The Great Ocean Walk is a walking trekking trail located on Victoria's southeast coast in
Australia. The track stretches 91 kilometres from Apollo Bay to Glenample
Homestead, located near The Twelve Apostles, Victoria. The walk passes through
the spectacular coastal scenery and the beautiful Otways National Park which have
made the Great Ocean Road so popular. The track can be walked from end to end,
or in short segments accessed by the Great Ocean Road. Parks Victoria have
constructed seven hike-in campsites with toilets and a shelter, spaced roughly
evenly along the track.
The idea for a coastal walk along the west coast of Victoria was first mooted in 1974.
A feasibility study for the South Coast Track between Portland and Anglesea incorporating the sections between Apollo Bay and Port Campbell was conducted by the Department of Conservation Forests and Lands, in 1989.
In 1990 reference to a long distance walk between Peterborough and Princetown was included in the Port Campbell National Park Management Plan as a medium priority.
Members of local business community, Meredith and Charlie Robinson and Andrew
Mitchell, developed the concept for a walk in 1994 over bottles of port in a shed at
Hordern Vale near Cape Otway. Initially known as the Great Ocean Road Track Walk,
it was refined to be known as the ‘Great Ocean Walk’.
The concept for the Walk was taken by Merdith Robinson, Andrew Mitchell and Bill
('No Choppers') Bowker (deceased) to Canberra and support for the project was
obtained from local Federal Member Stewart McArthur and, through his contacts,
other members from both sides of politics.
A Great Ocean Walk Management Committee was formed in 1994/5 including
community, representatives from the Shires, National Parks Service and Shipwreck
Coast Tourism. A bid to the federal department of tourism for the first stage of works
was submitted with support from the then Victorian Minister Hon. Mark Birrell.
TRACK
The GOW is a 91 kilometre track which stretches from Apollo Bay to Glenample Homestead, adjacent to the 12 Apostles, and passes through the Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks.
The GOW was launched in January 2006 and has become Victoria’s iconic long- distance coastal walk attracting many national and international walkers.
The establishment cost for the Great Ocean Walk was $2.3 million which created an
integrated, linked trail system from Marengo to Glenample Homestead.
One of the unique aspects of the GOW is that walkers can ‘step on and step off’ the trail, completing short, day, overnight or multi-day hikes, ranging from easy walks to difficult treks.
To complete the entire linear walk (approx. 91 kilometres) would take approximately
eight days and seven nights.
Walkers will experience spectacular coast and forest scenery including rocky platforms, sheltered beaches, rivers, forests and coastal heathland.
Wildlife includes Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Black Wallabies, evidence of echidnas on the ground and koalas in the trees around Cape Otway. At vantage points along the trail walkers have the opportunity to see dolphins and, from June to September, migrating whales.
A variety of birds may be observed including King Parrots, Rufous Bristlebirds, Crimson Rosellas, Singing Honeyeaters, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos and Gang- gang Cockatoos. Wedge-tailed Eagles and White-bellied Sea-eagles are also seen. Along the beach flocks of Crested Terns, larger Pied or Sooty Oystercatchers and occasionally Little Penguins, can be seen.
At night campers may hear the Boobook and Powerful Owls in the forests or the unusual screaming sound of the Yellow-bellied Glider or the puppy-like yaps of Sugar Gliders.
Cape Otway is renowned for its shipwreck history and evidence of this can be seen at Wreck Beach where walkers can visit the anchors of the Marie Gabrielle and Fiji, embedded in the sand.
The Gadabanud people’s traditional Country transcends what is known today as the Otway coastline. This area, rich and diverse in plant and animal life, has been a gathering, ceremonial and feasting place for thousands of years. Many sites and spiritual links remain today. Local Gadabanud & Aboriginal people are closely involved with Parks Victoria in the protection, restoration and management of significant sites.
Near The Gables lookout walkers can experience some of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia
The walk goes from ‘mild’ in the east to ‘wild’ in the west. As walkers hike west the walk becomes more remote and challenging.
The final section of the walk concludes with spectacular views of the Twelve Apostles before crossing the Great Ocean Road to Glenample Homestead. The Homestead was built by pioneer pastoralist Hugh Gibson in 1869. Today, the homestead houses interpretive information on early pastoral and maritime history of the area. Contact Parks Victoria for opening times.
The walk includes a mixture of tracks, gradients and surfaces including beach walking 5%, walking tracks 53%, management vehicle only tracks 13% and vehicle tracks 29%. There are a number of sections where further beach walking is an option.
Visitors can chose to camp in the park or select from a variety of off-park accommodation including privately operated campgrounds, bed and breakfasts and self-contained cottages.
GOW walk services provided by the tourism industry include guided walks, pick up and drop off of walkers, camping and walking equipment hire and food provision.
There are seven purpose built GOW ‘hike-in’ campsites along the walk with a total capacity of up to 170 people. They are located at Elliot Ridge, Blanket Bay, Cape Otway, Aire River, Johanna Beach, Ryans Den and Devils Kitchen. Distances between campsites range from 10-15km. Bookings are required and fees apply.
Parks Victoria has allocated three dedicated group camping areas on the GOW at
Elliot Ridge, Blanket Bay and Cape Otway. These sites have access to the same
facilities as the GOW hike-in campsites: environmentally friendly toilet, a three-sided
shelter and park benches.
Aire RiverThere are four ‘drive-in’ campsites at Blanket Bay, Parker Hill, Aire River and Johanna Beach. These sites are available for both car based campers and hikers. Registration is required.
Walkers using campsites will be asked to register their intentions to help Parks Victoria manage the effects and risks to the health of the park and assist visitors in enjoying their experience. Walkers must book their campsites and register their intentions at least 2-4 weeks in advance.
Drinking water is not available along the track. Tanks at campsites hold untreated rainwater. Walkers must be prepared to carry their drinking water requirements or to treat rainwater.
If walkers are planning to camp they need to carry food, water and equipment for up to 15km or chose to link their walk to nearby accommodation and service providers.
Track alignment was decided after comprehensive environmental, landscape, heritage and cultural values assessments. Geological and geo-technical investigations were also completed to assess coastal stability and erosion issues.
The track surface is predominantly made of natural soils or sand, however boardwalks and crushed rock have been laid to protect areas from erosion.
