Click here to send us an email
 SMALL GROUP GUIDED WALK - SOUTHERN OCEAN 

Departs from Melbourne Airport - 7 days / 6 nights
Scroll down for detailed itinerary and prices...
Enjoying the view on the Southern Ocran walk
Much more than the famous road!  This walk covers a superbly varied section of the famous Great Ocean Road area - one that offers a range of experiences for the explorer on foot.  Walk along sheer cliff tops with dramatic ocean vistas.  Stroll along the clean, white, sandy beaches of the Southern Ocean.  Head inland through majestic forests, past cascading waterfalls, fern gullies and the brilliant wildflower displays of winter and springtime.  In stormy weather, experience the exhilaration of the wind in your hair as the huge rollers relentlessly pound the coast.  On hot, summery days, enjoy a refreshing dip along the way.  Wildlife lovers will not be disappointed - there are plenty of native animals to see including kangaroos, koalas, colourful birds and many nocturnal animals.  With its enormous variety, this holiday is a delight..  Click here for a self guide version of this walk - Self Guide Southern Ocean Walk
 

7 day / 6 night Southern Ocean Surf Walk Itinerary GUIDED 
Departure Dates: 3 Jan'10, 14 March'10, 11 Apr'10, 3 Oct'10, 16 Jan'11, 12 March '11
Truly Ref. 1654                                                                 Prices..
Includes 5 days of walking, 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Day 1:  Departs Melbourne airport at 10.00am. Travel via Geelong and the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay. In the afternoon leave the tourists behind as you  walk along the coast away from Apollo Bay. The track hugs the coast at first before heading inland through tall eucalypt forest and patches of rainforest to Elliot River. Back in Apollo Bay our accommodation here will be in modern hotel style rooms.

Day 2:  Today’s walk meanders through delightful mountain ash forest to Blanket Bay then contours through coastal forests and along the cliff tops to Parker Inlet – a picture-postcard setting. An optional side-trip to Crayfish Bay is also a highlight. The track continues through Manna gum forests that are home to large numbers of koalas, eventually emerging at Cape Otway Lightstation. You will stay in the lighthouse keepers cottages for 2 nights and enjoy a tour of the lighthouse.
Day 3:  On to Station Beach and pretty Rainbow Falls where a spring cascades down to the rocky coastal platforms below. The track continues through the wind sculpted sand dunes and along the cliff tops to the Aire River estuary and wetlands. Stunning coastal scenery awaits you on the route to Castle Cove. Transfer back to Cape Otway for the night.

Day 4: Today’s section has some of the most spectacular coastal views of the entire track. It’s also a great day for wildflowers with colourful heathlands and numerous grass trees. Another highlight is the long, white, sandy expanse of Johanna Beach. At the end of the day we’ll travel on to Port Campbell where we’ll settle in for a three night stay.

Day 5:  Milanesia Beach is one of those secret beaches not many people get to and what a special place it is! From here the track continues along the cliff tops and you can see all the way back to Cape Otway lighthouse. High sea cliffs, breathtaking views and coastal forests lead you to Moonlight Head. Back to Port Campbell for the night.

Day 6:  The first highlight today is The Gables Lookout, perched on one of the highest sea cliffs in mainland Australia. Continue through a grove of casuarinas to Wreck Beach where the remains of two shipwrecks can be inspected. Onwards to the Gellibrand River and wetlands. Next comes the first impressive views of the 12 Apostles, a group of limestone sea stacks that are constantly changing. Descend Gibsons Steps that have been cut into the limestone cliff by hand by an early settler and explore the boardwalks and viewing platforms around the Apostles. Back to Port Campbell for the night.

Day 7:  The grand finale is the fascinating geological formations at Loch Ard Gorge where you’ll learn the amazing tale of survival of the Loch Ard shipwreck. Evocatively named places indicate the turmoil that hardy pioneers of the area endured, including the crews of over 150 ships that have been shipwrecked along this rugged coast. Then we travel back to Melbourne, arriving around 3.30pm.
Truly Reference 1654 Prices...
 
Aerial view of the Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road
 

Southern Ocean Surf Small Group Guided Walk  - GENERAL NOTES
DEPARTURE DATES:  Starts and finishes at Melbourne airport.
3 Jan'10, 14 March'10, 11 Apr'10, 3 Oct'10, 16 Jan'11, 12 March '11

LOCATION:  The Southern Ocean Surf Walk commences in Torquay, a seaside town about 2 hours SW of Melbourne.  The itinerary concludes further west at Lorne. There are daily train/coach services from/to Melbourne. 

TRANSPORT:  Air conditioned mini bus
GRADING:  Participants need be in reasonable shape.  Some days will entail a full day walk and on other days there may be several shorter walks. The full day walks generally involve 5-7 hours on the track at a moderate pace, though this might be broken into two or three separate sections. This itinerary has been designed so that there will be shorter options offered each day or you will have the chance to pull out part way along. So, most people should find options that suit their fitness level.
ACCOMMODATION:  Interesting and comfortable accommodation has been selected. In Apollo Bay you will stay in hotel style rooms. At Cape Otway spend two nights staying in the lighthouses keepers cottages and enjoy a candle-lit dinner as the sun sets. Note that the keepers cottages have shared bathroom facilities and single rooms are not available for these two nights. The final 3 nights will be spent in a motel in the pretty seaside village of Port Campbell.

MEALS:  6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners		 Mountain ash tree on the Southern Ocean walk
BEST TIME TO GO:  December through February is usually warm to hot with excellent swimming weather. Book well in advance for January because of the Australian summer school holidays. 

GUIDING: You will be accompanied by two knowledgeable and highly experienced guides.  Their role is to lead you safely through the range of environments, provide information about the areas you are walking through and generally assist you to get the most out of your holiday.  Group sizes vary .

WHAT IS INCLUDED:  Guiding by two personable and experienced guides, 6 nights accommodation, most meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners), all transport from Melbourne airport, entry to Cape Otway Lightstation, National Park fees, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, notes, maps.
NOT INCLUDED:  Alcohol, meals not listed in itinerary

NOTE: The itinerary may be modified without notice

A guided trip is for those who enjoy the camaraderie of a group, want to meet other like minded walkers or prefer to walk with a knowledgeable guide.  Come with a friend or come alone - either way you will soon make new friends.   The group sizes are always small - usually 2 - 14 people.  Participants can be of any nationality, any age, alone or accompanied.  Some are experienced walkers, some first timers.  People travelling alone will share a twin room with someone of the same sex, or else pay a single supplement for a private room. Click General Information about small group guided walks.
 
PRICES: SMALL GROUP GUIDED Walking - SOUTHERN OCEAN  11 Apr'10, 3 Oct'10
17 Oct'10, 12 Mar'11		 16Jan 2011 Later 2011-12 dates Truly
Ref
Per person per tour  Share Twin Single Suppl Share Twin Single Suppl. Share Twin Single Suppl.
Southern Ocean Surf Guided Walking:
7 days/6 nights		 A$2323* A$290# A$2420* A$350# Request Request 1654
To check approximate prices in other key currencies, see the Currency Converter
* Early Bird Discounts of A$100 per person are available (details on request ...)
# Single supplement gives single room on 4 nights and a shared room on 2 nights at the lighthouse
See the 'General Notes' and the 'Itinerary' (above) for details of what is included in prices shown.
Click here for details of How to Book /How to Make a Secure Payment
Please use the Truly Reference Number when making booking enquiries
  
Return to - Top         List of Walks     General Walks Information    or hit 'Back' button to return to previous page
 HOME