A 50 km self-guided Great Ocean Walk from Apollo Bay to Cape Otway, designed for those wanting a shorter walk with stunning coastal scenery, wildlife and full local support.
Our 3-Day Hike the Cape itinerary explores the gentler “Mild Side” of the Great Ocean Walk, beginning in Apollo Bay and finishing at Castle Cove.
This walk is ideal for both first-time and experienced walkers looking for:
Pack-free walking
Flexible daily distances
Comfortable, well-located accommodation
Local, real-time support throughout your walk
A safe and well-organised Great Ocean Walk experience
Catering options with fresh, locally sourced meals
If this itinerary doesn’t suit you perfectly, we’re always happy to custom-make a walk just for you.
And, if you’d prefer a more remote and challenging walk, please also consider our 3-Day Twelve Apostles Walk.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Day 1 — Apollo Bay → Blanket Bay
22 km or 13.5 km
Choose the distance that suits your fitness and walking style.
Expect coastal views, beaches and forest sections.
Day 2 — Blanket Bay → Cape Otway
10.5 km
Look for koalas in the manna gums and enjoy complimentary lighthouse entry.
Day 3 — Cape Otway → Castle Cove
17.5 km or 11 km
A beautiful final day through coastal heathlands, finishing at Castle Cove, returning to Apollo Bay.
When you arrive in Apollo Bay, we’ll meet you for a private walk briefing so you feel confident and well prepared.
We’ll cover:
Your daily walking plan
Key decision points along the track
Tide and beach crossing considerations
Wildlife and local conditions
Our text-based support and pick-up system
Emergency procedures
Local tips only a local operator can provide
Our team is based locally, so support is always close by — you’re never walking alone.
Catered: From $1295 per person based on double occupancy
Groups of 4 or more: Discounts may apply. We can tailor accommodation and sleeping arrangements to suit your group.
Self-catered: Please enquire for pricing.
Solo walkers: Solo walking does involve higher costs, but we’re happy to discuss options with you. You may also like to consider our 3 Day Shuttle Tour as a cost-saving alternative.
Note: Peak periods such as Christmas, Easter, public holidays and Victorian school holidays may have different pricing and availability. Please enquire for details.
We do not operate on Christmas Day.
Upgrade your accommodation
Enhance your walk with upgraded accommodation, from private lodges to unique stays in beautiful locations along the track, such as the Cape Otway Lighthouse.
Let us know your preferences and we’ll tailor an option to suit you.
Dietary Notes
We can accommodate the following dietary preferences on our catered Great Ocean Walk tours:
⚠️ Important allergy information
Due to the way food is prepared and transported, trace amounts of gluten, dairy, nuts and shellfish may be present due to possible cross-contamination. For safety reasons, we cannot cater for coeliac disease, anaphylaxis, or severe food allergies.
If you have other dietary requirements, please contact us before booking so we can honestly confirm whether your needs can be accommodated.
Alternatively, self-catered walking packages are available. Please refer to our FAQs, or get in touch
Distance: 22 km (approx. 8 hrs) or 13.5 km (approx. 5 hrs)
Parks Victoria Grade: Medium / Hard
Welcome to the start of your Great Ocean Walk adventure! Your day begins in the beautiful coastal township of Apollo Bay, where you can snap a photo at the official Great Ocean Walk trailhead beside the Visitor Information Centre. Collect your freshly prepared pack lunch from the Apollo Bay Bakery, then follow the coastline as the trail opens to sweeping views across the Cape Otway region.
After reaching Shelly Beach, the track transitions onto the Elliott River route and into the cool, shaded rainforest of Great Otway National Park. Here, lush tree ferns, towering eucalypts and mossy gullies reveal the history of the old logging camps that once operated in this forest in the 1800s. Keep your eyes peeled for black wallabies, kangaroos, and the occasional deer that enjoy the quiet seclusion of this peaceful valley.
As you climb towards the top of the Telegraph Track, glimpses of the vivid blue Southern Ocean appear between the trees before the path gently descends to the secluded, picture-perfect Blanket Bay. This sheltered cove was once a supply point for provisions bound for the Cape Otway Lighthouse—look for the remains of the old cottage hidden in the dunes, around which tales of “hidden treasure” still linger!
Packed lunch and dinner included.
Your food is transferred with your luggage to your accommodation.
A cosy cabin set amongst tall manna gums, with private bathroom, kitchenette, optional laundry, and basic provisions available onsite. Koalas and native birds frequent this lovely bush setting.
Superior private cottages or lodges are available for solo walkers, couples, or groups. Let us know your preferred sleeping arrangements and we’ll tailor the perfect option.
Distance: 10.5 km (approx. 4 hrs)
Parks Victoria Grade: Medium / Easy
Begin your morning along shady boardwalks before the trail rises gently to Point Lewis Lookout, revealing expansive coastal views. The walk continues across small creek bridges before descending to Parker River. There is no footbridge here—you may need to remove your shoes—making this a wonderful place to pause and watch the powerful swell crashing outside the river mouth. With luck, you’ll spot remnants of the ‘Eric the Red’ shipwreck exposed in the sand.
The landscape gradually shifts to dry coastal woodland, home to echidnas, king parrots, and plenty of koalas dozing in the manna gums. Soon you’ll enjoy panoramic views over Crayfish Bay, before your first glimpse of the Cape Otway Lighthouse from Point Franklin’s sweeping staircase.
If opening hours permit, use your complimentary Lighthouse tickets to explore the historic precinct. Climb the 18-metre, 150-year-old lighthouse tower, wander past the old telegraph station (1859), and visit the World War II radar bunker. (Please note: the tower is sometimes closed for maintenance).
After exploring, stroll a short distance to your accommodation nestled in the forest.
Self-serve continental breakfast, pack lunch, and dinner included.
Same accommodation as Night 1 (standard or upgraded).
Distance: 17.5 km (approx. 6 hrs) or 11 km (approx. 4 hrs)
Parks Victoria Grade: Medium
Your final day begins as you pass the historic lightstation cemetery, where headstones tell the stories and hardships of the early lighthouse keepers. The trail then winds toward the wild and remote Station Beach, scattered with driftwood and shaped by wind and ocean. If tides and conditions allow, you may choose the short detour to Rainbow Falls, a freshwater spring cascading over algae-covered rock.
From here, continue along clifftop paths overlooking the dramatic Southern Ocean before descending to the tranquil Aire River estuary, a fantastic picnic stop and a haven for koalas, seabirds, bream, and estuary perch.
Crossing the Aire River bridge, you’ll head into the final stretch toward Castle Cove. This long sandy beach is backed by soaring cliffs and features a stunning lookout platform—an ideal spot to watch surfers challenge the mighty Southern Ocean.
What a spectacular way to complete your 3-day Great Ocean Walk adventure! And remember—if you’d love to return and finish the full trail, you can continue your journey later on our 12 Apostles 3-Day Walk.
Self-serve breakfast and pack lunch included (no dinner).
Not included for tonight—ask us if you’d like us to arrange a night in Apollo Bay before or after your walk.
Your walk begins at approximately 7:30 AM on Day 1, and you can expect to return to Apollo Bay around 4:30 PM on Day 3.
