to carry, wander along secluded coves, wild beaches, clifftop paths, and lush coastal forests. Feel the power of the Southern Ocean as it meets ancient rock formations, and soak up panoramic views that shift with every step. Each day is thoughtfully designed by our experienced guides to showcase the best of this world‑famous region.
Evenings offer a warm and restorative retreat in unique accommodation at either Cape Otway Lightstation Cottages or Bimbi Park, both nestled deep within the national park. Enjoy nourishing meals, relaxed conversation, and the quiet rhythm of life on the coast.
Perfect for walkers of most abilities, this all‑inclusive experience blends adventure, wellness, and connection. Join us and discover the transformative power of the Great Ocean Walk – where every moment invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and feel part of the landscape once more.
Read more about this beautiful walk in our blog. Also see our Blog for walker tips and tricks including, how our walks are graded, how to train for our walks, and how to prepare and what to wear on our walks.
All Inclusive Pricing from A$2,750 pp
- Inclusions
- Itinerary
- Accommodation
- FAQs
Our Walks Are All Inclusive
All Our Walks Include
- Small Group of 10 or less
- You only carry your daypack, we’ll take care of the rest
- Guided walks designed to immerse you in the region’s beauty, history and wildlife
- Two experienced and accredited guides – safety gear equipped and full of knowledge about the region
- Return transport and tour transfers included
Plus, This Walk Includes
- 3 nights fantastic accommodation
- Breakfasts, lunch & two-course dinners, plus heaps of snacks, fruit & non-alcoholic beverages on & off the trail
- All National Park Entry Fees
- Carbon Offset Program in line with our commitment to sustainability
Itinerary
Download our Trip Notes above to get the full itinerary in PDF, including:
- Pre/post tour logistics & tips
- Full itinerary & map overview
- Gear requirements & packing list
- Accommodation & guest notes
Everything you need to prepare for the best walking holiday!
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
Day 1 – Marengo to Shelly Beach
Distance: 7kms, 3hrs of walking (Approx.) Grade: 2 (Easy)
Departing Melbourne at 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 briefing at a lovely local cafe. Arriving in Apollo Bay we prepare for our 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 Great Ocean Walking 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.
From here we will head off to our accommodation where guides will get dinner underway and put out the pre-dinner nibbles.
Meals: Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: Cape Otway Lightstation or Bimbi Park
Day 2 – Cape Otway to Aire River and Castle Cove
Distance: 16kms, 5-6hrs walking (Approx.) Grade: 3 (Moderate)
The 10km walk from the lighthouse to Aire River winds its way through wind sculpted landscapes of sand dunes, coastal scrub-land and magnificent calcified cliffs. At the Aire River Lookout, there are great views down to the estuary where the Aire River meets the Southern Ocean and Glenaire Beach. The wetlands look quite spectacular from this vantage point and it is a nice steady downhill walk from to the Aire River Bridge which crosses the river to the picnic area and toilets. At this point the 2nd Park Trek guide meets the group, you are welcome to join this guide in the van if you wish to wind up your days’ walking.
Following on from Aire River we have a six kilometer 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, and 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, as dinosaur fossils have been found here.
A highlight of the day is a visit to Mait’s Rest rainforest walk on our return to Cape Otway (if time permits). Maits Rest is a comfortable 800m stroll through cool temperate rainforest, and a welcome temperature change if the weather is warm.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Cape Otway Lightstation or Bimbi Park
Day 3 – Milanesia Gate to Moonlight Head
Distance: 12kms, 7hrs walking (Approx.) Grade: 3 (Moderate)
The walk from Johanna Beach to Ryan’s Den is the wildest and most challenging section of the entire track. From Milanesia 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. Look for the “beachcomber’s cottage” when you reach the beach.
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 our lunch spot and it is arguably the most scenic location along the walk.
From Ryan’s Den, the track continues through coastal forests that lead over Cape Volney to Moonlight Head (named by Matthew Flinders during a break in showery weather at night in April 1802). For a lot of walkers this is as far as they want to walk for the day, making a total of 12 kms. We might stop into Lavers Hill for a cup of tea/coffee on the way back home.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Cape Otway Lightstation or Bimbi Park
Day 4 – Princetown to Gibson’s Steps & Twelve Apostles
Distance: 8.5km, 3hrs walking (Approx.) Grade: 2-3 (Easy to Moderate)
Our walk starts above the wetlands around Princetown which support a wide variety of bird life. We’ll walk down through the Gellibrand River Estuary and reconnect with the Great Ocean Walk on a new track section. We are now on the home stretch into Port Campbell National Park and the world famous Twelve Apostles soon come into sight.
At Gibson’s Beach Car Park, we recommend, tides allowing, you descend Gibson’s Steps to view Gog and Magog (not strictly counted as two of The Twelve Apostles) up close from sea level. The last kilometer of the Great Ocean Walk takes you through to the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre where you can view The Apostles up close. We’ll have our lunch here and then drive onto Winchelsea where we stop at a local café for a coffee/tea before driving back to Melbourne at an estimated arrival time of 5.00 pm
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation
During this trip we stay at either of our preferred accommodation providers; Cape Otway Lightstation or at Bimbi Park
Cape Otway Lightstation Cottages
These historic houses are located in one of the most spectacular settings found along the Great Ocean Road. Cape Otway Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in mainland Australia and considered the most significant. Built in 1848, the lighthouse known as the ‘Beacon of Hope’ sits 90 metres above the pristine ocean of Bass Strait.
Accommodation style: We stay in two beautifully renovated cottages. Each one is fully self-contained and have two or four bedrooms, garden views and a kitchen or kitchenette. Our four-bedroom lodge has an open plan kitchen, wood heater and dining room where your guides will cater, and you will enjoy communal dining with the group each evening. Our two-bedroom Cottage has a fully equipped kitchen, wood heater and shared bathroom.
Rooming: Each cottage has four bedrooms and two shared bathrooms. Each option has a mix of king and single beds. If you book a Single Supplement, you will have a room to yourself.
Bathrooms: Each cottage has at least one bathroom. You will be sharing the bathroom with other guests in your cottage.
Single Supplement: If you book single supplement this means you will have one private bedroom in either cottage, and would be sharing the cottage with other guests.
Other: All towels and linen are provided. The cottages are comfortable and furnished ideally to suit the period of their build with modern extras including TV, DVD and heating. Hairdryers are unable to be used at the Light station as they require excessive electricity to operate. There is no TV reception or WiFi at Cape Otway, but we supply a limited selection of DVDs, together with jigsaw puzzles, games and books. Telstra mobile reception is available at various points around the site.
There is an emergency landline onsite, and Park Trek always carry a Satellite phone in case of emergencies. A digital detox is something we promote on our Great Ocean Walk.
Bimbi Park
Bimbi Park is in Cape Otway, the centre of the Great Ocean Road and the Great Ocean Walk, an area of magnificent forests, beaches, secluded bays and spectacular coastline. It is sheltered among tall manna gums far away from the wearing noise of towns and traffic. The grounds of the park are full of wildlife including koalas, echidnas, wallabies, kangaroos and up to 70 variety of birds. We stay in comfortable deluxe cabin style accommodation where all linen is supplied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read through some FAQs about our Great Ocean Walk. For a complete list of FAQs for all tours, read more here.
We depart from the National Gallery Victoria in Melbourne, meeting at 7:15am for a 7:30am departure.
We return to Melbourne at around 5:00 pm on the final day of tour. If you plan to fly out on the last day of the walk, please book your return flight for after 7pm.
As we depart from National Gallery Victoria, there are many accommodation locations that suit any budget in Melbourne. We have also negotiated a special rate with Hotel Grand Chancellor in Melbourne for Park Trek guests. Please contact Park Trek if you would like more information and a booking link.
The itinerary tab goes into great detail on exactly what to expect each day on tour. It includes difficulty, distance, and estimated hours of walking. You may also download our trip notes which have everything you need to prepare for the best walking holiday in an easy to digest PDF document.
Each day we provide breakfast, lunch and dinner (where applicable) as well as fruit, snacks and beverages to keep us full of energy throughout the walk. At the end of each day, we return to the evening’s accommodation to freshen up, relax, snack on some pre-dinner nibbles, and enjoy the local scenery. Each evening, our guides offer insights into the next day’s walk and talk through our upcoming adventures using maps to give you greater insights into the journey.
We carefully time each of our departure dates to coincide with the best walking months and, crucially, the safest time of year for each destination. The dates you see listed are the best times to walk the Great Ocean Walk.
If you’re preparing for this walk, the best place to find the forecast is through the BOM Melbourne and Cape Otway.
*Walking times and distances may be adapted to the weather and groups needs based on guides discretion.
Single room availability is limited on this tour with the payment of a single supplement fee. While we can offer you your own room if available, facilities such as bathrooms and living areas may be shared with other guests.
If you prefer your own facilities or are interested in upgrade options for twin share or single supplement, please contact our team to discuss upgrade options.
2026 Departures:
12 Sep; 27 Oct; 27 Nov; 15 Dec
2027 Departures:
19 Jan; 12 Feb; 19 Mar; 13 Apr and 22 May
Twin Share Spots Available:
14 Apr 26 (Female)
Early Explorers and Private Groups Save Up To 10%
All Inclusive Pricing from A$2,750 pp
