Oct 01, 2018
Here are our favourite walks along the Great Ocean Road, whether you’re a fitness fanatic or a casual cruiser:
The Great Ocean Walk
Perhaps the most iconic (and obvious) walk on the Great Ocean Road is the Great Ocean Walk. The Great Ocean Walk spans 100kms from Apollo Bay, past the iconic Twelve Apostles. While the whole walk is more than most of us could be convinced to attempt, the benefit of this walk is that you can jump in and out of the walks with shuttle services to take you back to your car or accommodation or drop you at the most interesting points on the coastline.
Most of the walks are one-way, travelling east to west, which maximises your views. You can enjoy a day walk, which takes approximately 6 hours, or one of the shorter walks that are around 2-3 hours and range in difficulty.
If you’re REALLY into your treks, you can also do overnight walks ranging from 1-8 days. There are campsites along the way, and just think of the sense of accomplishment after you’ve finished!
Parks Victoria has all the information you could want about planning your trip.
Short Walks
There are plenty of options if you just want to dabble in a Great Ocean Road walk. We recommend the Shelly Beach Circuit which will take you through fern gullies, coastal scrub and rocky headlands. See if you can spot koalas in the trees as you go!
The Twelve Apostles is a must-see while you’re in the area. The walk starts from Gellibrand River Bridge and ends at the Twelve Apostles kiosk, with plenty of rocky outcrops in between. Don’t forget to wander down to the Twelve Apostles Photo area or Castle Rock to get the perfect picture!
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival
This family friendly running festival is a great way to see the Great Ocean Road traffic-free! Smaller children will love the 1.5k kids gallop or you can upgrade to the 5k or 10k walks. Of course, there are half, full and ultra-marathons for the serious athletes as well as plenty of music, film, and wellness events.
Sound like the holiday for you? Book your Great Ocean Road accommodation today.
Finished your Great Ocean Road walks and want to get back to civilisation for a bit? Check out our top tips for doing Melbourne in 48 hours or what to do in the school holidays in Melbourne.