GREAT OCEAN WALK – 23 – 26 March 2026
Peter O and I went shopping in Apollo Bay for “supplies” for the Great Ocean Walk. We didn’t need to break into the cast until the night of day 2. Would a 2L cask stretch for the next 6 days? We’d be back in town on the 7th day, so, we should have enough right? Watch for the results on the Day 7 post!
I had wanted to do the Great Ocean Walk for a few years since 15 years ago one of my walking friends said it was “amazing”. But, I didn’t make the time for it, so that when it went on the Coast & Mountain Walkers calendar, AND I knew the leader, I decided to go. I was hoping that it was a glamping trip, but it turned out to be a “supported” walk run by Walk 91, I still had a hot shower, lovely bed and wine at the end of the day, and the food was pre-cooked and delivered to us, so we had to “do for ourselves” for dinner. Wasn’t quite what I expected, but with rain forecast it was better than camping.
Walk 91 would pick us up each morning and deliver us to the start of the section we would walk that day. Then, we’d let them know when we got to a certain spot and they would be there to pick us up at the end of the day. If we decided that we didn’t want to walk the full section, if we notified them, they would pick us up early.
March 23 – I organised to arrive at Apollo Bay on March 23 and let me tell you the organisation was challenging. It took me a day to sort out how to get there without reaching out to a Victorian friend and begging for a ride down there. As it turned out everything worked like a clock, here’s how it worked for those considering public transport!
6.25am – A 75m walk to the bus stop just up the road from my house using my senior’s $2.50 ticket + $17.92 for the Domestic Airport;
6.48am – off the bus and hopped on the train at Tuggerah, arriving at Central at 8.25am;
8.40am – after a 500m walk, catch another train to the Domestic Terminal;
9.00am – check in with Qantas, I still haven’t figured out how to do those on-line;
10.05am – ETD Qantas, arriving at 11.40am;
12.20pm – pick up luggage from luggage carousel, heart stopping moment, bag last off the plane;
12.25pm – Boarded Skybus (every 10 minutes) to Southern Cross Station in the heart of Melbourne $24.90;
1.00pm – straight off the Skybus up the ramp and there was the ticket office and I could buy a ticket from Southern Cross Station all the way to Apollo Bay (train first then coach) for the princely sum of $5.70 (senior’s discount);
1.30pm – the train for Geelong departed (right on time) and arrived at 2.31pm;
2.46pm – the coach from Geelong to Apollo Bay departed and arrived at 5.25pm where I was met at the bus stop by Peter O.
If I’d missed any one of these change overs, I would have arrived at Apollo Bay at 8.44pm
March 24 – Peter and I went out and bought the essential wine. Marion and our leader Therese arrived mid afternoon and then we spent some time going over the timetable.
The Great Ocean Walk can be done in a number of ways, 8 days from Apollo Bay through to the 12 Apostles, roughly walking an easy 10 – 15k a day.
We initially were planning to do the walk in 6 days which means that we would be doing sections from 10 to 22k – not ideal for me. But then the Therese found out that Walk 91 was willing to cut the first 22k day into 2 days – 1 day of 8k and the 2nd day of 18k. This sounded good to us. The first day would start in the “middle” which meant we’d walk back to our accommodation at the end fo the walk
Day 1, 25 March – Shelly Beach to Apollo Bay – nice beach walking!
The Guide: “Offers sweeping views of the Cape Otway region and the Great southern Ocean”, yep, that’s pretty much what we got.
We were picked up from where we were staying (Big4 Caravan Park) at 12.00 noon and driven out to Shelly Beach. We sat down for a debrief (admired the koalas in the trees above us) and then set out for Apollo Bay.
The end of our day was walking through suburbia and through the retail area and then 2k to the Big4, I have to say that if I had to start the walk this way (or end the walk this way), I would have been disappointed, so, I am pleased that we didn’t start that way (like the campers). We had salivated for an hour or 2 about having fish and chips for dinner, sadly, the fish & chip shop was closed until 5pm. So I settled for Fried Rice.
The walking was very easy, no hills to walk up and a nice easy track. The weather was fantastic.
When the track called for it, wood was placed so you didn’t slip in mud on a wet day.
We were soon at Shelly Beach and dropped down onto the sand, I almost trod on a snake (not sure what it was, but this made me super vigilant), we met a couple of walkers were were taking time out for a swim (in the freezing cold water).
As it was low tide, we decided that we could walk on the rock platform (the track notes said it was ok to walk on the platform at low tide).
At some spots there was a bit of rock hopping.
I really enjoyed the rock platforms, reminded me of Forresters Beach.
I think the others were a bit over the rocks, but I could have done this for the whole trip!
Coming up to a small beach, at some of the beaches we passed, there was a sign that said that we could access the track from there.
Another beach that we were coming up to.
An almost compulsory wet feet spot, but I crawled around on my knees in the shelf above.
Another challenge.
At the last beach, we decided to head up to the track, we weren’t sure that we could get around the next headland without getting wet. The track is nicely kept, probably so people can see snakes sunning themselves.
Blackberries were along a long section of the track, so we decided that we’d have a feed of them, we were pretty sure they hadn’t been sprayed.
Back down on a nice long beach, because it was low tide, the sand was hard packed and easy to walk on.
Lots of rocks that we scrambled over.
The final beach, we figured by now we’d had enough rocks.
An overview of where we’d come from – Shelly Beach is in the middle distance. We made our way up a very dodgy track through grass, I’m sure it was snake infested, from where I took this photo we were back on the track.
This “arbor” was an indication of what was to come, we walked through many sections of the track where the trees made an arbor.
We’re getting close to Apollo Bay by now, the track is pretty average, I would have rather walked down on the rock ledge.
The last part of the coast before civilisaton.
And here we are in civilisation.
We then walked through residential roads, about 1k to the residential area and then 2k to our accommodation.
Approx 9k – 4 hours – very civilised.
Day 2 – 26 March – Shelly Beach – Blanket Bay – I remember now why I don’t walk in the rain!
The Guide: “the trail meanders into the cool rainforest of the NP. … watch the vegetation change as you pass through lush tree ferns and tall eucalyptus … think back to the hoards of loggers who set up camp her in the 1800s … (see) how European settlers once used the secluced beach of Blanket Bay … and explore the remains of the old cottage nestled in the dunes”. Yes, the vegetation was as described, but too damned wet to do any exploring!
Next morning, we packed up all our gear and were picked up at 9.45am and driven back to where we started yesterday, Shelly Beach. Sadly, the weather forecast predicted rain and it started bucketing down as soon as we got out of the car.
Walking through the wet forest – We saw a koala in the parking lot, and from then on I was looking up for another koala spotting experience.
A nice section of forest, everyone else had on rain-pants, I opted not to bring mine, my pants were just damp for the first half of the day, then they were soaked!
It’s the middle of the day and we’re now in a nice part of the forest and I’m not “over” the rain yet.
And now I’m officially over the rain and I’ve just asked everyone else and they were over it too.
And then we got to the mud!
It’s around lunch now and we’re quite high up and there’s a nice mist, so this photo had to be taken, and by the look of it, it’s not that bad, right?
I think the others had wet feet now (in their boots), mine were wet after morning tea – and my socks were soaked.
Even though it’s raining, this was a stunning forest (didn’t spot any koalas though).
The plateau (it was very flat), was about 12k long, and now we’re descending down to sea level, and they’ve put rock “steps” to make it easier.
And then it got quite narrow, but it wasn’t slippery.
And it zig zagged to cut out the steepness.
And then we’re at Blanket Bay, I’ve never been so happy to get to the end of a walk, it was windy, wet and miserable, thank God we weren’t staying the night in the campground, those campers looked miserable.
A short walk across the beach (the wind was howling by this time).
A few rocks to hop and then we were in the camp site for those who were doing the full camping experience.
Approx 16k – 5 hours – I doubt any of us enjoyed this day!
We’d already called Walk 91 to let them know what time we’d be arriving and they were only 5 minutes away. We got into the van to get out of the wind and rain and before we knew it we were delivered at Bimbi Park where we had a lovely cabin. I was first in for a shower and bugger-me the water didn’t heat up, I gave up after 5 minutes and got into warm clothes and we turned the heaters on. Peter went in next and what do you know there was loads of hot water, I hadn’t been patient enough.
The van had delivered enough food for us for the next three days and we all settled down for dinner, at least we didn’t have to do anything but put it in the microwave.
So, mixed feelings about the first two days, but I expect that the next five days will see us settling in. The wine at the end of two days was very welcome.
Thumbnail: one of the many fungi that I found.