At a Glance
Discover beautiful Victoria on the Great Ocean Walk. Marvel at the rugged coastline, ever-changing terrain, dedicated walking tracks ending at the iconic Twelve Apostles. Raw and wild, venture through remote areas of the Great Ocean Walk, knowing a foot spa, wine by the outdoor fire pit and long table dinners at nightfall with your fellow walkers awaits at the day’s end.
Just two and a half hours from Melbourne, you can be in remote wilderness and tick off a world walking icon on the Great Ocean Twelve Apostles Walk. In four days and over 46km, marvel at the rugged coastline, ever-changing terrain, and dedicated walking trails, ending at the iconic Twelve Apostles. Great Ocean Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk highlights the best and most remote sections of the trail known as the ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- All entrance & national park fees
- Vehicle support daily
- Return transfer to/from Melbourne to the walking base
- Daily use of foot baths, including mineral salts
- 3 nights Twelve Apostles Lodge accommodation. Quilts, pillows and a comfortable mattress at the lodge. Lodge library offering a range of books and games (including field guides)
- 1 x communal clothes wash (commercial washer and drying room)
- Use of a weather-proof jacket for the duration of the walk
- All Meal. Non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of local beer and wine
- Small groups of ten walkers are hosted by two qualified guides for the duration of the walk
Itinerary
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Walking Time: 3 hrs On the morning of your walk, we meet at Mecure, Southbank (9 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3000) at 7.30am. Here, your guide will introduce you to fellow walkers before departing for our drive to Blanket Bay. Be dressed and ready to walk, with your daypack fully packed for the days' walk ahead. We start the first section of the walk at Blanket Bay, a beautifully scenic section of the Great Ocean Walk that follows along the coast of Great Otway National Park. Beautiful ocean views from cliff tops and sandy beaches and inlets are frequent along this stretch of coast, along with koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas all scattering about along 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. |
Twelve Apostle Lodge
Lunch, Dinner |
Walking Time: 6.5 hrs Take a 30 minutes drive this morning to the most challenging trail. It comes with great reward – the most visually spectacular and isolated sections of the Great Ocean Walk – known as 'the wild side'. Take a winding path that leads from Milanesia Track down through the forest to beautiful Milanesia Beach. After a gentle beach stroll, we turn upwards for a short, but steep climb that sets the tone for the trail ahead. The trail is dissected by gullies before a gradual climb, which delivers fabulous views back over Milanesia. Rough tree ferns and stands of remnant Eucalypts dot the path before an ascent of 138 steps. The trail continues in a westerly direction until a steady climb leads us out of the forest and into Ryans Den campsite. From here, coastal views stretch to both Cape Volney and Cape Otway; an ideal place to reflect on your journey so far. The walk from here rises and falls many times as it parallels the coastline before cutting along the ridge behind Cape Volney, providing breathtaking views to the west. A final seated lookout delivers a magnificent vantage point, just metres from the walk's end. |
Twelve Apostle LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking Time: 3-4 hrs It's a 30 minute transfer to Moonlight Head. The first four and 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 continue through to a lovely lunch spot past Devil's Kitchen overlooking the distant Apostles. Wilder days will give an insight into the cauldron-like ocean at this part of the coast. A high tide option combines coastal scrub with forest and walks through Devil's Kitchen campsite. Stunning coastal views to the west this afternoon provide the incentive to keep moving forward. The topography and geology change from sandstone to limestone and its associated coastal flora. This afternoon is gentle walking that finishes at the Wreck Beach carpark, where our bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge. |
Twelve Apostle LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking Time: 3 hrs Enjoy your final morning at Twelve Apostles Walking Lodge. After another wholesome breakfast, there's a final pack up, check out and lodge farewell before a 45 minute drive back to Princetown. If you're self-driving, we'll help you relocate your car to the Twelve Apostles car park before returning to Princetown to complete your final walk to the grand Apostles. 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'll then move on to the nearby town of Port Campbell for lunch and an opportunity to change (including an optional shower) before returning to Melbourne. We offer a drop off to the airport and Melbourne CBD after your walk. (5.30/6pm drop off to Mercure Southbank and to Tullamarine for domestic flights from 6.30pm/ international flights after 7:30pm). |
NoneBreakfast, LunchAccommodation
Dates & Prices
Please contact us for group bookings or private departures.
More Info
- The departure point is Melbourne
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Melbourne
Day 1: Approximately 7 km
Day 2: Approximately 14 km
Day 3: Approximately 17 km
Day 4: Approximately 8 km
Victoria enjoys a temperate climate and reliable rainfall with four distinct seasons. Here is a guide to the hottest and coolest.
Summer: the average maximum temperature in south-west Victoria across January and February is 25 degrees Celsius, but can on occasion reach mid to high 30s. Sunscreen is required at all times, even on cloudy days, the UV factor can be deceptive. Wind can also burn, even when the temperature appears mild. Overnight temperatures vary from 8 to 15 degrees Celsius.
Winter: June to August is the coldest time in Victoria, with average maximum temperatures of between 8 and 13 degrees Celsius. 9
Spring and Autumn can be anywhere in between! Expect mild days, with ocean breezes and winds. Late afternoons cool down, and evenings will require a fleece or long sleeves.
As with all coastal walking, the weather can be unpredictable at all times of the year. Being cooler makes the walking no less enjoyable. Even the wildest days lend themselves to walking this rugged coastline, giving the opportunity to appreciate how a stretch became known as the "Shipwreck Coast". Access to a weatherproof jacket is essential, and we recommend walkers bring thermal clothing along, just in case!
(Data sourced from Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Units = °C)
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 5 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Each trip requires a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 guests.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 5 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
