Overview
4 Days
Melbourne
Melbourne
Twelve Apostles
Camps & Lodges
Premium
12-99 Years
10
Moderate
Fully Guided
TAW4
Itinerary
After a scenic drive from Melbourne, we start the first section of the walk at Blanket Bay, one of the highlights of the Great Ocean Walk. We follow the coast of Great Otway National Park, climb along cliff tops and walk barefoot on golden sand beaches. Learning about the unique flora and fauna as you go from our expert guides. Koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas, you are sure to see some local wildlife on this unique part of the trail. The Cape Otway Lighthouse makes for a great end to the walk, where our guides can teach you all about the naval history of the area.
From the lighthouse, we transfer you to our private lodge in Johanna, where we welcome you with a glass of local sparkling and a spectacular long table dinner to celebrate your first day of walking.
On the morning of your walk, we meet at Mercure, Southbank. Here, your guide will introduce you to fellow walkers before departing for our drive to Blanket Bay. Be dressed and ready, with your drink bottle and rainjacket at the top of your luggage to pack into your daypack.
Challenge delivers great reward. Wild, weathered headlands give the sense you're at the world's edge. Day two is your hardest day out on the track. But with it comes spectacular seascapes and personal triumph. Beginning at Milanesia Track, it covers some of the most remote sections of the Great Ocean Walk. This is your day of wild. Your day of rugged.
The ocean is your steadfast companion across 14.5 kilometres of rolling terrain today, beginning with a descent onto Milanesia Beach. Here, your guide will point out a ‘natural rock wall' that would be the envy of any budding young climber. After a fleeting beach visit, it's a short but bracing climb that whispers of inclines to come.
Over the next hours, the trail carves its way through deep gullies with tree ferns and towering remnant Eucalypts. There are 132 steps to ascend before trailing west out of the forest to Ryans Den. On suitable days, this is your lunch perch. The Den gifts with unsurpassed views across to Cape Volney and Cape Otway.
Further along, the trail, as it mimics the tumbles and rising of the coastline, keep an eye out for Cape Volney. There's a bench that, if time allowed, could swallow hours. Heaving seas disappear into watery caves. Views west travel to the horizon's edge. And the entire spectacle is framed by the forest.
The first four and a half kilometres gently meander through native stringybark forest providing a contrast to the coast, concluding with a rise to the Gables, one of mainland Australia's highest cliff-top lookouts. Tide-dependent, you will descend onto Wreck Beach and explore the historic shipwreck ruins before continuing through to Devil's Kitchen for lunch and onto the historic Fiji shipwreck memorial. Wilder days will give an insight into the cauldron-like ocean at this part of the coast.
After lunch, we follow the Devil's Kitchen Track through fern gullies and over a ridge populated with grass trees to Wreck Beach carpark. On our way back to the lodge we divert for a short walk around Melba Gully, an enchanting rainforest gully with towering Mountain Ash and Beech Myrtle with an understory of tree ferns and waterfalls. After returning to the lodge we celebrate our last night together with a rejuvenating foot spa, a long table dinner and a glass of local wine.
Enjoy your final morning at Twelve Apostles Lodge. After another wholesome breakfast, there's a final pack up, check out and lodge farewell before a 45-minute drive to Princetown.
These fabulous natural wonders emerge on slow reveal as the trail rises and falls along the coastline. There is a viewing lookout exclusively for walkers before our final stretch of trail into the Twelve Apostles Visitors Centre. You've made it!
We'll then move on to the nearby town of Timboon where we visit our dairy supplier, Schulz Organic Dairy for lunch before returning to Melbourne. We offer a drop off to the airport and Melbourne CBD after your walk.
Trip Inclusions
- Return transfers to and Melbourne CBD or Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
- Daily walk transfers to/from the lodge
- Accommodation at our private lodge (twin share)
- All meals, non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of local beer and wine
- Use of a weather-proof jacket for the duration of the walk
- Quilts, pillows and a comfortable mattress at the lodge
- Lodge library offering a range of books and games (including field guides).
- Two qualified guides for the duration of the walk
- National Parks Pass
- Foot baths including mineral salts
- Tasmanian Walking Co's Track Notes list everything you need to prepare and get excited about your adventure, all in one document. From pickup times to gear lists, daily distances to accommodation details, this is your Twelve Apostles (Signature Walk) go-to-guide.
Operator
Journey on foot along the Great Ocean Walk from Castle Cove to the Twelve Apostles. Read more
Guests consistently agree in their feedback that our Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk guides are our most outstanding asset. Read more
True shelter, something that gives protection and refuge, simple and sustainable, clean and comfortable. Read more
Trip FAQ's
Our four day itinerary departs every Tuesday and our Long Weekend departs every Saturday from 1 September through to 31 May. We also offering a number of winter departures in July and August.
Each trip requires a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 guests.
The minimum age for guests walking with us is 12 years old. There are no upper age restrictions, however, for guests walking with us who are 69 or above we do require a GP to sign off on a letter we provide.
Whilst walking with us you will experience truly spectacular accommodation. Each night you will use our exclusive accommodation.
As long as you regularly exercise, or are capable of walking between 7 - 17 km's each day you should enjoy the experience. The best preparation for a walk is walking! Do some hill training and increase your distances over time.
Your 32-litre day pack should weigh no more than 5kgs. You will carry your lunch, water, a waterproof jacket and any personal items each day.
You will need lightweight lace-up boots or walking shoes. Boots/shoes must be worn in to minimise the risk of blisters. Sandshoes, elastic-sided boots, street shoes and similar are not acceptable.
Every trip has two experienced guides. This allows plenty of opportunities to rest, take photos and walk at your own pace.
All meals are provided, including scrumptious dinners with fresh produce prepared by your gourmet cooks/guides, evening meals are served with a selection of local wines. We are happy to cater for special read more dietary requirements, we just need to know in advance. *Please note in the best interest of our guests and staff we promote the responsible service of alcohol.
For your convenience, you may like to stay at Mercure Melbourne Southbank the evening prior to your walk as this is where our shuttle departs from. You are more than welcome to choose alternate accommodation read more just please ensure you are ready to leave from Mercure Melbourne Southbank at 7.45am sharp.
If you would like a transfer from Melbourne our shuttle will meet you at Mercure Melbourne Southbank, 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank Victoria at 7.45am sharp. Please note we do not travel via the Great Ocean read more Road. For those who wish to self-drive, please contact your advisor to discuss your options. If you are transferring back to Melbourne with us we can drop you at the Tullamarine Airport between 5pm and 5.30pm (please book domestics flights no earlier than 6.30pm or international flights no earlier than 7.30pm). We will then transfer to Mercure Melbourne Southbank between 5.30pm and 6pm.
Trip Reviews (2)
Dates & Pricing
USD
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Tasmanian Walking Company. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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