Distance: Apollo Bay Visitor Centre to Elliot Ridge hike-in campsites 9.8km 
Approximate time: 3hr 30min
Grade: Medium.

The 104km walk officially starts by the Visitor Centre in Apollo Bay.

The trail winds through the beachside suburb of Marengo. Named by a passing French explorer, Marengo is home to a colony of Australian Fur Seals.

There is the option to walk around the rock platform at Marengo Caravan Park and beaches or follow the trail through the Park and along the sandy foreshore and boardwalks.

There are views along the coast, followed by a steep descent past The Blowhole. The area after Three Creeks Beach can be boggy after rain so be prepared with appropriate footwear. The trail enters low forest, then just above Shelly Beach starts to climb into the higher forests of the Great Otway National Park. There is a junction on the trail that leads left down to Shelly Beach or right to the car park at Shelly Beach picnic area. 

You also have the option to continue on from Shelly Beach Carpark, down to the Elliot River mouth and a fairly steep climb up the Elliot River Track to reach the Elliot Ridge Great Ocean Walk Campsite.

For a longer walk you could continue on past Elliott Ridge (stage 2) to Blanket Bay (stage 3), a further 11.8km.

Distance: Elliott Ridge to Blanket Bay 12km
Approximate time: 4hr 30min
Grade: Easy

The first section of today’s walk leads away from the coast and into the towering forests of Mountain Ash that characterise this part of the Great Otway National Park. At up to 65 metres high these are some of the biggest trees in Australia and walking through the heart of the giant forest is a wonderful experience, though there are some hills to be negotiated.

The trail rejoins the coast at Blanket Bay, an isolated stretch of shoreline that was one of the original ports for unloading supplies for the Cape Otway Lightstation. Blanket Bay is one of the few safe swimming locations along the walk.

Distance: Blanket Bay to Cape Otway 10.5km
Approximate time: 3hr 45min
Grade: Easy/Medium

Blanket Bay begins on a boardwalk before climbing gently to Point Lewis Lookout. Continue on through coastal forest, crossing an umber of creek footbridges before arriving at the beautiful Parker Inlet. The approach is a steep descent to the un-bridged Parker River estuary crossing. No inland track exists for approximately 100 metres. The estuary is occasionally impacted by rising high tides.  Please ensure it is safe before crossing. You may need to wait or turn back.

At the Cape Otway Lightstation Carpark, the track leads out from the far, northern end. A short way in a turn to the right leads to Paynters Hill and views across to Cape Otway Lighthouse. Return to the main track, turn right and continue for a short distance until you reach a track on your right leading into the Cape Otway hike-in campground.

Distance: Cape Otway to Aire River 9.6km
Approximate time: 3hr 15min
Grade:  Medium

The walk from Cape Otway Lighthouse to Aire River winds its way through wind-sculpted landscapes of sand dunes, coastal scrubland and magnificent calcified cliffs. The next must-see feature after the lighthouse is Rainbow Falls. At the right time of day, when the light is shining upon it, the colours in the falls can be magical. They are spring-fed and trickle through algae to the rock platform below.

From Rainbow Falls, depending on the tides, there is the option to walk the inland route to the Aire River Lookout or a much better – but harder – walk along Station Beach. Station Beach is a magnificent wild beach, with pounding waves and lots of ocean driftwood. It can also be a great place to spot endangered Hooded Plovers which often race along the beach ahead of walkers.

At the Aire River Lookout there are great views down to the estuary where the river meets the Southern Ocean and Glenaire Beach. The wetlands look spectacular from this vantage point and it is a nice steady downhill walk to the Aire River bridge which crosses the river to the picnic and campsite areas.

Distance: Aire River to Johanna Beach 13.8km
Approximate time: 5hr 15min
Grade: Medium

From Aire River the track heads inland for a while, climbing up and around the next headland through spinifex 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.

From Castle Cove the track winds its way along the cliff tops, through heathlands and forests, occasionally emerging to give vast and breathtaking views along the coast. The forest here is an interesting mixture of manna gums, spring wildflowers and magnificent stretches of grass trees. Make sure you keep an eye out above for Peregrine Falcons. Eventually you will emerge onto the broad expanse of Johanna Beach. This beautiful beach is one of the best in Australia with superb views and enormous crashing surf.

Distance: Johanna Beach to Ryans Den 13.8km
Approximate time: 5hr
Grade: Medium/Hard

The walk from Johanna Beach to Ryans Den alternates between farmland and the isolated beach and sea cliffs of Milanesia, then rollercoasters up and down the coast to reach Ryans Den. From Johanna Beach the track rises through rolling hills and farmland as it cuts inland before returning to the coast and one of the walk’s highlights: Milanesia Beach. Expect to see Eastern Grey Kangaroos in the grassy valleys close to Johanna 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 Ryans Den with breathtaking views all the way back to Cape Otway, and west to Cape Volney.

Distance: Ryans Den to Devils Kitchen hike-in campsites 12.8km
Approximate time: 5hr 15min
Grade: Medium Hard

This is the wildest and probably the most challenging section of the track. From Ryans Den the track continues through coastal forests over Cape Volney to Moonlight Head.

After Moonlight Head, the track dips down into a valley and follows a new section of track which to The Gables Lookout, perched on one of the highest sea cliffs in Australia. If you are there between June and September, you may be lucky enough to see one of the departing Southern Right Whales which frequent this coast during the winter months.

Continuing along the track through a grove of Casuarina trees, you will merge near Wreck Beach. At low tide, you can descend and see the anchors of two of the many shipwrecks that lie submerged along this coast (The Fiji and the Marie Gabrielle). If the tide is low, you can also take this route and walk to Devils Kitchen from Wreck Beach. Otherwise take the new high tide route from the Wreck Beach Carpark to Devils Kitchen.

Distance from Devils Kitchen campsite to Gibson Steps - 14.8km / Twelve Apostles - 16km
Approximate time - 4hr 45min / 5hr 15 min
Grade - Easy/Medium 

From Devils Kitchen you will follow a new section of track that hugs the wild coastal cliffs towards Princetown and The Twelve Apostles Marine Park. The wetlands around Princetown support a wide variety of bird life and you will cross the Gellibrand River on a trestle bridge. Look for the start of a new track section on the left of the picnic area as you cross the bridge. This section replaces 1.5km of road walking with about 2km of pleasant walking through the coastal scrub and escarpment.

You are now on the home stretch into Port Campbell National Park and the world famous Twelve Apostles soon come into sight. Finish the walk at The Great Ocean Walk viewing platform just before Gibsons Steps or continue on to the Twelve Apostles visitor centre where you’ll find toilets and a cafe, and you can toast the completion of your Great Ocean Walk!

About:

• Campsites are available at stages 1-7 and can be booked in order from East to West (right to left on screen) as part of one booking. If you are planning to complete the full Great Ocean Walk stages 1-7, you can book campsites at all locations subject to availability.

• The Campsite available icon on the map indicates the available campsite locations where you can stay along the walk.

• Each campsite accommodates a maximum of 3 people (1 tent) per site. You will have the option to select up to 4 sites per booking at each location.

• If you are planning to walk more than one stage in a day, the Journey Planner will allow you to skip up to one stage at a time. This is due to the distance between each location.

Steps:

• Using the date selector above the map, select your arrival date and the number of guests staying at each campsite (each campsite accommodates a maximum of 3 per site with 1 tent).

• Select the location that you wish to stay on your first night (book in order from East to West/right to left on screen).

• The campsite information will open in a separate window and allow you to select your required number of campsites.

• Choose the quantity of campsites you require from the 'Sites' dropdown box.

• Select the green book now button with the price listed. This will open the Booking Questions form.

• The Booking Questions form will take you through four steps which contains some mandatory information fields such as vehichle  restristration and emergency contact details. Fill in all the required details.

• Once you have completed all fields, you will have two options at the bottom right of the window: Add to Cart or Buy Now.

• If staying at only one location, select Buy Now. You will then be relocated to the checkout and payment page to enter your booking and payment details.

• If booking additional campsites, select Add item to cart.

• Confirmation of the stage you have just added to your cart will appear, select continue.

• The date will automatically change to the next day once you have added one stage to your cart, allowing you to quickly add your next stage.

• If the number of pople changes per campsite booking at the next stage, you will need to change this before adding to your cart again.

• Once you have added all of the stages to your cart, select add to cart or view trip & book.

• Check that the dates and stages are correct before processing your details and payment.

• A copy of your confirmation and permit will be emailed to you once payment has processed. If you do not receive an email please contact us.

Prefer to book using the old booking page? Book here

View and download frequently asked questions

Further questions or prefer to book by phone? Call 13 1963 or +61 3 8627 4699