The Great Ocean Walk 4 Day Wild Hike is a challenging and rewarding self-guided walking tour covering 71.5km of the most remote and dramatic section of the Great Ocean Walk — known as the Wild Side. This itinerary explores the rugged western end of the trail and finishes at the iconic Twelve Apostles.
This walk is ideal for fit and experienced walkers who don’t have time to complete the full Great Ocean Walk but still want a complete Wild Side experience. You’ll enjoy pack-free walking, with your luggage transported between accommodations, and all accommodation and logistics organised for you — so you can focus fully on the walk itself.
What’s included on this walk:
If you’re looking to walk the entire trail at a more relaxed pace, take a look at our 6-Day or 7-Day Great Ocean Walk. For those wanting something tailored, we also offer a range of pre-designed Great Ocean Walk tours and a fully customised Great Ocean Walk itinerary.
Read the day-by-day itinerary below to see what you’ll experience on this unforgettable 4-day Wild Side adventure, including remote coastal landscapes and the dramatic Shipwreck Coast.
If you have any questions before booking, please get in touch.
And remember — groups of four or more walkers usually receive a discounted rate, so contact us to discuss your options.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Day 1: Cape Otway to Castle Cove – 17.5km * or 11km
Day 2: Castle Cove to Milanesia Gate – 16km* or 13km
Day 3: Milanesia Gate to The Gables – 18.5km* or 12km
Day 4: 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!
Walk91 look forward to welcoming you on arrival with your own personal walk briefing. We will hand you a map, tide chart, walk notes, a personal locator beacon (PLB) & 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.
Catered: From AU$2,345 per person based on double occupancy.
For groups of 4 or more walkers we typically offer a discounted rate, so please get in touch for more details.
Self catered: Please enquire for a price.
We can ‘mix & match’ accommodation options, creating a walk which will suit you perfectly, so please just get in touch.
Groups: Please get in touch and let us know your preferred sleeping arrangements and we will advise the best options available for you.
Solo walkers: Solo walking does entail higher costs, but we’re eager to discuss alternatives with you, so please just get in touch. You may also like to consider our 3 Day Shuttle Tour as a great cost-saving option.
Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 4 pack lunches, 3 dinners
Accommodation: 3 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: 4.1
Peak Prices: 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 we can custom make a walk especially for you. Please contact us for a chat, book in a call or email us if you would prefer, and we will provide you with some options which we hope will suit you perfectly!
Example of an alternative option:
Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 4 pack lunches, 3 dinners (or enquire for a self catered option).
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 your preferred sleeping arrangements.
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. These include:
For more information, please refer to our FAQs, read our blog
Food on the Great Ocean Walk – grown, cooked and carried with care,
or get in touch with us directly.
Start your walking adventure from the front of the historical Cape Otway Lighthouse. If opening hours allow you may use our complimentary tickets to visit the Cape Otway Lighthouse and climb the 18-metre, 150-year-old tower. Enjoy strolling around the grounds whilst learning more about the lives of the hard-working, isolated and incredibly resourceful lighthouse keepers. You may also like to visit the telegraph station built in 1859 and the World War ll radar station.
Setting off along the Great Ocean Walk trail, you will pass the old Lightstation cemetery. The tombstones reflect the hardships experienced by the early settlers and make for some sombre reading.
The track then meanders towards the wild and wonderful Station Beach, littered with driftwood swept in by the impressively large surf. If you have the energy, and the swell and tide allow, you may take a small detour to Rainbow Falls, or simply use the high tide route to enjoy sweeping views of the Great Southern Ocean from the cliff tops.
Taking in your wonderful surroundings, you’ll slowly follow the trail towards the heritage-listed Aire River (a great spot for a picnic). This stunning yet peaceful river is teaming with wildlife and is home to a multitude of birds, including swans, ducks, egrets, swamphens and the endangered hooded plover. Remember to also look out for koalas sleeping in the gum trees as they love this peaceful location.
After a welcome break at this picturesque spot, the Great Ocean Walk trail winds past coastal scrub and heathland, lined with wildflowers and grass trees. Eventually, you will arrive at Castle Cove beach. This long and magnificent stretch of sand has its own lookout platform. Stop and marvel at the prowess of local surfers and watch the wild waves rolling in!
Distance: 17.5 or 11 kilometres
Parks Vics Grading: Medium
Approximate Duration: 17.5 kms – 6.5 hours | 11kms – 4 hours
Catered option: A packed lunch & dinner is included.
Self-catered: We transfer your food with your luggage to accommodation with kitchen facilities.
Alcohol: Not included for the duration of your walk. Please purchase in advance and leave it with your luggage. We will transfer it to the accommodation for you. There are no shops on the walking trail.
Standard Accommodation Option
This wonderful private ensuite accommodation is in a great location, close to the Great Otway National Park. After a long day’s walk, kick back and relax in the living room, or enjoy tea or coffee prepared in the well-equipped kitchen area.
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 offer a touch of luxury in accommodation close to the Great Ocean Walk.
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 surf conditions 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, you climb upwards alongside picturesque farmland and winding valleys before heading towards Milanesia. As you climb upwards, 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
Catered option: Self serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.
Standard Accommodation Option
Accommodation as above.
Upgrade Accomodation Options
Accommodation as above.
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 walked so far, 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 suprisingly 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
Catered option: Self serve continental breakfast, pack lunch and dinner.
Standard Accommodation Option
Accommodation as above.
Upgrade Accomodation Options
Accommodation as above.
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 down onto Wreck Beach. Marvel at the old anchors rising out of the sand from the lost shipwrecks of the ‘Figi’ 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 memorable photos from the official 12 Apostles viewing platform
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 8.30AM on Day 1, and you can expect to be back in Apollo Bay on your last day (Day 4) at approx 4.30PM, depending on your walking pace.
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
