Great Ocean Walk 5 Day Hiking Trip
This 104km Great Ocean Walk 5-day Trip is perfect for the ‘Fit and Fast’ walker as it challenges you to complete the whole Great Ocean Walk in 5 days. While not as challenging as our 4-day Tour of the Great Ocean Walk, this is still not for the faint-hearted. However, trekking 104km over 5 days is much easier when Walk 91 transports your luggage to each night’s accommodation! Enjoy walking pack-free, whilst traveling along sandy beaches and bush trails, through rainforests and open pastures. Celebrate your achievement at the end of your walk, rewarding yourself with wonderful views of the 12 Apostles. Read the rest of the details of this Great Ocean Walk 5-day Itinerary below, and if you’re looking for the complete experience but at a slower pace, check out our 7 Day Trip on the Great Ocean Walk. And please get in touch if you have any questions.
Standard and Premium Accommodation Pricing
YOU'LL WALK 104KMS OF THE GREAT OCEAN WALK IN 5 DAYS
Day 1: Apollo Bay to Parker Hill – 26.5km
Day 2: Parker Hill to Castle Cove – 24km
Day 3: Castle Cove to Milanesia Gate – 16km
Day 4: Milanesia Gate to The Gables – 18km
Day 5: The Gables to Twelve Apostles – 19.5km
Before Your Adventure Begins
Walk91 look forward to welcoming you on arrival with your own personal walk briefing. We will hand you a map, tide chart, walk notes, emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) & phone, if needed. You will start your journey with our Walk91 team feeling relaxed, confident & safe in the knowledge that we are never far away and you can call us at any time!
Day 1 - Apollo Bay to Parker Hill
This morning you’ll collect your freshly packed lunch as you head out of Apollo Bay. The start of the walk commences with a stretch along the coastline offering sweeping views of the Cape Otway region. The track then meanders into the rainforest where you’ll hike past tree ferns and tall eucalypts. After Blanket Bay the vegetation changes to dry coastal forests inhabited by echidnas and king parrots. Walking back towards the ocean you’ll enjoy views over Parker Inlet.
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Standard Accommodation Option
Show MoreThis accommodation is located in the Otway National Park. It is set within a magnificent forest of tall manna gums, housing koalas and a multitude of birds. Admire the grazing horses, lazily wandering in the property’s rolling green paddocks. The cabin is very comfortable with a lounge/dining room area, full en-suite and kitchenette. There is a small shop on the premises selling basic food items. Internet and laundry facilities are available for a small fee.
Self-catered: We transfer your food with your luggage to your accommodation.
Catered: Dinner, continental breakfast and pack lunch for day 2 is included.
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Premium Accommodation Option
Show MoreThis Conservation Centre is a magnificent post and beam, mud brick structure, set within kangaroo meadows. Integrating beautifully with nature and adjoining the Great Otway National Park, the multi award-winning centre offers superb dining and exquisite surroundings in the beautiful setting of the Otways. The centre is certified as an advanced eco-tourism destination and also has a library and nature studies room. The comfortable accommodation which is solar powered has en-suite bedrooms.
Feel free to ask the knowledgeable staff about the flora and fauna and the rehabilitation of local and injured wildlife. If desired, they will take you on a tour of the grounds in the golden light of the evening. The centre’s founders, Lizzie and Shayne, are qualified scientists dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity and ecological systems, recognised by the Banksia Foundation, the UN and the Australian Prime Minister.
Meals: Dinner, continental breakfast and a pack lunch for day 2 are included.
Day 2 - Parker Hill to Castle Cove
Following the track to Victoria’s oldest lighthouse, enjoy the views of the Bass Strait from the cliff tops. You’ll visit the Cape Otway Lightstation. Walk up the 18 metre, 150 year old lightstation for views of the coastline. Learn a little of the lives of the hard-working lighthouse keepers. Visit the telegraph station built in 1859, the World War ll radar station and the Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Setting off today you will pass the old lightstation cemetery. The tombstones reflect the hardships experienced by the early settlers here. The track then meanders on towards the wild and wonderful Station Beach, which is littered with driftwood. Take a small detour to Rainbow Falls, or carry on walking to enjoy sweeping views from the cliff tops. You’ll walk along the Aire Heritage River and over its bridge, towards Castle Cove. This magnificent beach has its own lookout station; a great way to end your days walk!
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Standard Accommodation Option
Show MoreThis is a great location to stay on the Great Ocean Walk, being positioned just a short distance from the track and beach. You walk into your cosy accommodation in the afternoon, and out again the following morning. If you still have the energy, after a relaxing dinner, walk back down to the beach to enjoy a wonderful evening sunset! Each room has a private bathroom and if you are self-catering there are tea and coffee facilities, microwave and a fridge available for your use.
Self-catered: We transfer you back to the accommodation of the previous evening as there are no cooking facilities.
Catered: Dinner, continental breakfast and pack lunch for day 3 are included.
Day 3 - Castle Cove to Milanesia Gate
This section of the walk features rocky escarpments and coastal views. You will pass heath land, wild flowers and grass trees. Be prepared for some beach walking as you drop down onto Johanna Beach. Look out for birds such as the majestic wedge-tailed eagles and white bellied sea eagles. Then you climb upwards alongside a picturesque farmland valley before heading towards Milanesia.
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Standard Accommodation Option
Show MoreThis wonderful accommodation is in a great location close to the Great Otway National Park and offers sweeping views of the bush and the surrounding countryside. Relax in the evening with private views of the valley looking west towards glorious sunsets. Kangaroos graze close to the property in the late afternoons. Your comfortable accommodation is en suite with a living room area and a well-equipped kitchen with tea and coffee making facilities. The accommodation hosts are happy to share their knowledge and love of this magical place with you.
Self-catered: We transfer your food with your luggage to your accommodation.
Catered: Dinner, continental breakfast and pack lunch for day 4 is included.
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Premium Accommodation Option
Show MoreThis wonderful lodge offers private luxury accommodation close to the Great Ocean Walk.
Enjoy stunning ocean views from the master bedroom of your lodge, wake up to the sight of kangaroos feeding just outside your bedroom window, and appreciate the abundance of native birdlife, from bold laughing Kookaburras and Petit Blue Wrens to Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and cheeky Magpies. On a clear night, the signature sky windows offer spectacular vision of the Milky Way; the celestial beauty is pristine as there is no ambient city light at the lodge.
The lodge is private to you or your group and has four bedrooms, the Master with an en-suite and three others that share a bathroom.
Each of these rooms has a king-sized bed that can be split into two king singles.
The owners ensure your wonderful evening meal is cooked to perfection and waiting for you in a slow cooker in your private kitchen. All you have to do is plate up and enjoy a beautiful home-cooked gourmet meal.
Day 4 - Milanesia to The Gables
The trail descends onto the rugged shoreline of Milanesia Beach. As the track rises back to the cliff tops you are presented with outstanding views from the coastal forests, high on the sea cliffs. Walk on through the blue gums, ending amongst the heath at the breathtaking Gables Lookout.
Day 5 - The Gables to the 12 Apostles
Your last day will start with a walk through the Sheoak trees, dropping down onto historical Wreck Beach with its old anchors rising out of the sand. Hike on towards the Gellibrand estuary and as the track climbs up to the last section of the walk you will see the iconic 12 Apostles in the distance. At the end of your walk you can celebrate with a photo from the official 12 Apostles viewing platform. We will collect you at 4pm and transfer you back to Apollo Bay (arriving at approx 5:30pm).
GOOD TO KNOW
- You may extend your walk to include a night’s stay in Port Campbell. Please ask us for a quote. More details are available on the FAQ page.
- We can lend you walking poles if you would like them.
- We can lend you a mobile phone if you are visiting from overseas.
- Transfers to and from your start and finish points are included where required.
- Detailed transportation options to and from Apollo Bay are available on the FAQ page.
- We are happy to cater for any special dietary needs (please let us know when you book).
- It’s important to prepare for your walk. See the FAQ page for some tips!
- If this particular walk is too long or too short for you, please refer to our other multi-day walking options or call us for a chat on (+61 3 5237 1189)
