Self-Guided Great Ocean Walk 7 Day Trip

Catered or Self-Catered

Standard or Upgraded Options

Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles

Experience 104km of the most famous walk in Australia on Walk 91’s Great Ocean Walk 7-Day trip. This 7-day itinerary lets you experience all the beauty the Great Otway National Park and the Port Campbell National Park has to offer at a slow, relaxed pace.

Stay in comfortable accommodation in wonderful locations, with good food (or you can self cater if you wish) and meet our friendly, welcoming hosts. For many, the best part is that you will enjoy every day of this expedition pack-free, as we transport your luggage as you move along the track.

We have a 4-day, 5-day, and 6-day version of this complete Great Ocean Walk tour, but this 7-day itinerary is best if you like to take your time and walk shorter distances whilst enjoying the peace, tranquility, and spectacular scenery at your own pace.

For a tour duration that is catered completely for you, consider our Custom Great Ocean Walk Packages. At the end of your week-long journey, you will celebrate your achievement with the unforgettable scenery at the 12 Apostles. For more inspiration, take a look at our entire range of Great Ocean Walk Tours. If you have any questions whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Self-Guided Great Ocean Walk 7 Day Trip

Catered or Self-Catered

Standard or Upgraded Options

Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles

This wonderful 7-Day, 104km itinerary, is perfect if you prefer walking shorter distances each day at your own pace, whilst taking your time to enjoy the peace, tranquility, and spectacular scenery of the Great Ocean Walk. But don’t worry if you don’t have a week to spare, as Walk91 offers an entire range of ‘pack free’ Great Ocean Walk Tours varying in length, or we can carefully create a Custom made Great Ocean Walk Package just for you!

Why Choose This Walk?

End your walk at the magnificent 12 Apostles.

Cozy accommodation & friendly hosts.

Well marked tracks. No technical expertise needed!

Healthy catered options, locally prepared.

Click The Tabs To Find Out More Information

Standard and Upgrade Accommodation Pricing

Standard and Upgrade Accommodation Pricing

From AU$2,998 per person based on double occupancy.
We can ‘mix & match’ accommodation options, creating a walk which will suit you perfectly, so please just get in touch.

Solo walkers & Groups: : Just let us know your preferred sleeping arrangements and we will advise the best options available for you.

Meals included: 6 breakfasts, 6 pack lunches, 5 dinners
Accommodation: 6 nights. Queen cabin with private bathroom and kitchenette. Please contact us for twin share options.
Rating: comparable to 3.5 to 4 star
Tour code: 7.1

Note: These prices do not include Christmas, Easter, Public holidays and Victorian School holidays. Please enquire for a price & availability for these times. Please note we do not operate on Christmas Day.

From AU$2,488 per person based on double occupancy.

We can ‘mix & match’ accommodation options, creating a walk which will suit you perfectly, so please just get in touch.

Solo walkers & Groups: Please contact us if you have more than 6 walkers, and we will happily discuss accommodation options that are better suited to larger groups.

Meals included: none
Accommodation: 6 nights. Queen cabin with private bathroom and kitchenette. Please contact us for twin share options.
Rating: comparable to 3.5 to 4 star
Tour code: 7.1

Note: These prices do not include Christmas, Easter, Public holidays and Victorian School holidays. Please enquire for a price & availability for these times. Please note we do not operate on Christmas Day.

Tell us what your perfect walk looks like!

Our standard option offers comfortable accommodation in great locations. But if you are looking for accommodation of a slightly higher standard, or just something a little bit different to what we have advertised, (for example, a stay at the Cape Otway Lighthouse) we can custom-make a walk especially for you. Please contact us for a chat, or email us if you would prefer, and we will provide you with some options which we hope will suit you perfectly!

We have included a mixture of photographs in the upgrade sections on this page to give you an idea of the different accommodations available.

Example of an alternative option:

Meals included: 6 breakfasts, 6 pack lunches, 5 dinners
Accommodation: Private cabin/ lodge (queen or twin beds available). Two bedrooms or four bedrooms. Price differs depending on how many bedrooms/bathrooms you require. We will happily have a chat with you to discuss which option will suit you best.
Rating: Comparable to 4 star
Groups: Always welcome. We can fit 11 passengers in our vehicles, but we have several buses, so please let us know how many walkers are interested in joining you and what your preferred sleeping arrangements would be.

Included:

  • Private walk briefing (we discuss our safety contact TEXT system & the walk’s decision points)
  • 6 nights’ accommodation
  • Return to Apollo Bay on day 7
  • Daily transport
  • Bag transfers
  • Great Ocean Walk map
  • Walk notes & history notes
  • A complimentary Cape Otway Lighthouse ticket to use as you walk past the Lighthouse (please note that we cannot guarantee opening hours as they are changeable)
  • Use of an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
  • Use of a mobile phone & walking poles / sticks if needed.

Not included:

  • Snacks
  • Alcohol

YOU'LL WALK 104KMS OF THE GREAT OCEAN WALK IN 7 DAYS

Day 1: Shelly Beach to Apollo Bay – 8.5km
Day 2: Shelly Beach to Blanket Bay – 13.5km
Day 3: Blanket Bay to Cape Otway – 10.5km
Day 4: Cape Otway to Castle Cove – 17.5km* or 11km
Day 5: Castle Cove to Milanesia Gate – 16km* or 13km
Day 6: Milanesia Gate to The Gables – 18.5km* or 12km
Day 7: The Gables to Twelve Apostles – 19.5km* or 13.5km

* If you are unsure if these walking distances are too long for you, no worries – we are here to help! We will happily chat to you about which distances will suit you best before you walk, or we can even change the meeting points once you start walking if you are finding the walk too challenging. We are here to help find the perfect walk for you!

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, EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio beacon) & a phone or poles, if needed.

We will also explain in detail the Great Ocean Walk decision points as well as our daily ‘texting’ system. Our goal is to keep your waiting times for car transfers at a minimum, no matter how slow or fast you choose to walk.

As locals, with a team on the ground to support you, you will start your exciting journey with Walk91 feeling relaxed, confident & safe in the knowledge that we are never far away if you need us.

Day 1 – Shelly Beach to Apollo Bay

We transfer you to Shelly Beach at approx. 12 – 1PM and you walk back into your accommodation in Apollo Bay. This is a nice easy to medium trek to start off your Great Ocean Walk and sets the standard for the rest of your fabulous journey. The walk follows the magnificent coastline with sweeping views of the Great Otway National Park and the Cape Otway region.

The reason we ask you to walk back into town from Shelly Beach is because there is no phone reception at Shelly car park, so this option works much better as there are no ‘shuttle’ waiting times involved at the end of your walk. You just walk back into your accommodation at your own pace.

Plus, by walking this section the afternoon you arrive in Apollo Bay, you are shortening your following days hike to 13.5kms. This is a great option if you like to walk slightly shorter distances (and if the first day of our 6 day walk at 22kms is a bit too long for you).

Distance: 8.5 kilometres

Parks Vics Grading: Easy / Medium

Approximate Duration: 2 to 3 hours

Standard Accommodation Option

Accommodation for this first night is in a nice motel in Apollo Bay, close to shops and restaurants and a short walk from the V-line bus stop if you are arriving by public transport.

Meals: No evening meal is included in Apollo Bay. There are several restaurants & pubs in town for you to buy dinner, and there are two supermarkets. Walk91 will provide you with a ‘locals favourite’ food guide.

Upgrade Accommodation Options

Accommodation for this first night is in a nice motel in Apollo Bay, close to shops and restaurants and a short walk from the V-line bus stop if you are arriving by public transport.

Meals: No evening meal is included in Apollo Bay. There are several restaurants & pubs in town for you to buy dinner and there are two supermarkets. Walk91 will provide you with a ‘locals favourite’ food guide.


Day 2 – Shelly Beach to Blanket Bay

As you leave Shelly Beach and head onto the Elliot River Track, the trail meanders into the cool rainforest of the Great Otway National Park. You will enjoy watching the vegetation change as you pass lush tree ferns and tall eucalyptus found in the wet gullies. Think back to the hoards of loggers who set up camp here in the 1800s as you walk through tall forests and along old forestry tracks. Spot black wallabies and kangaroos (and occasionally deer!) who enjoy the seclusion of this now quiet and deserted area. It is wonderful to see the clear blue sea visible between the trees as you reach the top of the Telegraph Track, before slowly winding down the trail onto beautiful Blanket Bay.

Discover how this beautiful secluded beach was once used by settlers to transport provisions to the Cape Otway Lighthouse, and explore the remains of the old cottage nestled in the dunes which has fuelled local tales of hidden treasure!

Distance: 13.5 kilometres

Parks Vics Grading: Medium

Approximate Duration: 5 hours

Standard Accommodation Option

Upgrade Accommodation Options


Day 3 – Blanket Bay to Cape Otway

As you set off today along boardwalks, you will enjoy wonderful views as you gently wind up to Point Lewis Lookout. The trail moves on past several creek foot bridges before slowly descending to Parker River. You might have to remove your shoes as there is no footbridge here, but this gives you a chance to stop and marvel at the wild ocean beating the rocks just outside the inlet. If you are very lucky, you might even see the remains of the ‘Eric the Red’ shipwreck rising tantalisingly out of the sand.

Walking on, the vegetation slowly changes to dry coastal forests inhabited by echidnas and king parrots. Remember to look up, as this is a popular spot for local koalas to rest in the manna gums. Enjoy fabulous views of the Bass Strait as you walk above Crayfish Bay, and enjoy your first glimpse of the Cape Otway Lighthouse from the sweeping staircase at Point Franklin.

Today, if opening hours allow, you may use our complimentary tickets to visit the Cape Otway Lighthouse where you may walk up the 18 metre, 150-year-old lightstation tower and learn about the lives of the hard-working, isolated and incredibly resourceful lighthouse keepers. If you still have the energy, you may also like to visit the telegraph station built in 1859 and the World War ll radar station.

Distance: 10.5 kilometres

Parks Vics Grading: Easy / Medium

Approximate Duration: 5 hours


Standard Accommodation Option

Accommodation as above.

Catered option: Self-serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.

Upgrade Accommodation Options

Accommodation as above.

Catered option: Self-serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.


Day 4 – Cape Otway to Castle Cove

Setting off today you will pass the old lightstation cemetery. The tombstones reflect the hardships experienced by the early settlers and make for somber reading. The track then meanders on towards the wild and wonderful Station Beach, which is littered with driftwood. If you have the energy, and the swell and tide allows, you may take a small detour to Rainbow Falls, or simply carry on walking to enjoy sweeping views from the cliff tops. You’ll slowly make your way towards walking along the heritage listed Aire River (a great spot for a picnic). This stunning river is so peaceful it is teaming with wildlife, but sadly it has a dark history. Tragically this spot was the location of a massacre of the Traditional Owners of the land, the Gadubanud, following a conflict at Blanket Bay with the new settlers.

After a welcome break at this picturesque spot, you will walk on over the bridge towards Castle Cove beach. This magnificent long sandy beach has its own lookout platform and is a great vantage point to stop and watch locals braving the large surf of the wild Southern Ocean. What a fun way to end Day 4 of your Great Ocean Walk!

Distance: 17.5 or 11 kilometres

Parks Vics Grading: Medium

Approximate Duration: 17.5 kms – 6.5 hours | 11kms – 4 hours


Standard Accommodation Option

Accommodation as above.

Catered option: Self-serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.

Upgrade Accomodation Options

Accommodation as above.

Catered option: Self-serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.


Day 5 – Castle Cove to Milanesia Gate

Leaving Castle Cove, be prepared for walking on sand as you drop down onto the wild and wonderful Johanna Beach. This beach has been used as an alternative in the past for professional surfing competitions when waves at the famous Bells Beach in Torquay were not big enough. Needless to say – don’t try and go for a swim here! Look out for majestic wedge-tailed eagles and white bellied sea eagles, and remember to stop at the lookout platforms for unbelievable views.

After leaving Johanna Beach behind, you climb alongside picturesque farmland and winding valleys before heading towards Milanesia. As you climb, look out for kangaroos grazing in the sun, and you may even spot the Otway Panther! (There is an ongoing debate in Apollo Bay as to whether this panther truly exists, which we will happily chat to you about when you arrive if your interest is piqued!) After passing ‘3 ways’, (you may stop walking here if you wish) head on down to Milanesia Gate where we will pick you up and whizz you off to your comfortable accommodation.

Distance: 16 or 13 kilometres

Parks Vics Grading: Medium

Approximate Duration: 16 kms – 6 hours | 13kms – 5 hours

Standard Accommodation Option

This 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.

Catered option: Self serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner

Upgrade Accommodation Options

Depending on the number of walkers in your party, you may stay in lodges or cabins most suited to your needs, and we are happy to discuss these options and prices with you in detail. These options all offer a touch of luxury in accommodation close to the Great Ocean Walk.

Enjoy stunning ocean views, waking up to the sight of kangaroos feeding just outside your 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, enjoy amazing views of the Milky Way; the celestial beauty is pristine as there is no ambient city light here.

The cottages/ lodges photographed are private to you or your group and offer options for different sleeping arrangements. For example, two bedrooms with one bathroom, or four bedrooms, two bathrooms, queen beds or split kings. Let us know what would suit you best, and we will prepare a personal proposal for you.

Catered option: Self serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner


Day 6 – Milanesia to The Gables

The trail starts by descending onto the rugged shoreline of Milanesia Beach. Stop and marvel at the stunning rock formations and think of Charles Joseph La Trobe who was ordered by his superintendent in 1846 to find a route from here to Cape Otway through this rugged landscape!

As the track rises back to the cliff tops you are presented with outstanding views from the coastal forests, high on the sea cliffs. Take the time to look back at how far you have already walked, and rest at Ryans Den campground. But, before you leave, be sure to check out some of the campsite locations for some amazing views.

Walking on, you will pass the ‘Lost Apostle’ – a rather phallic rock formation standing surprisingly all alone. From Moonlight Head the track winds along boardwalks and tracks lined with fern trees. As this is quite a sheltered area, you will likely see more wildlife here than before with wallabies, kangaroos and echidnas rustling in the bushes. Walk on through the blue gums, ending amongst the heath at the breathtaking Gables Lookout.

Distance: 18.5 or 12 kilometres

Parks Vics Grading: Medium / Hard

Approximate Duration: 18.5 kms – 7 hours | 12kms – 4 hours

Standard Accommodation Option

Accommodation as above.-

Catered option: Self serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.

Upgrade Accommodation Options

Accommodation as above.

Catered option: Self serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.


Day 7 – The Gables to the Twelve Apostles

You will now be transported back in time to discover the shipwreck history of this unforgiving and rugged section of coast. Your last day will start with a walk through the Sheoak trees, dropping onto Wreck Beach (tide permitting). Marvel at the old anchors rising out of the sand from the lost shipwrecks of the ‘Fiji’ and the ‘Marie Gabrielle’ and stop and think of the many lives lost at sea. 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.

This is an exciting and memorable part of your walk as you slowly watch the 12 Apostles grow larger and more impressive as the end of your walk approaches. The vegetation starts to change into scrub, wedged deeply in the rocky limestone, and if the tide permits you can walk down ‘Gibsons Steps’ to enjoy amazing sea-level views of the 12 Apostles. At the end of your walk you will enjoy celebrating your great achievement, taking photos from the official 12 Apostles viewing platform. This is a truly memorable walk and an experience you will never forget!

Catered option: Please note that a self-serve breakfast and pack lunch is included on your last day. (No evening meal is included).

Accommodation: No further accommodation is included. However, please let us know if you would like us to book accommodation for you in Apollo Bay (for an additional cost) the evening before your walk commences, or for the evening your walk concludes.

This walk commences at approx 7.30AM on Day 1, and you can expect to be back in Apollo Bay on your last day, Day 7, at approx 4.30PM.

Alternatively, we can arrange additional transport to transfer you to Port Campbell. Please refer to our FAQ for more details.

Distance: 19.5 or 13.5 kilometres

Parks Vics Grading: Medium

Approximate Duration: 19.5 kms – 7.5 hours | 13.5kms – 5 hours


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.

Click here if you have any special dietary needs.

If you are interested in taking more time to slowly complete this wonderful walk, please refer to our 10 day walking option, or we can custom make a walk for you which includes ‘rest’ days.

This walk can be made into a 6 day walk if you would like to merge the first 2 days together to make a 22kms walk instead.

If you are short on time, please take a look at our 4 day Wild Side walk, our 3 day 12 Apostles Walk, or our 3 Day Hike the Cape Walk. Or call us for a chat on +61 3 5237 1189 or BOOK A CALL. We will happily take the time to find the perfect walk for you!

If you are interested in taking more time to slowly complete this wonderful walk, please refer to our 10 day walking option, or we can custom make a walk for you which includes ‘rest’ days.

This walk can be made into a 6 day walk if you would like to merge the first 2 days together to make a 22kms walk instead.

If you are short on time, please take a look at our 4 day Wild Side walk, our 3 day 12 Apostles Walk, or our 3 Day Hike the Cape Walk. Or call us for a chat on +61 3 5237 1189 or BOOK A CALL. We will happily take the time to find the perfect walk for you!

Trail Talk


Take A Look At Our Other Great Ocean Walks