Despite being one of Australia’s iconic long-distance coastal walks, most Australians haven’t heard of the 110km trek beginning just a few hours from Melbourne.
This is beautiful Eastern Maar country, teeming with tea tree, xanthorrhoea forests, bush tomato, seaberry saltbush and headlands carpeted in Victoria’s floral emblem, the pink heath.
Kate Hennessy Journalist
After hiking inland from Apollo Bay on day one, the terrain changes. The next six or seven days are along the undulating strip of the Great Otway National Park that fringes the coastline.
[The Gadubanud people] managed it so it’s as pristine as we see it now. They did a phenomenal job. Look around and say your own thanks.
Jamie Brown
Australian Walking Company guide
Kelp as black and glossy as Batwoman’s suit is looped along shore pools filled with strange and perfectly smooth stones, while the eroded rocks at Milanesia beach protrude from the sand like pagan fertility figurines. Dinosaur footprints are visible here, as well as Australia’s oldest-known bird tracks from the cretaceous period, 105m years ago.
Kate Hennessy Journalist
It’s possible to do the entire Great Ocean Walk as an unassisted camping trip. Unlike a lot of Australia’s more remote long-distance trails, there’s car access at several points, so food drops can be arranged.
The Australian Walking Company's version of the walk is a “highlights reel” of the final four days of the trail. The 46km walk begins at Castle Cove lookout and has dedicated accommodation for walking parties at Twelve Apostles Lodge in Johanna.
Can anyone remember when they last walked alone in the bush? Walk at your own pace, open your ears and your noses to what’s around.