The Great Ocean Walk stretches over 100 km from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles in Victoria, Australia. The route typically takes seven days and passes through the Great Otway National Park and Port Campbell National Park.
Twenty years ago: Mark Kininmonth, one of our co-founders, was actually involved in the construction of the path. He decided then to create ‘Walk91’ to help walkers understand and navigate this incredible trail. With our range of self-guided Great Ocean Walk walking tours and Great Ocean Walk guided tours, you can rest assured that our expertise will set you on the right path striding along Australia’s coastline on an epic adventure.
The route takes you through some of Australia’s most rugged landscapes, which are as beautiful as they are challenging. The walk is well signposted, but understanding the tides and decision points can be a bit tricky and you do need to be prepared with the right gear. This is why we’ve created this helpful guide; to provide you with five important safety rules for staying safe along the Great Ocean Walk.
Be prepared for Sun and Rain on the Great Ocean Walk
The combination of its location, proximity to the equator, and reduction in the ozone layer causes Australia to experience 15% more UV than Europe. Depending on the itinerary you choose and the specific leg of the journey, you could be walking anywhere from 3 to 8 hours each day on the Great Ocean Walk. Also, much of the trail traverses along sandy tracks, so the residual heat reflecting back from the sand can be deceiving. Therefore sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat and a long sleeved shirt are must-have items whilst enjoying the trail.
Most of the year offers comfortable walking temperatures along the Great Ocean Walk. They range from lows of approximately 12°C (54°F) in winter to 25°C (77°F) in summer. However, as a general rule of thumb, try and avoid planning a walk in February as this tends to be the hottest month of the year here (although this isn’t always the case!). If you do start to feel like it’s getting too hot for you whilst you are walking, always take a break and find some shade. And remember, if you are walking with our local team at Walk91, we will come and pick you up at the nearest track exit point if you are struggling to walk your pre-planned distances.
Keep to the Great Ocean Walk Trail
You are essentially walking through Australia’s bush – home to snakes, spiders, ants, bees, European wasps, and leeches. Most of these creatures are found in long grass, so if you stick to the well-maintained route, you are less likely to encounter their unwanted attention. However, don’t be alarmed if you do see them on the track – this is what makes Australia such an exciting and unique place to visit. Just check rocks and logs before sitting on them and wear boots and trousers for protection.
It’s not unheard of for kangaroos, koalas, snakes, echidnas (and unfortunately deer, wild cats and boars – introduced by early settlers) to also wander onto the Great Ocean Walk trail. If you do happen to stumble across these animals, keep plenty of distance, especially if they have their young in tow. Most of these animals just need some space so that they can retreat safely. They don’t really like or want your company, so simply ‘back-off’ and enjoy these unexpected sightings of our wonderful Australian wildlife as they add to the fun of the adventure!
There is also another good reason why deviating off the well-marked route is not recommended. The surrounding bush is known for its challenging terrain and it is easy to become bewildered and lost if you don’t follow the markers provided for your safety.
On our self-guided tours, we provide a comprehensive walk briefing on arrival (so this does give you a great opportunity to ask any questions that you might have), and we will discuss all our ‘check-in’ points so that we have a handle on your location throughout your whole walk.
You walk luggage free with Walk91, as we provide daily bag transfers, so this really helps to make the walking distances more manageable (as there is no need to carry a heavy backpack). Most walking itineraries require a short car trip / shuttle at the end of each day, so this is also a great opportunity to ‘check in’ with our knowledgeable local drivers.At this point you can also discuss shortening your planned walking legs for the next day if old injuries have resurfaced, or if you simply would prefer to just have a shorter day’s walk.
Check out our 3-Day Cape Hike to our 10-Day Leisurely Hike for more details. You might also like to consider our guided tours if you are feeling nervous about choosing a self-guided walk and would prefer to have an experienced member of our team walk with you. Or, if you are intending to walk alone on a self-guided walk, but feel more comfortable with some company, why not consider teaming up with another solo walker (or two!) on our multi-day shuttle service. This is a fun way to meet other walkers and adds an element of safety if you have never attempted a self-guided walk before.
Beware of Tide Times on the Great Ocean Walk
On your Great Ocean Walk, you are at the mercy of the tides, but luckily planning well makes for a safe and enjoyable walk. Station Beach, Johanna Beach and Wreck Beach are the ones to be particularly wary of. They can be subject to random wave surges, so you need to check the tides as well as the swell forecast. It’s also a good rule of thumb to keep away from the water’s edge whilst walking on these beaches. If you find yourself in any doubt, use the high-tide track alternatives. They are just as pretty and you will still enjoy the unique experience of trekking through some of the Great Ocean Walks’ most pristine bushland.
There are some rivers to be mindful of. Elliot, Parker, Johanna and Aire River can all come with challenges. Again, err on the side of caution and cross only at low tides. Check the tides and predicted rainfall before you decide to cross these rivers, or any of the Great Ocean Walks river crossings. If you book one of our Walk91 tours, we will give you a full briefing about this to put your mind at ease.
Water Safety on the Great Ocean Walk
Expect to drink at least 2-3 liters of water per day on the Great Ocean Walk, and even more if the weather is warm. The main issue that you need to consider is that the water on the Great Ocean Walk isn’t drinkable (potable). Campsites only hold untreated rainwater in their tanks, and in times of low rainfall these can prove to be empty. Parks Victoria have been known to deliver water into some sites to replenish the tanks, but you cannot rely on this. If you are walking independently of Walk91, we’d recommend that you bring along purification tablets just in case. If you walk with us, we will book accommodation on your behalf where you may fill up your water bottles at the start of each day. We also keep water containers in most of our vehicles.
If you decide to camp with us we’ll bring out large containers of town water so that you may refill your water bottles (and use it to cook with) and we will store the containers in our camping trailer for your own private use.
Be Fire Safe on the Great Ocean Walk
Like most countries around the world, Australia experiences hotter summer months when the risk of bushfires is at its peak. During this period, strict rules are enforced to ensure safety, particularly in areas like the Great Ocean Walk. Parks Victoria notifies visitors of any total fire bans, prohibiting campfires. Rangers intensify patrols along the trail to monitor conditions closely. At Walk91, we prioritise your safety by adjusting walking schedules to avoid the heat of the day, encouraging early morning starts.
Interestingly, Parks Victoria and Landcare Australia are collaborating closely with Indigenous communities that have historically used controlled burning to manage the land and minimise wildfire risks. This partnership with Aboriginal Land Management Councils highlights traditional methods of environmental stewardship.
In designated fire risk periods, visitors must adhere to fire restrictions and be prepared with non-cook food supplies and emergency plans.
We recommend that you walk with a Telstra SIM card for reliable reception on the Great Ocean Walk and along the Great Ocean Road. If you do choose to walk with us at Walk91, we will provide a Telstra mobile handset if needed, and a personal locator beacon (or EPIRB) just in case of an emergency.
The Great Ocean Walk is one epic adventure and a huge achievement once it’s complete. Most people will only do the Great Ocean Walk once in their lifetime. Therefore, it’s important to do it right the first time! With a plethora of five-star reviews, and a long history of looking after walkers from all over the world, we are extremely proud of the unforgettable experiences and memories we’ve provided our customers. If you would like to book a tour with us and you have any questions, please just get in touch!
