Great Ocean Walk

The Great Ocean Walk is a 104-km point-to-point coastal trail in Victoria, Australia, running from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles and gaining roughly 2,400 m of elevation over 8 days. Rated easy to moderate, it threads eucalypt forest, windswept clifftops and remote surf beaches along one of the Southern Ocean’s most dramatic coastlines.

About the Great Ocean Walk

The Great Ocean Walk (often shortened to the GOW) is Victoria’s premier long-distance coastal hike, opened in 2006 and managed by Parks Victoria through the Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks. It covers 104 kilometres of the southwest coast, beginning in the seaside town of Apollo Bay and finishing at the world-famous Twelve Apostles sea stacks near Princetown. As a regional walking route of national significance, it has become a benchmark multi-day trek for both Australian and international hikers.

Unlike alpine treks, the GOW is graded easy to moderate, with no single day climbing more than about 500 metres. The challenge lies less in altitude and more in cumulative distance, soft sand sections, exposure to Southern Ocean weather, and the logistics of carrying enough water between hike-in campsites. The trail is designed to be walked east to west, so the prevailing wind and afternoon sun sit behind you and the Twelve Apostles form a fitting grand finale.

The route is broken into eight official stages, each ending at or near a designated campsite. Most hikers complete it in seven or eight days, though it is equally popular as a series of day walks, with road access points allowing shorter loops and out-and-back sections. Whether you tackle the whole thing or a single stage, the GOW rewards careful planning — understanding your daily distance, calorie needs and pack weight makes a real difference on the longer western stages.

The landscape shifts in clear phases as you head west. The first three stages stay largely inside the cool, fern-lined eucalypt forests of the Otway Ranges, where koalas doze in the manna gums around Cape Otway. From Aire River onward the trail opens onto exposed clifftops, isolated surf beaches and the wild, treeless headlands of the Shipwreck Coast — the stretch that gives the GOW its reputation. This progression from sheltered woodland to raw open coast is part of what makes the full thru-hike so memorable, and it is why walking east to west, building toward the Twelve Apostles, is so strongly recommended.

Route Overview & Stages

The eight stages below follow the standard east-to-west direction from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. Distances are the official trail figures; elevation gains are approximate, reflecting the rolling clifftop and forest terrain.

Total distance comes to 104 km with around 2,400 m of cumulative ascent. Stages 6 and 7 are the longest and most exposed; many walkers rate the section between Ryans Den and Devils Kitchen as the most spectacular and the most demanding of the entire route. Tide timing matters on several beach crossings — notably Wreck Beach and the approach to Aire River — so carry a tide chart and plan the western stages around low water. Each campsite is reached on foot only, with no vehicle access for most, which keeps the overnight experience quiet but means everything you need for the next day must be carried in.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Twelve Apostles — The limestone sea stacks that close the walk, rising up to 45 m from the Southern Ocean and the most photographed landmark on the Victorian coast.
• Cape Otway Lightstation — Built in 1848, it is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia and marks the roughly halfway point of the trail.
• Gibson Steps — A staircase carved into the cliff giving beach-level access beneath towering 70 m bluffs near the finish.
• Wreck Beach — Home to the rusted anchors of the Marie Gabrielle (1869) and Fiji (1891), reachable by 366 steps down the cliff.
• Johanna Beach — A wild, wide surf beach often used as a backup big-wave venue, with a drive-in campsite popular for sunset.
• Moonlight Head — The highest sea cliffs on mainland Victoria, offering panoramic views over the “Shipwreck Coast”.
• Aire River estuary — A tranquil wetland teeming with birdlife, a sharp contrast to the exposed clifftops on either side.
• Blanket Bay — A sheltered, forested cove and one of the most peaceful overnight stops on the eastern half of the walk.

Best Time to Hike the Great Ocean Walk

The Great Ocean Walk is open year-round, but the experience changes dramatically with the seasons. The trail sits in a cool temperate climate, and Southern Ocean weather can deliver four seasons in a single afternoon regardless of the calendar.

Spring (September–November) is widely considered the best window. Daytime temperatures sit between 15°C and 22°C, wildflowers bloom along the clifftops, and the tail end of the southern right whale migration can still be spotted offshore into early November. The single best month is November, when days are long, rainfall has eased from the winter peak, and the western beaches are at their most walkable before summer crowds arrive.

Autumn (March–May) is a close second, with stable, mild days and fewer hikers; April in particular offers calm conditions and warm ocean colours. Summer (December–February) brings the warmest temperatures (often 20–28°C) and the busiest campsites, but also elevated bushfire risk and total fire ban days — always check conditions before setting out. Winter (June–August) is the quietest and greenest period, though shorter daylight, frequent rain and muddy forest sections make navigation and camp logistics harder. As of 2026, Parks Victoria continues to require advance online booking for all seven hike-in campsites in every season, so secure your dates well ahead during the spring and autumn peaks.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Most thru-hikers stay at the seven designated hike-in campsites — Elliot Ridge, Blanket Bay, Cape Otway, Aire River, Johanna, Ryans Den and Devils Kitchen. Each has tent platforms or cleared sites, a non-flush toilet, picnic shelter and a rainwater tank (not always reliable, so carry capacity for 3–4 litres). Booking is mandatory through Parks Victoria and costs roughly AUD 6 per adult per night, around €3.50, with a small booking fee. In Apollo Bay at the start, budget beds at the YHA Eco Beach hostel run from about €28 per night, while motels and cabins range from €70 to €120. Several operators offer “pack-free” supported walks with nightly transfers to comfortable lodges, typically from €180 per night including meals.

Getting There & Back

The nearest major gateway is Melbourne. From Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), Apollo Bay is roughly a 3-hour, 190 km drive via the Great Ocean Road. Without a car, take a V/Line train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Geelong (about 1 hour), then connect to the V/Line coach service to Apollo Bay (a further 2.5 hours). At the western end, the Twelve Apostles is around 12 km from Princetown; pre-arranged shuttle transfers or a paid trailhead transport service return walkers to Apollo Bay in about 1.5 hours, since there is no public bus directly linking the finish to the start.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the Great Ocean Walk itself, and there is no fee to enter the national parks on foot. However, every overnight hike-in campsite must be booked and paid for in advance through Parks Victoria’s online system; walking the full route as a thru-hike therefore costs roughly €20–25 per person in camping fees. Campfires are prohibited at all GOW campsites year-round, and total fire ban days can close sections of the trail at short notice in summer.

For the official trail authority and current campsite booking details, see Parks Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk page. For up-to-date train and coach timetables to Apollo Bay, check V/Line’s public transport network.

Gear & Packing List

Because the GOW is a self-sufficient coastal hike with limited resupply, pack weight and water capacity matter more than technical mountaineering kit. A lightweight pack in the 45–60 litre range is ideal for the 7–8 day carry. The Arc Haul Ultra 60L and the 3400 Windrider both handle a full food-and-water load while keeping base weight low, and the ventilated Atmos AG 50 suits hikers who prefer a more supportive frame for the soft-sand sections.

Beyond the pack, prioritise a waterproof shell, sun protection, sturdy trail shoes, and the capacity to carry 3–4 litres of water on dry stages. The exposed clifftops can be windy and cold even in summer, so a warm mid-layer earns its place. Food planning is critical on the longer western days — our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you carry enough fuel without overloading, and if you are choosing a pack, the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 round-up compares the top options tested this year.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Great Ocean Walk leaves you wanting more of Australia’s long-distance trails, several routes offer a comparable mix of remoteness, scenery and multi-day rhythm. Tasmania and the Red Centre deliver dramatically different landscapes, while Western Australia’s long track rivals the GOW for coastal drama. Hikers who enjoy the planning side of a coastal thru-hike may also appreciate our write-up on the cross-border Theth to Valbona trail in Albania for a European contrast.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Great Ocean Walk?
Spring, from September to November, is the prime window, and November is the single best month. You get long daylight, mild 15–22°C days, blooming wildflowers and the last of the whale migration offshore. Autumn (March–May) is an excellent quieter alternative, while summer brings crowds and bushfire risk and winter brings rain and short days.

How difficult is the Great Ocean Walk?
The trail is graded easy to moderate. No single stage climbs more than about 500 m, and the path is well marked throughout. The real challenges are cumulative distance over 7–8 days, soft-sand beach sections, full exposure to Southern Ocean weather, and carrying enough water between campsites. Reasonably fit walkers with multi-day experience manage it comfortably.

How many kilometres per day is the Great Ocean Walk?
The 104 km route splits into eight stages averaging 11–13 km per day, ranging from an 8 km final stage to a 14.5 km day between Ryans Den and Devils Kitchen. Most hikers walk 5–7 hours daily. The distances are modest, but soft sand and clifftop climbs mean they often feel longer than the numbers suggest.

Where do you sleep on the Great Ocean Walk?
Thru-hikers use seven designated hike-in campsites — Elliot Ridge, Blanket Bay, Cape Otway, Aire River, Johanna, Ryans Den and Devils Kitchen — each with tent sites, a toilet, shelter and a rainwater tank. Bookings are mandatory through Parks Victoria at roughly €3.50 per person per night. Supported “pack-free” tours offering lodge stays are also available.

Do you need a permit for the Great Ocean Walk?
No walking permit is required and entering the national parks on foot is free. You must, however, book and pay for each overnight campsite in advance through Parks Victoria’s online system, costing around €20–25 total for the full route. Campfires are banned at all campsites year-round, and total fire ban days can close the trail in summer.