Beautiful Great Ocean Guided Walk – 3 Days

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

• 2 nights fantastic accommodation
• Breakfasts, lunch & two-course dinners, plus heaps of snacks, fruit & non-alcoholic beverages on & off the trail
• A visit to a local Chocolaterie
• All National Park Entry Fees
• Carbon Offset Program in line with our commitment to sustainability

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Parker River to Cape Otway Lightstation

Distance: 11kms, 5 hrs walking approx.
Grade: 2 – 3, easy to moderate

We head off from Melbourne and down the iconic Great Ocean Road stopping en-route at Anglesea for morning tea.  We arrive in Apollo Bay around 10.30am and here we prepare for today’s walk. The guides will also show you where you can purchase your own alcohol for the two nights we are away.

Today’s walk is a delightful 11 kilometer walk of moderately undulating terrain exploring the coastline of Cape Otway area. Beginning at the Blanket Bay campground the walk begins on a boardwalk before climbing gently to Point Lewis lookout. We continue through coastal forest, crossing several creek footbridges before the steep descent to the beautiful Parker River Inlet. Continue along the cliff top passing above Crayfish Bay to finally arrive at Cape Otway Lightstation, one of the region’s most famous landmarks.

Here we will wander to the top of the lighthouse. From the top of this high point you can see over a vast area and enjoy the most spectacular scenery where waves crash over reefs and where the notorious Bass Strait meets the great Southern Ocean. The lighthouse is manned by a trained guide, who will greet you at the top of the tower. 

Your Guides will recount stories of the Cape’s traditional owners, shipwrecks, the trials and tribulations of the colourful lighthouse keepers, the working of the light, World War Two history, fascinating stories of the Telegraph Station, one of Australia’s most intriguing UFO mysteries, and much more. 

We then head back to our accommodation for some pre-dinner nibbles and your guides will prepare a delicious two-course dinner. 

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

DAY 2 – Milanesia Gate to Moonlight Head

Distance: 15kms, 8hrs walking approx.
Grade: 3, moderate

After breakfast and lunch making we head off on the days’ walk. 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 one of the most scenic locations along the walk. There are toilets here also. 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).  

From here we can continue onto Gables Lookout. We traverse through a section of farmland, over a stile and begin a descent through a delightful forested track. After crossing several bridges, over a short boardwalk and through a tea tree grove, we reach the junction of the Gables track. We head towards Gables lookout.   

After today’s walk, we head back to our accommodation for pre-dinner nibbles and your guides will prepare a fabulous two-course dinner. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

DAY 3 – Princetown to Gibson’s Steps / Twelve Apostles

Distance: 8.5km, 3hrs walking approx.
Grade: 2 – 3, easy to moderate

After breakfast and lunch making we head out for our last day of walking. Our walk today 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.  

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 head back to Melbourne via Colac where we stop at a local café for a coffee/tea before arriving back in the city.

*Walking times and distances may be adapted to the weather and groups needs based on guides discretion.

Each day we also provide fruit, snacks, tea and coffee and a nibbles platter.

Each evening after our days walking, we return back to our accommodation for some time to refresh and enjoy the spectacular scenery. Your guides will curate a beautiful nibbles platter for you, providing the perfect setting for a relaxing evening. During this time, they will also conduct a briefing, offering insights into the days experiences and outlining your upcoming adventures. Using a map of the area, your guides will illustrate the various regions and walks we are set to explore in the days ahead.

Accommodation

During this trip we stay in either the Cape Otway Lightstation Cottages 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 on 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. Fully self-contained, this renovated property with open plan lounge and large kitchen provides a great place for groups to enjoy this unique location. The Lighthouse Lodge houses 4 bedrooms and 2 shared bathrooms. You can choose a single supplement if you would prefer not to share a room, this means you would have one room to yourself in the Lodge and would be sharing the bathroom with one or two other guests. Hairdryers are unable to be used at the Light station as they require excessive electricity to operate. There is an emergency landline onsite, and Park Trek always carry a Satellite phone in case of emergencies. There is no WIFI and limited phone service at the Light station, 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 wild life 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.

Guest Notes

For guests flying out of Melbourne on the last night of tour, please don’t book flights before 7pm.

Single Supplement: We have limited availability for Single Supplement on this tour. Please enquire about availability and additional cost for SS with our reservations team at time of booking. Please note; by booking a SS you will have your own room in a one or two bedroom cabin or cottage with shared bathroom and living areas. Not all our accommodations have a private ensuite option.

Whilst this is for private groups only, if you’d like to join us on a public departure, we have a 4 day Great Ocean Road Walking Tour which will showcase the best the Great Ocean Road has to offer in small groups of 10 or less.