Hike the Great Ocean Walk

Trip Code: PJXO

Why we love it

Explore diverse and beautiful landscapes on foot – from pristine beaches and rocky terrain to stunning coastline., Traverse this classic Victoria track with not one but two expert local leaders to share their knowledge about the region and take care of all the details along the way., Walk the entire 104km Great Ocean Walk with nothing but a day pack, staying in accommodation along the track with your main luggage being transferred for you., Marvel at the incredible 12 Apostles – the finishing point and final reward for your incredible efforts., With almost every meal included, you’ll enjoy wonderful fresh picnics in incredible locations, delicious breakfasts and hearty homecooked dinners.

Is this trip right for me?

This is a 104km walking trip so you will need to have good physical fitness to fully enjoy it. On Days 2 and 3 we will walk over 19km each day so you will need to be confident that you can walk this distance two days in a row. Walking along the Great Ocean Road means different terrain from sandy beaches to rocky paths. You must bring appropriate footwear and clothing to be able to tackle these famous paths. Please note that the itinerary may change depending on local conditions and the weather.

This trip is operated and run by Inspiration Outdoors, an Intrepid Company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Inspiration Outdoors customers and Intrepid customers. Intrepid works closely with Inspiration Outdoors to ensure that all of our customers enjoy their time away.

Important information

START & END TIMES
This trip begins with a pick-up in Melbourne's CBD on day 1 at 8am and finishes in the late afternoon on the last day upon arrival back into Melbourne. Please keep this in mind when booking your arrival and departure arrangements.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. Due to the types of accommodation used on this tour a single supplement will not always mean a king/queen bed and own bathroom.

OPERATOR
This trip is operated and run by Inspiration Outdoors, an Intrepid Company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Inspiration Outdoors customers and Intrepid customers. Intrepid works closely with Inspiration Outdoors to ensure that all of our customers enjoy their time away.

What to bring/pack

Victorian weather is notoriously changeable. Be prepared for a variety of weather, with the
possibility of cold, windy and wet conditions. It is not necessary to ‘dress’ for evening meals;
casual, comfortable clothing is sufficient.

Essential items

• Day pack
• Water bottle/bladder
• Walking boots
• Rain jacket
• Long-sleeve shirt with collar
(for sun protection)
• Sunhat
• Long-legged pants (or shorts
with long gaiters)
• Warm jacket and hat
• High factor sunscreen
• Blister pads and/or tape for
hotspots or blisters on your feet
• Insect repellent
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries
• Watch or alarm clock
• Towel and swimwear
(summer months)
• Travel documents

Optional items

• Waterproof cover for day pack
• Waterproof walking boots
• Long gaiters
• Walking poles
• Camera
• Small binoculars
• Torch / head torch

SPECIALIST GEAR FOR THIS WALK

Walking boots

Waterproof walking boots/shoes with full ankle support are recommended for this walk.
Make sure your footwear is well worn in and comfortable. We also recommend hiking socks
– they minimise the chance of getting blisters. The key to preventing blisters and avoiding
unnecessary pain is to eliminate friction.

Physical rating

4

There is no such thing as an 'easy day' on this walk. There are a lot of ups and downs, and lots of rocky sections with the odd boulders. We will take the steep hills at a slow and steady pace and will also take care on the downhill sections. The walk has been designed to make it achievable to those of reasonable fitness by the fact that you only carry a daypack; and you start with short and easier sections, working your way up to longer and more difficult days. You will be surprised just how your fitness improves over just a few days. Usually by day four people are striding out! A positive mental attitude is most important. If you focus on the scenery, the company and the moment, not on the kilometers, then you find yourself reaching your destination with little problem. If you have done some training prior to the walk, you will enjoy it all the more.

The best way to prepare physically for the trip is to walk, walk and walk some more - preferably over a variety of terrain and including lots of up and downhill walking. Try to walk frequently. Even walking around your suburb and up and down sets of stairs will get you walk-fit. By the start of the tour, you should be able to comfortably walk 15km, and try and do a few 20km walks on rough tracks, as well as being comfortable walking steep hills. Include stepping up onto and over big steps, a random rock or bench on your walk would make a good candidate to add to your training regime. Many of the council provided outdoor gyms have blocks you can practice stepping up on to. Make sure to train both legs equally!

We know that this type of preparation is difficult to fit into a busy schedule. If you don't have the time to do long walks, we recommend doing regular stair walking sessions and lots and lots of glut exercises (squats and lunges). Walking small distances frequently helps a lot as well. For instance, walking 3 - 5km four times a week, and 8km once a week, is a great help. If you're doing short training sessions, make sure you get yourself puffed and sweaty. Otherwise you won't benefit from your efforts. And start walking in the shoes you will wear on the walk now!

Joining your group

Media House, 655 Collins Street, Loading Zone opposite Southern Cross Station, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

Finishing your trip

Media House, 655 Collins Street, Loading Zone opposite Southern Cross Station, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 6

Lunches included: 6

Dinners included: 6

All meals are included, with the exception of lunch on the last day, when you can pick up something on the way home. Breakfast comprises cereals, fruit, yoghurt, toast, juice, tea and freshly brewed coffee. Each day your leader will provide morning tea for you. Fruit is also available. On most days lunch is self-made from fresh breads, salads and meats. Enjoy pre-dinner nibbles with fellow guests each evening while your guides prepare a delicious two-course meal for dinner. Please let us know of any dietary requirements before you book. We can happily adapt our menu to accommodate most dietary needs. Assistance is appreciated with clearing away and washing up.

Climate & seasonal information

WEATHER IN VICTORIA
Victoria experiences four distinct seasons throughout the year. During the summer, daily temperatures are between 14C/57F and 27C/80F. During winter, daily temperatures are between 6C/42F and 13C/55F. Spring is the wettest time of year, with October’s average rainfall reaching 53mm.

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164

Accommodations

Transportation