Great Ocean Walk Private Tours

Enjoy Pack-Free Hiking On Victoria’s Best Coastal Walk

3 Day Tour Itinerary Below

All inclusive tours with return transport from Melbourne

The 3 day Great Ocean Walk tour is for those private groups looking to experience the best of the Great Ocean Walk but want the organisation / transport / food and camping equipment to be done for them. Good Times Tours is a small owner operated business that operates a 12 seater Toyota Hiace Minibus complete with fridge on board and a small trailer filled to the brim with quality camping equipment to make your experience on the Great Ocean Walk a memorable one.

Tour Information

Tour Departs

Pickups can be arranged for any location in Metropolitan Melbourne including the airport and also Geelong. The best time of the year to enjoy the Great Ocean Walk is during daylight savings (October to April) as the longer days provide groups more time to enjoy the trail and relax at Bimbi Park campground. After each days walk we also have time to explore the Otways Rainforest or head to Apollo Bay for a swim or meal.

Tour Returns

Melbourne @ 7pm (drop-off address is the same as pickup)

Minimum Group Size – 2

Maximum Group Size – 11

Price – Our private tours are quoted on the number of guests and days and also whether you are happy to camp or stay in accommodation. I can assure you though that as an owner/operator business we offer the best value all inclusive solution for guests from Melbourne looking to experience the Great Ocean Walk.

Camping Equipment –

Tents, Thermarest sleeping mats, Kathmandu down sleeping bags & inflatable pillows along with camp chairs are provided. We camp at Aire River West campground which is one of the most beautiful spots in Victoria and allows fires as well!

Food –

All tours include BBQ dinners and cereals/fruit for breakfast. Fruit will also be provided along with muesli bars for your daypacks whilst walking. For lunch we will stop at Apollo Bay on the way to Blanket Bay and on the return to Melbourne where guests can purchase their own lunch. On the 3 day tour, guests will be provided lunch. The van does have a fridge on board so feel free to bring any extra snacks. We also stay at Bimbi Park campground which has a full undercover camp kitchen and dining area which is perfect for evening meals and breakfast.

The Vehicle –

Good Times Tours has a comfortable 12 seater Toyota Hiace Van with a fridge/freezer on board, plus an ipad with spotify for tunes. There is also a fully equipped first aid kit and a trailer will be used for all luggage.

Accommodation – Camping (or private accommodation can be booked at additional cost)

Tour Runs – October to April (daylight savings period)

Difficulty – Easy/Medium

Distance – 3 day (50km)

Day 1 – Blanket Bay to Aire River – 19.5km’s

Day 2 – Aire River to Johanna Beach – 12.5km’s

Day 3 – Devils Kitchen to 12 Apostles – 18km’s

What to bring –

Day pack for walking
Overnight bag with clothes for 3 days
Water bottle (water is provided over both days)
Toiletries & baby wipes (no showers)
Waterproof jacket
Headtorch (if you have one)
Good walking shoes
Hat
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Sense of adventure

Enquiries – Call Jono Ingram on 0410 341 228 or email jonoingram@gmail.com

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

PARKER INLET

CRAYFISH BAY

CAPE OTWAY LIGHTHOUSE

CAMPING AT BIMBI PARK

STATION BEACH

JOHANNA BEACH

WRECK BEACH

OTWAYS RAINFOREST

12 APOSTLES

SIGHTSEEING ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

GREAT OCEAN WALK 3 DAY ITINERARY

Day 1 – Blanket Bay to Aire River – 19.5km’s

– Departing Melbourne at 8:30am on Saturday we arrive at Blanket Bay at midday.

– From Blanket Bay it’s a relatively easy walk through dense gum forest that opens up to provide spectacular views of the ocean before descending to the serene Parker Inlet which makes the perfect place for lunch and chances are you’ll have the entire inlet to yourself.

– Depending on the tide and how adventurous you are feeling, there’s an opportunity to either walk the waters edge following rock shelves around Point Franklin or take the short steep climb out of the inlet. Once up on the cliff line it’s a slow descent down to Crayfish Bay where there’s a new section of trail that hugs the coastline to Cape Otway Lightstation.

– Upon arrival at Cape Otway Lightstation, guests will have a chance to refill their water bottles and access their bags as the van will be there. We’ll rest here for approx. 20 minutes before tackling the last section of the hike.

– The trail from Cape Otway takes you through dense scrub before opening up to awesome cliff top views of the Southern Ocean and eventually you’ll find yourself in awe of the stunning Station Beach. Depending on how you are going for time you have the option of walking along the beach or taking the inland route which runs parallel to the beach.

– Not long after Station beach you’ll find yourself seeing the raw natural beauty of Glenaire Beach from the Escarpment Lookout. From here it’s a 1.5km descent down a sandy trail to the Aire River where you’ll then be transported 10 minutes back to Bimbi Park campground.

Day 2 – Aire River to Johanna Beach – 12.5km’s

– You’ll depart Aire River campground at approx. 8:30am and walk slowly uphill, taking time to stop and enjoy the views over Aire River. The trail then follows the cliff tops with numerous vantage points to take in the spectacular views over the southern ocean.

– At 10:30am we’ll arrive at our halfway point for the day which is Castle Cove. The trail runs parallel to the Great Ocean Road here and is a great place to take a short rest and have a quick bite to eat.

– From Castle Cove we depart on the final 7km’s of the walk with the trail winding it’s way along the coast which provides an amazing view looking back at Castle Cove & Aire River before heading inland through more dense forest.

– After a short while, the trail opens up to provide views of Johanna Beach your final destination. From here, the trail slowly descends down to the beach.

– The last 2km of the hike is along Johanna Beach with an arrival time of 1pm at the Johanna Beach car park. From here you’ll be picked up and we’ll head back to Bimbi Park campground. There will be plenty of time to explore the Otways Waterfalls, Redwood Forest or head into Apollo Bay for a swim and pub dinner if the group would like this.

Day 3 – Wreck Beach to 12 Apostles – 18kms

– The recommended last day is 18km’s however depending on guests arrangements this can be tailor made to suit preferences (a popular way to finish is just to do the final 7km’s from Princetown recreation reserve to the 12 Apostles which means you get back to Melbourne earlier) The walk from Wreck Beach to the finish line at the 12 Apostles is absolutely awesome so if you have time and will, it’s absolutely recommended to cover the full 18km’s.

– Day 3 commences with a drive to Wreck Beach carpark there’s an opportunity to grab a coffee at the general store in Lavers Hill. The drive is approx. 45mins to Wreck Beach and on arrival, if the tide is low we have the option of walking along the beach where you can see the anchors of the Marie Gabrielle and Fiji which both succumbed along the Shipwreck Coast. If the tide is high we’ll take the inland route through dense gum forrest which has occasional clearings with awesome views out over the ocean before arrive at Devils Kitchen dedicated hikers campground which is only accessible by foot.

– From Wreck Beach/Devils Kitchen campground the trail hugs the coastline and provides amazing vistas out towards the 12 Apostles and slowly but surely the Apostles come into view as you peer out towards Gellibrand River and beyond to the finish line. The coastline here really is awe inspiring and the photo opportunities are incredible.

– After a 10km walk guests will arrive at Princetown Recreation Reserve where chairs will be waiting alongside sandwiches are drinks so you can enjoy a well earned break and recharge before tackling the final 7km to the 12 Apostles.

– The last 7km of the walk is along slightly rockier terrain and you’ll have approx. 90 mins to enjoy this coastline before arriving at the Gibson Steps and onto the final 1km to the 12 Apostles Visitor Info Centre. Most guests finish at the Gibson Steps and walk down onto the beach if the steps are open (often they are closed due to the large swell) Once at the info centre, guests have time to walk across to see the 12 Apostles from the boardwalk lookouts.

– At approx. 4pm in the afternoon we will depart for Melbourne, a trip which will take 3.5 hours. Guests can be dropped off anywhere in Metropolitan Melbourne.

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE

Hiker on the Great Ocean Walk near Castle Cove

Melba Gully Hike on the Great Ocean Road

12 Apostles - Great Ocean Walk Private Tours

Why Choose Us For The Great Ocean Walk

We are Melbourne based so can provide return transport for public & private groups.
We setup camp and cook for you. You simply walk with your day pack.
We are an affordable option with extensive knowledge of the Great Ocean Walk and surrounds and can tailor an itinerary to suit any group needs.
We can cater for groups looking to spend anywhere between 2-4 days on the Great Ocean Walk.