How Great Ocean Walk Luggage Transfers Work with Walk91
If you book a self-guided package with Walk91, the luggage transfers and shuttles are already sorted.
Whether your walk spans from 3 days to 10 days along the Great Ocean trail, it comes bundled in alongside your accommodation and luggage transfers. And, if you choose our catered walks, your food is included too, so all you’re carrying on the track is a light day pack.
However, if all you need is a one-off, pre-booked ride, (so that’s no accommodation, no luggage transfers), that’s a job for our sister service, Great Ocean Road Shuttle.
Day One: Getting to Your Starting Point
Most sections of the Great Ocean Walk need a transfer to get you to your starting point, with the exception of our 6-day walk and 3 day hike the cape walk, which starts right from Apollo Bay. With these options you can simply walk out of town.
The walking section of the trail that you are covering determines where the first transfer takes you.
Our dedicated drivers. Not just a taxi ride!
Unlike other walking companies, you’ll be met by a knowledgeable local driver in one of Walk91’s dedicated Great Ocean Walk vehicles. They’ll give you a personal safety briefing and run through your walking notes and route map with you before you set off. From there, your bags go into our own vehicles which are used specifically for the Great Ocean Walk. Our trusted driver takes responsibility for them from that point on. You just walk.
Early morning bag transfers
If you are staying the night before your hike in Apollo Bay, and want to walk straight out from your motel early in the morning, that’s no problem. We will simply collect your bags from your accommodation on your behalf after you’ve headed off, so they stay secure in your room until then. Once we have collected them they remain secure with us for the rest of the day.
While You’re Walking: Where Your Bags Go
Check-in at your accommodation is often not until the afternoon, so we make sure your bags are kept secure in the meantime. Generally, that’s simply at our place, since we’re locals and live right here in Apollo Bay.
We provide luggage tags for every walker, and we ask that each item of luggage is clearly labelled, so nothing gets mixed up with anyone else’s.
Often, we’ll meet you at the end of your day with your bags already in the vehicle, so they’re waiting for you the moment you check in. Occasionally we’ll drop bags ahead to your accommodation instead — sometimes just because it’s more comfortable with a full car of walkers, though with our 12-seater buses there’s usually plenty of room for everyone’s luggage.
Your Last Day on the Great Ocean Walk: Wrapping Up
On your final morning, we collect your bags at check-out and hold them securely for you. Many walkers finish at the Twelve Apostles, so if that’s you, you also get to walk that last stretch bag-free while we bring your luggage to meet you there, handing it back to you personally.
From there, as your bags are already in the vehicle, we can drop you straight to your accommodation in Apollo Bay, to the bus stop, or even take them to Port Campbell. If you are catching a taxi from the 12 Apostles onwards (e.g. for Camperdown Station) we can help you arrange this and ensure your bags make it safely to your taxi driver.
What happens to my luggage when I swap accommodation?
If you’re swapping accommodation partway through your walk, the same principle applies each day. We hold your bags securely while you’re out on the track and make sure they’re relocated to your next stop.
Got More Luggage Than You Need on the Trail?
If you’ve arrived on the back of another trip you might have extra luggage that is not required on a hiking trip. If so, you can simply leave the extra luggage with us for the duration of your walk, whether that’s a few days or a full week, and we’ll store it safely until you’re back. We can also bring it to you at the finishing point of your hike on your last day if you prefer.
Bringing Your Own Alcohol
Plenty of accommodation along the walk isn’t licensed, so we’d encourage you to purchase your own alcohol in Apollo Bay before you set off. Just label it clearly like the rest of your luggage, and we’ll move it along the track with your bags.
One Thing We Do Ask
Walk91 tip: If a bag is too heavy for you to lift into a car, it’s too heavy for our drivers to lift in and out on your behalf. If that turns out to be the case, we may ask you to split your luggage into smaller, more manageable bags. (We have spare luggage bags you can borrow). Our drivers aren’t spring chickens, but what they lack in youth, they make up for in local knowledge!
Need mutliple transfers only and want no luggage transfers?
Rather than moving your luggage each day you could just stay in one place. If you don’t want to walk alone and want to share transfer costs, you could consider this option. We have a simple service that runs out of Apollo Bay so you can leave your luggage in a room in Apollo Bay. Read on to learn more about your options…
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. On our self-guided packages, luggage transfers between your starting point, accommodation stops and finishing point are included as standard.
No problem. If you’re staying in Apollo Bay the night before, you can head off early and leave your bags at your accommodation — we’ll collect them after you’ve left and keep them secure with us for the rest of the day.
They travel separately in our own private vehicles (not taxis). If your accommodation isn’t ready for check-in yet, we hold your bags securely until it is, then have them waiting for you on arrival.
Yes. If you’ve brought more than you need on the trail, we can safely store the extra for the length of your walk.
The same process applies each day — we hold your bags while you’re out on the track and make sure they’re relocated to your next stop
Yes. Many accommodations along the walk aren’t licensed, so we encourage you to buy in Apollo Bay before you leave town. Label it clearly and we’ll transfer it with your luggage.
If a bag is too heavy for you to lift into a car yourself, it’s too heavy for our drivers to lift on your behalf. We may ask you to split heavier luggage into smaller bags (which we can provide).
That’s exactly what our sister service, Great Ocean Road Shuttle, is for — pre-booked, pre-paid transfers along the Great Ocean Walk without needing to book a full package.
CONTACT US to start planning your Great Ocean Walk Adventure!
T: +61 3 5237 1189 Or BOOK A CALL Email: info@walk91.com.au
About the Author
Walk91 is a locally owned Great Ocean Walk operator based in Apollo Bay, Victoria. Our team lives and works on the Great Ocean Road and provides self-guided Great Ocean Walk support throughout the walking season, drawing on first-hand knowledge of trail conditions, logistics, and safety planning.
