Great Ocean Walk

Explore a well-kept secret local Italian restaurant that doesn’t scream ‘tourist.’ Hidden down a side street, Casalingo is a quiet yet sleek restaurant that produces the best hand rolled gourmet pasta and pizzas in town!

Do you want something extra healthy and delicious to kick off your walking holiday? Sandy Feet Café has a side selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also grab something tasty for the road at their health food store.

Live music, local wine, and the #1 craft beer on the Great Ocean Road are what gives this brewhouse its fame. Great Ocean Road Brewhouse boasts over 100 of the best craft beers available! Add on the family-friendly bistro that has hearty and delicious meals, and you will be stuffed to the brim.

La Bimba offers the option of fine dining while being environmentally friendly. Partnering with local farmers, fisherman, and vineyards allow this classy restaurant to provide you with the freshest products to create a sumptuous meal.

Overlooking Bass Strait is Chris’s Beacon Point Restaurant and Villas. It has been over 40 years since the original Chris’s Restaurant, a quaint restaurant in a small fishing village, was opened. Four decades have transformed Chris’s Restaurant into a top tourist destination where you cannot only get a delicious meal but where you can spend the night in a contemporary style apartment with dazzling views of the sea.

Located right next to the beach with only a short walk to local shops, restaurants, and cafes, Apollo Bay Guest House is the perfect place to rest after a long day. Enjoy the spectacular ocean views while sipping tea from your deck or kick back and watch a movie in your French Provincial style room.

Enjoy a relaxing and eco-friendly stay at the Great Ocean Walk Retreat. This farm by the sea carefully created each room to make the perfect destination for any traveller. Take in the stunning views of the countryside from your spacious and light-filled rooms.

There is no better way than to get up close and personal with the ocean than by staying at possibly Australia’s most crucial light station. Spend the night in the Lightkeeper’s Cottage, the Lightstation Lodge, or a Lightstation Studio. The Southern Ocean will be lapping against your doorstep, and you will fall asleep to its rhythmic motion.

If you have chosen our guided walking holiday, then transport to and from Melbourne is included within your holiday package. We will pick you up in Melbourne and transfer you to Apollo Bay in one of our comfortable minibuses.

For self guided walks we highly suggest taking public transportation to and from Melbourne instead of trying to find a place to leave your car during your walking holiday. To get from Melbourne to the start of your destination in Apollo Bay, you will need to take a combination of train and bus. You will begin your journey from Southern Cross Railway Station in Melbourne. Every 30 minutes, a train will leave towards Geelong for about $5-$8. This train will take you about one hour. Next, you will transfer from the Railway area to the Bus area in Geelong Station. The bus leaving to the Visitor Information Centre in Apollo Bay only three times a day, so make sure that you have a spot. It should cost around $10 and take about 2.5-3 hours.

If you prefer to drive to Apollo Bay from CBD Melbourne, take the freeway over Westgate bridge and drive out past Geelong.  Follow the M1 and signs to the Great Ocean Road. Once you on the famous road it’s straight sailing all the way to Apollo Bay.

You will begin and end your walking holiday in the charming seaside village, Apollo Bay. This quaint village has all you will need to get you in the spirit of your walking holiday; it’s a perfect point for relaxation after you have completed your journey. Take a stroll down the beach, go surfing, and enjoy a tasty seafood meal and a delectable glass of wine at a local restaurant.

Located on private property, the landowners of this fantastic lookout have decided to share with the public. Dazzling views of Apollo Bay and as far east as Cape Patton can be seen. It’s perfect for a picnic; if you’re lucky, you might just see paragliders take off!

An optional side-trip that you can choose to take on your walking holiday is out to Crayfish Bay. It used to house some small fishing shacks, but those were removed for the creation of the Otway National Park. This side trip is a lovely place to journey to at low tide on a sunny day. Picture time! It is also magnificent to visit during a storm; the churning waves and whipping winds are perfect for those seeking adventure.

Built in 1848, the Cape Otway Lightstation was created to try and prevent the massive, deadly toll that this coast wrought on unassuming ships. When European settlers from England first began sweeping into the area, they found themselves “threading the needle” between Cape Otway and King Island to save time, but it quickly led to the loss of hundreds of lives. In 1994, this testament of strength became a tourist attraction where you can walk the grounds, tour the light station, and attend an informative talk on the history of the light station and the area.

The Otways National Park will allow you to immerse yourself in one of the best rainforests that Australia has to offer. Breathe in the crisp, clean air as you observe the abundant flora and fauna that this region has to offer. Walk in the shade of the massive Mountain Ash trees and the giant tree ferns while keeping a lookout for exotic wildlife. You never know what critter may be high up in the trees or skittering along the path!

Incredible rock ledges with the beauty of Rainbow Falls in the distance, this and the massive swell close up is what makes Station Beach special. This beach is not one of the most frequented by tourists; actually no one but the walkers, it will be quiet and private, the perfect way to take in the scenery without all the fanfare of massive crowds.

An optional side-trip available on your walking holiday is to Rainbow Falls. Located on the southern end of the remote Station Beach, you will be able to access the falls only if the tide is low. Crisp, clean spring water meets the ocean in a dazzling display of colour, giving the falls their name. This is an excellent side-trip if you are willing to extend your walking time on the walk.

Castle Cove is famous for its surf and towering cliffs. Look for the peregrine falcons nesting high in the cliffs and take a leisurely stroll down this gorgeous beach. If the tide is low and the ocean is calm, you can access a hidden lagoon right around the corner. Caution: There may be unexpected large waves and ocean-rips present.

Named after a schooner that wrecked at the mouth of the Johanna River in 1843, Johanna is a gorgeous rural farming settlement with much to offer. Johanna combines rolling hills, lush rainforest, and an epic surf beach to create what you’d think would be a hotspot for tourism. Thankfully it is still very quiet as most visitors only want to see the Apostles. The serenity of this spot only adds to its appeal. Combined with  the discovery of dinosaur fossils near Castle Cove and the history of the Cape Otway Lightstation, and every traveller will surely find something interesting.

Not many people get out to this remote location because it is one of the more difficult sections of the Great Ocean Walk to access. This hidden gem boasts rolling farmlands and spectacular cliffs that will lead you to an epic view over Milanesia Beach. Enjoy the peacefulness of the area by taking a moment to rest and soak up the impressive forest and scenery. Fun fact: Dinosaur fossils were discovered at Milanesia Beach! Put on your investigator’s hat because you may find the next one!

Take a short, almost magical walk through the casuarina trees up to The Gables Lookout. The Gables Lookout is perched on the top of one of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia. You will be able to view Moonlight Head in the distance and the hypnotic lapping waters below. This is the perfect spot for birdwatching! Plus, if you come from June to September, then you may witness the whale migration and see one of these impressive creatures as they pass by.

350 stairs descend to Wreck Beach where you will be reminded as to why this coast used to be deadly to unsuspecting ships. You can see the anchors of the Marie Gabrielle and the Fiji still holding a vigil of their once powerful ships that were defeated by this mighty coast.

The extreme force that is Mother Nature created these massive pillars. Long ago, these limestone stacks or pillars were connected with the main cliffs along the beach. Over the years, wind and waves slowly chipped away at the rock until the Twelve Apostles were created. Not actually 12 pillars, but 8 (so far) stand at 45-metres tall. Their impressive display gathers the attention of tourists from around the world. You can learn from the informative displays along the boardwalk, climb down the Gibson Steps to the beach, and embrace the dynamic atmosphere of a beach well loved by humans and nature. Make sure to take the time to visit the Grotto, the Arch, the London Bridge, and the Bay of Islands! If you happen to come at dawn or dusk, you may also catch the sight of our favourite tuxedo-donning birds, penguins, making their way down the beach!

This village is bursting at the seams with incredible things to offer. Ten waterfalls just a few minutes away, lovely parks, and gorgeous beaches make up the outskirts of Lorne with restaurants and a spirited art community making up its centre. You can visit Qdos Arts to see their continually changing exhibit, the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre for all the local history, and if you happen to come at the right time, then you can witness the Falls Music Festival and the Lorne Festival of The Performing Arts. Plus, if you come during May to September, then you will have a great opportunity for whale watching!

Did you know that the Great Ocean Road is considered the world’s largest war memorial? In 1919, over 3000 Australian soldiers returned to Australia and began the construction of the Great Ocean Road. In the Lorne Visitor Centre, you can explore the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre’s permanent exhibition. Learn about the toils faced by the soldiers through interpretive displays to truly understand the significance of this massive road.

Join countless others in taking a picture of the most photographed location on the Great Ocean Road, the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch. This arch was constructed to acknowledge the challenges faced by the persistent workers who created this road for us all. It is a phenomenal location to add a well-known landmark to your Instagram or to just stroll along.

What better way to relax after a long day of walking than at a spa? Massages, oils, and soothing aromas will add a blissful end to an already fantastic day. Enjoy getting pampered at one of the many luxurious spas and wellness centres featured along the Great Ocean Road. Some of our favourites are Endota Spa, Seahorse Natural Therapies, and Apollo Bay Natural Health and Wellbeing.

Play a round of golf before or after your walking holiday. The Great Ocean Road boasts fantastic golf courses and clubhouses. The Sands, located in Torquay, hosts the annual PGA Tour event Surf Coast Knockout. More courses in the area such as Anglesea, Warrnambool, and Port Fairy sport well-manicured greens, natural sand traps, and the resident kangaroos acting as unofficial greenskeepers. This is a must do excursion for any golf lover.

The Great Ocean Road boasts the Surf Coast, one of the best destinations for surfing in the region. Bells Beach hosts the Rip Curl Pro competition each Easter where the worlds best surfers come to take on the challenge. There are many beaches along the Great Ocean Road where you can grab a surfing lesson from a company that will teach you the basics with a kind and patient attitude, so that you can get the most from the experience.

The Great Ocean Road is home to a plethora of artists and galleries that will make any art connoisseur happy. Marvel at the extraordinary craftsmanship at the Warrnambool Art Gallery or take home a local piece from the Whale Bone Gallery. A piece of art is the perfect reminder of your walking holiday that you can hang on the wall to view every day!

You can’t go home from your walking holiday without a souvenir for either yourself or someone else! Lucky for you, the Great Ocean Road has a variety of stores from specialty shops to local markets that will please everyone. Boutiques, galleries, and souvenirs shops hold local crafts, produce, art, clothing and more. If you are big into surfing, head down to Surf Label Haven. Pick up the latest gear before heading out to catch some waves.