4 Day Twelve Apostles & Great Ocean Road Walk

Overview: These four days will remind you that mother nature is in charge! Join us as we show you her wild side: Johanna Beach, Milanesia, Moonlight Head and the gorgeous Gables. They don't call this the shipwreck coast for nothing! Breathe fresh air, marvel at the power of the waves crashing on the cliffs, stand in front of the Twelve Apostles with awe and wonder. And the walking's not half bad either.

Day 1: Cape Otway - Castle Cove

Walkers start the day with either a transfer from Melbourne to join the tour or self driving to the lodge, arriving by 10.30am.

This section of trail includes some walking that is soft underfoot on the journey to the river mouth. From a lookout, you will see the Aire River and enjoy beautiful views back up the inlet to the Aire Valley. The flood plains of Lake Craven and Lake Costin are a stunning sanctuary for birdlife, fresh water fish and are in various stages of regeneration. After lunch we cross the river and continue on to Castle Cove. Taking a short side trip to the beach it is possible to see dinosaur fossils in the limestone cliffs behind, and surfers tackling the daunting southern ocean waves.

Walking distance: 15.5km
Walking time: 5 hours
Grade: Easy to Moderate

Day 2: Castle Cove to Milanseia via Johanna Beach

One of the most diverse days, today's walk rejoins at the cliff tops of Castle Cove, the trail head for a lovely coastal path that meanders through heath land, wildflowers and grasstrees before dropping onto Johanna beach itself. The last 2km before lunch are beach walking, with the Southern Ocean crashing only metres away from each footstep. At Johanna Beach, the trail crosses into farmland where some of the most contented cows graze only metres from the Beach. A change of pace, sees us finish the day on Old Coach Road, ready for the 'Wild Side' of the walk.

Walking distance: 17.2km
Walking time: 6 hours
Grade: Easy to Moderate

Day 3: Milanesia Beach to Moonlight Head 'The Wild Side'

This is the most challenging section of the Great Ocean Walk. We drop down a path of Manna Gum and Stringybarks to beautiful Milanesia Beach before turning upwards for a short, but steep climb to the top of the ridge. Once on the saddle, we follow the contour of the hillside about 50 metres above sea level. There is then an ascent of 138 steps then the trail continues in a westerly direction until a steep climb leads us out of the forest and into a clearing. Be rewarded with superb views of the coast leading back to Cape Otway; then from Cape Volney there are breathtaking views of the western coast.

Walking Distance: 13.8km
Walking Time: 6 hours
Grade: Moderate to Hard

Day 4: Moonlight Head Road to the 12 Apostles

The views of the Southern Ocean just get better and better and the Gables Lookout showcases the best the coastline has to offer. If tides permit, Wreck Beach will be the trail for the morning, otherwise it's inland to the coastal hamlet of Princetown. The final stretch leads to the 12 Apostles before a 3.5 hour return road journey to Melbourne.

Walking Distance: 17km
Walking Time: 5 hours
Grade: Moderate to Easy

What is part of a typical day?

Each trip is different and any alterations to a published itinerary are made in conjunction with the walkers, taking into consideration the weather, the fitness of the group and personal preferences.

• Around 7.00am we give a gentle knock on your door to plant the seed of getting up (that is, unless you're already up or have let us know the night before that you don't intend to walk).
• Between 7.00am and 8.00am enjoy breakfast and a briefing of the day ahead.
• Between 8.00am and 8.30am we set off for the day. Usually there's a short vehicle transfer to the place we start our walking.
• Between 8.30am and 9.30am set out on fresh tracks with the day ahead and the trails to ourselves. Most days your guides carry lunch for you and there's no appointments along the way. So, there's no reason to hurry and no where particular you have to be. Want to walk further each day? There's ways to cater for you. Want to hang back a bit and take photos of the flora? No problem. Chat to your guide and they will show you some vantage points. On average we walk between 12 and 15km per day and our emphasis is on discovery, not speed.
• All guides carry satellite phones and are in touch with the support vehicle throughout the day.
• Around4.00pm miraculously (or not!) your driver knows just where to meet you, whisking you back to the guest house in time for a hot shower, a massage (one included per walk), pre dinner drink and a delicious 3 course meal.

Do I need to be fit?

No, you don't. Walks aren't designed for pro athletes. If you already walk for fitness, swim a little, play golf or regularly climb a few stairs you will manage our walks with ease. We aren't out to set personal bests in distance; we just believe that walking is the best way to see some of the most beautiful parts of Victoria. We walk an average of 12-15km per day and most days will have an option to walk half days.

What do I have to carry?

You carry only a day pack containing up to two litres of water, a weather proof jacket and any personal items such as a camera and sunglasses. Occasionally you carry lunch, but on most days our guides bring that in their packs. We can provide a day pack for you to use, if you don?t have one. The rest of your kit is transferred on ahead, waiting for you at the days end.