The Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia, home of the Great Ocean Walk, is renowned worldwide for its dramatic coastline, lush rainforests, and breathtaking natural beauty. But beyond the iconic 12 Apostles and scenic lookouts, this region holds a special place in the hearts of runners as well as walkers, who have been inspired by legendary human feats of endurance and mateship.
Whether you’re interested in running the 104 km of the Great Ocean Walk or taking it a little slower on one of our self-guided Great Ocean Walk tours, there is a perfect itinerary waiting for you to help you set a goal, keep fit and enjoy some fabulous scenery.
For now, let’s take a look at the connection between the Great Ocean Road and running! If you have any questions for us along the way, please just get in touch!
Be Inspired By The Great Ocean Walk or the Great Ocean Road Running Festival
The Great Ocean Road was built by returned WWI veterans, with surveying and construction lasting between 1919 and 1932. This means we’re celebrating 100 years of the iconic Great Ocean Road! And while it’s the longest war memorial on Earth, this world-famous road was also home to local legends such as Cliff Young (the renowned ultramarathon runner from the Otways) and Les Noseda (an Apollo Bay local who inspired the Great Ocean Road Running Festival).
Together, they have inspired thousands to travel along the Great Ocean Road, run in the Otways or along the Great Ocean Walk, and participate in the amazingly successful Great Ocean Road Running Festival that we can enjoy today.
We cover the Running Restival in more detail below, but needless to say, it takes over the road for a special weekend! And while it’s a remarkable, joyous event, the Great Ocean Road region also offers endless opportunities for slower exploration on foot, most notably via the Great Ocean Walk.
This iconic walking route stretches for around 104 km from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles, so if you want to run in the Otways, but can’t make it over the marathon weekend, why not run the Great Ocean Walk trail? The Great Ocean Road is closed especially for the marathon weekend event, but if you run the Great Ocean Walk, you can start any day you choose (pending availability) without having to worry about local traffic, carrying your gear, or organising food and accommodation. Walk91 does it all for you!
Contact us for more details if this sounds like a challenge you would love to train for! And don’t miss our comprehensive guide Everything You Need to Know About the Great Ocean Walk for even more inspiration and information.
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival: Global Appeal with Local Roots
Tracing its roots back to 2005, the Great Ocean Road Running Festival was founded by longtime local Les Noseda, with support from the Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce. His dream was to encourage tourism along the Great Ocean Road in the off-peak winter months, inspiring runners to come and enjoy our beautiful town. The following year, the Great Ocean Walk was opened by Parks Victoria, giving visitors the chance to walk or run the track safely.
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival began as a small event, initially attracting around 500 participants, based around the 44 km marathon route from Lorne to Apollo Bay. This challenging and scenic route remains a core part of the event today. Over the past two decades, the festival has experienced significant growth, transforming into a multi-day celebration of running, wellness, and community that now attracts over 10,000 participants.
Thanks to Les’ foresight, the marathon has benefited many local businesses who now enjoy an influx of visitors in the quieter months of the year, and the event has helped to raise thousands of dollars for local charities as well as Apollo Bay P-12 College. Our amazing local school provides over a hundred volunteers in the shape of students, parents and friends, all of whom help to ensure the success of the events whilst raising much-needed funds.
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival has also helped to raise funds for our favourite local charity, the Conservation Ecology Centre, whose active management helps to protect the Otways ecosystems, supporting habitat resilience and wildlife. For more details on how you can help, please visit their website, or make sure you visit Wildlife Wonders if you are heading here for the weekend.
Why The Otways Region is Famous for Running: The Legacy of Cliff Young
While the spectacular coastal scenery naturally inspires running and outdoor activities, the Great Ocean Road region also holds a unique place in Australia’s running history, significantly shaped by the meteoric rise of a local potato farmer, Cliff Young. Cliff, from Beech Forest in the Otway Ranges, became an unlikely national hero when he won the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon in 1983 at the age of 61!
Although his entry into this race caused much hilarity at first when he turned up looking very unprepared in his long pants and farmer’s garb, he astonished the country and even the outside world by winning!
Australians loved him as an underdog, particularly as Cliff was an unassuming sexagenarian who appeared to “shuffle” rather than run. Yet, he blew away world-class ultramarathon runners and cemented his place in Australian folklore as “the most famous person in Australia”, an “Aussie icon”, and a “national treasure”.
He was even interviewed by the famous interviewer Michael Parkinson! (If you have the time, ABC’s documentary on Cliff Young is a great watch).
What was Cliff Young’s Ultramarathon Running Secret?
Cliff’s extraordinary endurance and unique “Cliffy Young Shuffle” running style developed over many years whilst working on his family farm in Beech Forest. Whilst rounding up his brother’s cattle, he would run for around 30 kilometres a day through the hills of the Otway Ranges, often in gumboots because of the incessant rain and deep puddles.
This unorthodox training contributed to the development of his distinctive, shuffling technique, allowing him to “keep going and keep going”. It was a very efficient way to run long distances and the rustic environment of the Otways was ideally suited to developing his ultramarathon running ability.
Even decades later, Cliff Young’s story endures and memorials like the gumboot sculpture in Beech Forest tie his legendary status directly to his origins in the Otway Ranges, making the region famous not just for its beauty, but for producing an “Aussie battler” who could outrun the world.
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival is HERE This Weekend!
Get ready for an incredible weekend along this stunning coastline! This weekend, Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 May 2025, the region comes alive for the 20th anniversary of the Great Ocean Road Running Festival, presented by Melrose. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most spectacular running events, it offers a unique chance to run uninterrupted along this breathtaking stretch with full road closures from Lorne to Apollo Bay.
The Weekend’s Races and Itinerary (May 17-18, 2025)
Here’s a look at the exciting races and walks taking place this weekend as part of this major event:
Saturday, May 17th, 2025 (Based in Apollo Bay):
• Goodness Me 1.5 km Great Ocean Road Kids’ Gallop.
• Sri Lankan Airlines 6 km Run.
• Chobani Fit 14 km Paradise Run.
Sunday, May 18th, 2025 (Various Starts, Finish in Apollo Bay for longest races):
• 60 km Ultramarathon: Starts in Lorne and finishes in Apollo Bay.
• 44 km Melrose Great Ocean Road Marathon: Starts in Lorne and finishes in Apollo Bay (Note: This distance was previously sold out well ahead of the event weekend).
• 23 km Brooks Half Marathon: Starts in Kennett River and finishes in Apollo Bay.
• Great Ocean Road Walk: Options for 5 km and 10 km, starting and finishing in Lorne.
• 12 km High Sierra Trail Run: Starting and finishing in Lorne.
With nine distance options available, the festival truly caters to runners and walkers of all abilities, from families to seasoned ultramarathoners.
Beyond the Festival: Exploring the Great Ocean Walk
The Great Ocean Walk is more than just a coastal path — it’s an unforgettable journey through two breathtaking national parks: Great Otway National Park and Port Campbell National Park. Along the way, walkers and runners will traverse diverse landscapes, from coastal heathlands and lush rainforests to river crossings and rocky shoreline platforms.
Expect sweeping ocean views, peaceful stretches of sandy beach, and vast open skies. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the rich Australian wildlife — koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and even emus are known to make appearances!
This iconic walk is accessible to people of varying fitness levels, with the flexibility to take on the full route or enjoy selected sections depending on your time and ability.
At Walk91, we offer self-guided walking tours ranging from three to ten days, complete with accommodation, luggage transfers, and transport — making your adventure as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Prefer to run? Walk91 can tailor a running itinerary to suit your pace. We’ve even supported runners completing the Great Ocean Walk with custom running tours — like this example itinerary:
The Great Ocean Walk Trail Run (approx kilometres)
Day 1: Apollo Bay to the Cape Otway Lighthouse 32.5km
Day 2: Cape Otway Lighthouse to Milanesia Gate 33.5km
Day 3: Milanesia Gate to the 12 Apostles 38km
But, if these running legs are too long for you, or you would prefer to run the whole trail over more than 3 days, no problem. Just get in touch and we can have a chat about the best itinerary to suit you and offer some tips so that you can get the most out of your adventure.
However, if you are looking for a larger team run, why not try the Great Ocean Trail Ultra?
Let Us Help You Plan Your Great Ocean Road Run
So, whether you’re lacing up for the Great Ocean Road Running Festival this weekend, planning a future hike or run along the Great Ocean Walk, or simply reflecting on the remarkable legacy of local legends like Cliff Young and Les Noseda, the Great Ocean Road region offers a powerful mix of breathtaking landscapes and uplifting stories for anyone who loves to stay active.
Cliff once said that “real ordinary blokes are capable of extraordinary things” and that “you’re never too old to realise a dream.” Perhaps those words helped inspire Les Noseda to chase his own dream of running a marathon through his beloved Otways — and we’re so glad he did.
If you’re ready to start planning your Great Ocean Walk adventure, Walk91 is here to help. Browse our range of self-guided Great Ocean Walk tours and guided Great Ocean Walk tours to find the experience that captures your imagination the most.
If you have any pre-booking questions for our team, please just get in touch for the answers you need. We’re here to help however we can!
Wishing everyone a wonderful and active weekend!
