6 Days: Tuesday 20th to Sunday 25th March 2012

2 Nights: Annersley House, Portland

3 Nights: Cape Otway Lightstation

The south west corner of Victoria is home to the Great Ocean Walk (GOW) and the Great South West Walk (GSWW). We’ve compiled a delightful 6 day holiday that offers you the best of these two walks with other highlights included. The trip is fully accommodated meaning you can expend as much energy as you wish during the day and come back to a lovely place of stay that has it’s own character and adds so much to the appeal of a trip such as this. Plus April gives rise to moderate temperatures and generally calm days along this wild coastline.

DAY 1

Melbourne is our point of departure as we head down to the historic town of Winchelsea for morning tea. Then we’re motoring on to Portland via Tower Hill Reserve where lunch can be enjoyed sitting atop of the volcanic peak and gazing out over the surrounding coast. By mid-afternoon we’ll be walking the GSSW around the spectacular Cape Nelson and exploring the “Enchanted Forest” before settling into our nights accommodation at Annersley House in the historic section of Portland. 8 kilometres walking. 

DAY 2

Cape Bridgewater is our days destination. It starts at the Tarragul Caves and sees us following the trail passed the Bridgewater Lakes and the Petrified Forest. Along the way open springs feed fresh water directly into the ocean until the track winds its way along the top of the cliff line 100 metres directly above the surging might of the Southern Ocean crashing below us. The seal colony lookouts, views across to Cape Nelson and then, finally, nirvana in the form of a coffee, ice cream or whatever your pleasure maybe at the Cape Bridgewater Cafe. Then it’s back to Annersley House in Portland and another lovely evening with the company of your fellow walkers.

DAY 3

Farewell to Portland this morning it’s time to make tracks for the Great Ocean Walk. We’ll stop for morning tea in Port Campbell (OE) and pull into Loch Ard Gorge for a wander through this history laden and beautiful piece of coastline. Then we’ll head a little further down the road to Wreck Beach and begin our days walking finishing up at the mighty Twelve Apostles. Then we make our way to the Cape Otway Lightstation for a delightful three night stay. 

DAY 4

We have the most splendid piece of the entire GOW to enjoy today. The walk from Milenesia Beach to Moonlight Head, via Ryans Den is stunning. Despite some of its sections being more challenging than we would otherwise be used to, its views and the track layout and construction make this a highly engaging section of the walk. Once the walk is over we’ll head down the Great Ocean Road to the town of Lavers Hill for an afternoon cuppa (Own Expense) and then back to the sanctuary of the Cape Otway Lightstation where our master guides become master chefs and turn out another fabulous meal.

Total of between 5 to 10 kilometres walking

DAY 5

When you wake up this morning there is no getting onto the coach. Instead todays walk departs right from our front door as we walk around the cape and along the ridgeline that runs parallel to the ocean crashing below on Station Beach. Our lunch stop overlooking the Aire River Inlet is classic Otways with it’s rural setting surrounded by thick rainforest. After lunch we continue to Castle Cove where the days walk finishes. Total of between 6 to 16 kilometres walking depending on your capacity.

DAY 6

How best to finish off the trip is answered by serving up one final slice of the Great Ocean Walk as we take the trek from Marengo through to Elliott River. By now your senses will be so attuned to the fresh salt air and the smell of the rainforest that your movement will feel more like floating than walking. Alas by late morning it will be time for us to take you into the township of Apollo Bay for lunch (OE) before we begin the journey homewards. We’ll be in the Melbourne CBD just after 5.00pm.

Return flights need to be booked from 7.30pm onwards if you intend to fly out on the last day of the trip.

We can pick up from Avalon Airport on the morning of Day 1 after 9.00am.

Price: $ 1690 (ex - Melbourne) (incl. GST)