Victoria | Great Ocean Walk - 4 Days
These four days will remind you that mother nature is in charge! Join us as we show you her wild side: Johanna Beach, Milanesia, Moonlight Head and the gorgeous Gables. They don't call this the shipwreck coast for nothing! Breathe fresh air, marvel at the power of the waves crashing on the cliffs, stand in front of the Twelve Apostles with awe and wonder. And the walking's not half bad either.
| Duration: | 4 Days |
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| Tour Code: | ITW539 |
| Trip Style: | Superior - 4 star |
| Departure Dates: | 10 Jan 2012, 24 Jan 2012, 28 Feb 2012, 02 Mar 2012, 27 Mar 2012, 24 Apr 2012, 04 May 2012, 29 May 2012 |
| Price: | $1,995 |
| Single Supplement: | NIL |
| Places you'll visit: |
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| Highlights: |
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Ideal for Solo Travellers
Single travellers are welcomed on this journey. The Great Ocean Walk offers single travellers the option of a single room with share access to a bathroom with one other person. There is no single supplement payable.
Trip Details
Destination: Cape Otway and the Great Ocean Road
Walk from: Aire River to the Twelve Apostles - known as the Wild Side of the walk
Grading: Easy to Moderate with challenging sections
Average Distance Per Day: 15km - 60 kms covered in 4 days
Opened in 2006, the Great Ocean Walk spans 104 kilometres of one of the World's most renowned coastlines - a walk that has to be done to be believed. Coastal and forest scenery (sometimes in one day) demonstrates the diversity that is the Otways and provides amazing opportunities to see native Australian wildlife. The trail itself passes through two national parks, over looks a marine national park and a marine sanctuary and although the region is one of the most popular for visitors to Victoria, we will help you descend onto beaches, that make you feel like Christopher Colombus!
Walking lodge - Great Ocean Road
Walkers know what walkers need at the end of a day on the trail. That's why the operator has built their own exclusive accommodation. Be their guest at the 4 Star walking lodge - Great Ocean Road - a fabulous purpose built walking retreat located half way along the Great Ocean Walk. State of the art, best practice sustainable design and a serene bush setting combine to complement perfectly the experience of one of Australia's best walking trails. Did we mention fabulous regional food prepared onsite and some of Victoria's best wines?
Day 1: Aire River to Castle Cove
Start with either a transfer from Melbourne to join the group or self driving to the lodge by 10.30am. After lunch you will be transferred to Aire River. The flood plains of Lake Craven and Lake Costin are a stunning sanctuary for birdlife, fresh water fish and are in various stages of regeneration. We cross the Aire river and continue on to Castle Cove. Taking a short side trip to the beach it is possible to see dinosaur fossils in the limestone cliffs behind, and surfers tackling the daunting southern ocean waves.
Walking distance: 7km
Walking time: 3 hours
Grade: Easy to Moderate
Day 2: Castle Cove to Milanseia via Johanna Beach
One of the most diverse days, today's walk rejoins at the cliff tops of Castle Cove, the trail head for a lovely coastal path that meanders through heath land, wildflowers and grasstrees before dropping onto Johanna beach itself. The last 2km before lunch are beach walking, with the Southern Ocean crashing only metres away from each footstep. At Johanna Beach, the trail crosses into farmland where some of the most contented cows graze only metres from the Beach. A change of pace, sees us finish the day on Old Coach Road, ready for the "Wild Side" of the walk.
Walking distance: 17.2km
Walking time: 6 hours
Grade: Easy to Moderate
Day 3: Milanesia Beach to Moonlight Head "The Wild Side"
This is the most challenging section of the Great Ocean Walk. We drop down a path of Manna Gum and Stringybarks to beautiful Milanesia Beach before turning upwards for a short, but steep climb to the top of the ridge. Once on the saddle, we follow the contour of the hillside about 50 metres above sea level. There is then an ascent of 138 steps then the trail continues in a westerly direction until a steep climb leads us out of the forest and into a clearing. Be rewarded with superb views of the coast leading back to Cape Otway; then from Cape Volney there are breathtaking views of the western coast.
Walking Distance: 13.8km
Walking Time: 6 hours
Grade: Moderate to Hard
Day 4: Moonlight Head Road to the 12 Apostles
The views of the Southern Ocean just get better and better and the Gables Lookout showcases the best the coastline has to offer. If tides permit, Wreck Beach will be the trail for the morning, otherwise it's inland to the coastal hamlet of Princetown. The final stretch leads to the 12 Apostles before a 3.5 hour return road journey to Melbourne.
Walking Distance: 17km
Walking Time: 5 hours
Grade: Moderate to Easy
Other Tours: 3 and 6 day Great Ocean Walks are also available. Contact us for details and prices.
About the Otways
Set against a dense rainforest backdrop the Otway National Park takes in some of Victoria's most spectacular unspoiled landscapes. Rich with wildlife and human history, the Park protects over 60 threatened species and makes a high contribution to the conservation of aniamsl and eco systems in Victoria. The Otways were formed 150 million years ago when the great southern landmass known as Gondwana began to break up. Then, the most abundant vegetation types were ferns, mosses and liverworts.
The Katabanut (local indigenous people) lived within the coastal and forest areas using the landscape to their advantage. They hunted the coastal woodlands with fire, dingos and spears. Their spiritual and physical connections are still celebrated through descendants. Shell middens, oven mounds and artefact scatters are indicators of an earlier presence. The steep slopes and tall forests of the Otways were a barrier to European settlement, but settlers moved in from around 1870. Much land was cleared, but extensive forest areas were left untouched.
A diversity of habitats
Much of the land was cleared by early settlers, but extensive forest still remains. The vegetation structures in the Otway National Park provide a diversity that contributes to the uniqueness of the area. Climate, landform abd soils, combined with clearing, logging and manipulation of fire, has resulted in a range of vegetation communities. The Park is an important reserve for this mosaic of vegetation types containing the western most occurrences of several plant species.
Cool temperate rainforest & Wet sclerophyll forest
Our cool temperate rainforest bear floralistic resemblence with the forests of Tasmania. The diversity of vegetation provides many habitats for a wide variety of animal species to thrive on. There are three sub communities found in the Park: Myrtle Beech/Blackwood, Austral Filmy fern and Leathery Shield fern. There are five sub communities of wet sclerophyll forest including the Mountain Ash, Messmate, Manna Gum, Mountain Grey Gum and Blue Gum which are all found between Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill.
Wildlife watching
These diverse communities are home to many species of fauna. Thirty six species of native mammals including one marine species (Australian Fur Seal) are known to occur in the Park. Swamp wallabies, Koalas, Ring Tailed Possums and Grey Kangaroos are all common. A further 13 marine mammal species have been recorded along the coast or in adjacent waters. At night the sound of the Yellow bellied glider can sometimes be heard in forest between Shelly Beach and Blanket Bay. A guided night walk may provide the opportunity to see the gliders in flight.
Inclusions
- 3 nights accommodation
- transfers to and from Melbourne CBD to join your walk
- all meals
- some wine with dinner (half a bottle per person)
- morning and afternoon tea
- use of a weather proof jacket and day packs
- the services of our professional guides
- entrance fees to any attractions we visit
Terms & Conditions
Click here for our Terms & Conditions
For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
