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A day hiker’s guide to Australia’s Great Ocean Walk
29.05.2024 - 20:27 / lonelyplanet.com
Cerulean waves crash into limestone cliffs and plump koalas doze in ghostly white gum trees on the wild southwestern coast of Victoria, a rugged natural wilderness within easy reach of Melbourne.
This windswept stretch of the Australian coastline is best known as the home of the Great Ocean Road. One of Australia’s most iconic road trips, the scenic 243 km (151 mile) coastal route weaves through a patchwork of national parks and kangaroo-dotted farmlands towards the surreal limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles.
However, that's not the only way to soak up the sublime views: the region is also home to the Great Ocean Walk (GOW), a 110km (68-mile) one-way hiking trail that links Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles.
Despite its close proximity to the Great Ocean Road in some sections, the GOW is a wonderfully wild walk that feels further removed from civilization (and traffic on the driving route) than it actually is. Hugging the coastline more closely than the Great Ocean Road, the GOW rewards hikers with more dramatic vistas and a deeper immersion into the region’s beauty.
The good news is that you don’t need to have camping gear or a full week set aside to experience it. While the GOW takes six to eight days in its entirety, it’s possible to tackle much shorter sections, making it accessible to those with limited time, fitness or mobility. With the help of a hire car and local shuttle services that cater to hikers, it’s even possible to get a GOW fix and be back in Melbourne in time for dinner.
Here’s our pick of the best day, and half-day, hikes along the Great Ocean Road from east to west.
Best for an easy ramble
4.4km/2.7 miles, 2 hours, easy to moderate
This relatively gentle hike offers a great taste of the Great Ocean Walk for travelers staying in Apollo Bay, where the GOW officially begins. There are three beach walking sections on this trail ending at the Shelly Beach picnic area, tucked up in the coastal forest behind the beach, making it essential to embark at low tide. If conditions allow, there are several additional spots you can opt to walk along the sand and rock platforms instead of sticking to the main trail tracing low cliffs. Swimming is possible in calm conditions.
How to do it: If you don’t have time or energy to do the walk both ways, leave your car at Shelly Beach picnic area and arrange for a shuttle to Marengo (3km/1.9 miles from Apollo Bay), where you’ll begin your walk. If you don’t have a vehicle, shuttles can be arranged at either end.
Best for wild swims and history
11km/6.8 miles, 3-4 hours, moderate
This writer’s favorite section of the GOW takes you deep (or at least it feels like it) into the lush coastal forest of Great Otway National Park before popping out onto
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