Great Ocean Walk & Great Ocean Road General Information
Frequently asked questions about your 'Great Ocean Walk' hiking vacation
Q1. How long is the Great Ocean Walk and where does
it begin and end?
Q2. Is there a map I can order in advance
to help me plan my Great Ocean Walk?
Q3. How difficult is the Great Ocean Walk? Do I need
to be very fit?
Q4. Is it easy to get lost on the Great Ocean Walk?
Registration
Q5. Do I have to register with Parks Victoria
before I commence my 'Great Ocean Walk' hiking holiday?
Traveling to the Great Ocean Walk
Q6. How do I get to the start of the Great Ocean Walk, on the Great Ocean Road?
Parking
Q7. Where can I leave my car on the Great Ocean Walk?
Campsites
Q8. What facilities are available at the
hike in campsites on the Great Ocean Walk?
Fire
Q9. Are fires allowed on the Great Ocean Walk?
Q10. What do I do on the total fire ban
days?
Food & Water on the Great Ocean Walk
Q11. Is drinking water available on the
Great Ocean Walk?
Q12. Can you buy food and water on the Great Ocean
Walk?
Things to take/Safety tips
Q13. What clothing/ protection should
I bring?
Q14. Are there any additional items I
should consider taking on the Great Ocean Walk?
Q15. Are there any other safety tips
I should keep in consideration?
Telephone reception and important numbers
Q16. Is there telephone reception on
the Great Ocean Walk?
Q17. Are there any other numbers I should
keep with me?
Wildlife and Plants
Q18. Which types of wildlife could I
possibly see on the Great Ocean Walk hike?
Q19. Which wildlife and plants should
be avoided?
Q20. What should I do if I see a snake,
or in the unlikely event of being bitten by a snake on the great Ocean Walk hike?
About the Great Ocean Walk
Q1. How long is the Great Ocean Walk and where does it
begin and end?
A. The Great Ocean Walk is located on the Great Ocean
Rd. It is 91km and stretches from Apollo Bay to Glenample Homestead. (12.5
kilometers from Port Campbell) Walkers are advised to walk one way, from
East to West. back to top
Q2. Is there
a map I can order to help me plan my Great Ocean Walk?
A. Yes. Please click on ‘Bookings & Enquiries’ and
we will post one to you. The map is the official Parks Victoria ‘Great
Ocean Walk Map’ and is $5.00 + postage fee. back
to top
Q3. How difficult
is the Great Ocean Walk? Do I need to be very fit?
A. A general level of fitness is required for all the
segments of the walk, although Parks Victoria have graded them clearly
to help indicate which sections of the walk are more difficult. (Please
look to the Walk grading chart on the ‘Great Ocean Walk' itinerary). We would suggest doing some walking training before you come, if you have not enjoyed a long distance walk before or for a long period of time. Remember that the walk is 5 or 6 days of walking every day, with no rest days in between, unless specified on your itinerary (this is available on booking your itinerary if required). If you cannot walk for any reason on arrival, we can transfer you to your accommodation when we move your luggage. However, we ask that you are flexible with times, and agree to be transferred when it is convenient with our driver, as he will have other previous booking commitments. back to top
Q4. Is it easy
to get lost on the Great Ocean Walk?
A. No. The walk is very easy to navigate with frequent
signage and an easy to read ‘Great Ocean Walk Map’. Therefore
self-guided walks, with assistance from Walk 91, are very popular. However
we do provide guided walks if preferred. Please click on ‘guided
walks’. back to top
Registration
Q5. Do I have to register with Parks Victoria
before I commence my Great Ocean Walk hiking holiday?
A. If you intend to use the Great Ocean Walk hike in
campsites you must submit an Overnight Campsite Application Form &
read the guidelines provided. E-mail: greatoceanwalk@parks.vic.gov.au.
If you book a camping package with Walk 91 we will make all reservations on your behalf on the Great Ocean Walk back to top
Travelling to the Great Ocean Walk
Q6. How do I get to the start of the Great Ocean Walk, on the Great Ocean Road?
A. By car from Melbourne: Apollo Bay is approx
200km south west of Melbourne. Follow the M1 to Geelong then take the
B100 (great ocean rd) or the A1 to Colac.
By car from the west: Approach via the B100 (Great Ocean Road) from Port Campbell.
By train & bus: Melbourne – Geelong – Apollo Bay: There is a train service as far as Geelong (from Spencer Street, Melbourne) that then switches to a bus to Apollo Bay. Call V/Line on 136196. www.vline.com.au
Bus: Melbourne–Geelong: Gull provides a daily bus service to Geelong www.gull.com.au
Other Bus providers: greyhound, fireflyexpress, mccaffertys
By plane: International: The closest international airport is Melbourne
Airport.Internal: The nearest internal airport is Avalon. (22km / approx 25mins drive to Geelong). www.avalonairport.com.au
A shuttle bus www.avalonairportshuttle.com.au is available from the airport to Geelong Bus/ Train Station where you can board a connecting V line bus to Apollo Bay. back to top
Parking on the Great Ocean Walk
Q7. Where can I leave my car on the Great Ocean Walk?
A. There is car parking available in Apollo Bay, at Shelly
Beach, Blanket Bay, Parker Hill, Cape Otway, Aire River and Johanna Beach.
(Vehicles are left at your own risk) back to top
Campsites on the Great Ocean Walk
Q8. What facilities are available at
the Great Ocean Walk hike in campsites?
A. Toilet, Shelter, Small tables, Rain Water Tanks. back
to top
Fire
Q9. Are fires allowed on the Great Ocean Walk?
A. No. However you are able to use gas or fuel stoves
in the hike-in campsites. Please beware of total fire ban days. Carry
a transistor radio and tune into 774 Melbourne for information and updates. back to top
Q10. What do
I do on the total fire ban days?
A. Call the Victorian Bushfire info line on 1800 240
667 or refer to
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/restrictions.
Once you commence your walk, it is your responsibility to follow fire
restrictions if they are in place. Make sure that you plan your escape
route options, and possibly consider postponing your walk for better weather
conditions. In case of fire, evacuation points are signed at Great Ocean Walk hike in campsites.
If unsure retreat to clearings and water bodies i.e. campsites, roads,
beaches, rivers, and estuaries until danger has passed. back
to top
Food and Water on the Great Ocean Walk
Q11. Is drinking water available on the Great Ocean Walk?
A. There is no ‘drinking’ water available
along the Great Ocean Walk. The campsite water tanks only hold untreated rainwater. back to top
Q12. Can you
buy food and water on the Great Ocean Walk?
A. Walk91 can deliver your provisions to you at your campsite, or our accommodation providers
are able to fulfill food requests.
Walk 91 can deliver your own pre packed food to you at your campsite or self-catering accommodation. (So that you do not need to carry it yourself) back to top
Things to take / Safety Tips for your 'Great Ocean Walk' hiking vacation
Q13. What clothing/ protection should I bring?
A. No matter the weather always take protective clothing
with you. We recommend the minimum of a weather proof jacket/ trousers,
jumper, hat, sunscreen, and sturdy footwear and socks. Some walkers like to bring sneakers/ trainers/ runners for use on the beach. Some walkers like to bring gaitors. Please look to our 'walkers diaries' for some walkers tips/ opinions. Also remember to
take insect repellent, and for the summer months hat fly screens (if you
find flies bothersome). More information regarding what to bring will be on your walkers notes.back to top
Q14. Are there
any additional items I should consider taking on the Great Ocean Walk?
A. Map, Emergency numbers, Parks Victoria hike in campsite
reservation numbers, matches, first aid kit (including blister cream/
dressings), compass, whistle, GPS, mobile, epirb, tide chart, water. Please
note these are guidelines only. If you intend to be self-sufficient take
adequate camping equipment (ie. Tent/plastic sheet, sleeping bag, torch,
fuel, stove, food etc)
Walk 91 has available all camping equipment for hire, for the great Ocean Walk hike-in -camp-sites. We also have a full camping package available. Please look to our Great Ocean Walk 'camping packages' page for more details. Other hire equipment is listed on our activities page.back to top
Q15. Are there
any other safety tips I should keep in consideration?
A. Please take note of the decision points on the ‘Great
Ocean Walk Map’, and safety tips whilst crossing rivers, swimming
and dealing with wildlife. Also follow all Parks Victoria recommendations
for fire safety. Remember to take any regular prescribed medication with
you on your walk. Walk within your ability. back to top
Telephone reception and important numbers
Q16. Is there telephone reception on the Great Ocean Walk?
A. There is patchy reception on the walk. However, most
mobile phone users can call 112 for connection to Police, Ambulance or
CFA.Please note that Walk 91's Great Ocean Walk packages offer free rental of an 'EPIRB' (Emergency Positioning
Indicating Radio Becon).
Q17. Are there
any other numbers I should keep with me?
A. We recommend you keep the following numbers with you
Police, ambulance, fire 000,
Apollo Bay Police (03) 5237 6750,
Lavers Hill Police (03) 5237 3200,
Port Campbell Police (03) 5589 6310,
Apollo Bay Hospital (03) 5237 8500,
RACV: 13 1111,
Parks Victoria, Apollo Bay (03) 5237 2500 back
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Wildlife and Plants
Q18. Which types of wildlife could I possibly
see on the Great Ocean Walk hike?
A. Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Black Wallabies, Echidnas,
King Parrots, Rufus Bristle birds, Singing Honeyeaters, Crimson Rosellas,
Gang Gang Cockatoos, Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos, Wedge-tailed Eagles,
White-bellied Sea-eagles. It is also possible to see Crested Terns, Sooty
Oystercatchers and Penguins. Also look out for dolphins or migrating whales
between June and September. back to top
Q19. Which wildlife
and plants should be avoided?
A. Look out for snakes in the bush. Also watch out for
leeches, wasps, bees, ticks and ants. Hide your food from foxes and do
not feed or handle wildlife.
Please keep to tracks and clean down your shoes at the Blanket Bay and
Parker Inlet hygiene stations, to prevent spreading the Cinnamon Fungus
disease (which infects the roots of native plants). back
to top
Q20. What should
I do if I see a snake, or in the unlikely event of being bitten by a snake on the Great Ocean Walk hike?
A. Be aware where you rest your feet and hands and do
not walk barefoot in long grass. If you see a snake do not touch it, frighten
or threaten it. Stay still and it will only attack if you threaten it.
Snakes do not like people so it escapes given the opportunity.
If you do get bitten it is fairly easy
to restrict the venom and delay the onset of symptoms for hours if you:
Apply a pressure bandage immediately (as if you had a sprained ankle).
Do not cut off the blood flow or apply a constrictive bandage or tourniquet.
Place a bandage over the bite and then bandage as much as the limb as
possible.
Use a splint to keep the limb immobilized.
Apply firm pressure to bites to the head, neck, and back.
Do not wash the bite (as the venom on the skin is required to positively
identify the snake and administer the correct antivenin).
Do not cut or suck the area.
Get help by bringing the transport to the bitten person.
They should not attempt to walk any further.
Call 112 / 000 in an emergency.
Please note: All of the above information may change at any time, and is offered as general advice. If in doubt please check details with Parks Victoria before you commence your walk. Walk 91 bears no responsibility or liability /costs / claims / liable action whatsoever for any errors, faults, defects or omissions in the information given. back to top