Great Ocean Walk Tour – 4 Day Pack Free Adventure
Join Jono Ingram the owner of Good Times Tours on an epic & personalised 4 day private hiking tour of Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk
Please note the below 4 day adventure is an itinerary I’ve run for previous groups and is based on private accommodation, however I also provide camping accommodation as well utilising Bimbi Park.
Tour Overview –
Good Times Tours is a small owner/operated independent tour business run by Jono Ingram and based in Melbourne. We love providing all inclusive tours for small groups looking to experience the best of Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk.
Tour Dates
Private Great Ocean Walk tours are available year-round however my personal preference is to enjoy the Great Ocean Walk during daylight savings (October to March) as the additional daylight hours means guests can enjoy longer days before and after each days walk.
Tour Departs
Pickup can be anywhere in Metropolitan Melbourne or Geelong.
Tour Returns
Drop-off can be arranged anywhere including Melbourne Airport for interstate guests.
Camping Equipment –
Tents, Thermarest sleeping mats, Kathmandu down sleeping bags & inflatable pillows along with camp chairs are provided. We camp at Bimbi Park which allows fires, has hot showers, undercover meals and kitchen area, plus you get to camp underneath the Koalas!
Food –
- Fruit, muesli bars, tea, coffee, orange juice, coke etc. will be provided for all 4 days of walking. And I’ll have ingredients for sandwiches too if you need something more substantial.
- BBQ dinner will be provided for all 3 evenings (we can discuss actual meals as my van has a fridge and I’m happy to be flexible with dinners)
- Breakfast – Fruit, muesli, cereals, tea and coffee will be provided.
Food that’s not included
- Breakfast on day 1. Let’s just grab something on the way from Airey’s Inlet to Blanket Bay.
- Dinner on the last evening. We can always head to Port Campbell after finishing at the 12 Apostles which has plenty of cafes, pub etc. or alternatively the most direct route back to Airey’s Inlet is via Colac which has plenty of options.
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 music. There is also a fully equipped first aid kit and a trailer will be used for all luggage.
Price – $775 per person.
Contact – Call Jono Ingram on 0410 341 228 or email jonoingram@gmail.com
What to bring –
- Day pack for walking
- Overnight bag with clothes for 4 days
- Water bottle (water is provided)
- Toiletries & baby wipes
- Waterproof jacket
- Headtorch
- Good walking shoes
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Sense of adventure
Great Ocean Walk Itinerary
Please note the below itinerary is based on 4 days of walking the Great Ocean Walk, but our tours are personalised to each groups needs. Over the course of 4 days we have plenty of time to sightsee along the Great Ocean Road, explore the Redwoods and waterfalls of the Otways Rainforest and visit the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and even visit wineries, gin/whiskey distilleries and even Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs in Warrnambool.
Day 1 – Blanket Bay to Aire River West Campground – 21kms.
The goal will be to leave Airey’s Inlet at 7:30am so we can have you on the trail for 10am. It’s only a 2 hour drive from Airey’s Inlet to Blanket Bay but I’m thinking we’ll stop in Apollo Bay for breakfast and any last minute supplies you need. Food wise, I’ll provide fruit, muesli bars etc. for the walk and I’ll have camp setup for you at Aire River West Campground. During the walk I’ll also meet you at Park Hill (4kms into your walk) and at Cape Otway (10kms into you walk) so that you can have the opportunity to grab water, food, sunscreen, take a layer off etc. I’m not one to sit in my van so I’ll always meet you along the trail with supplies etc.
Day 2 – Aire River West to Johanna Beach- 14kms.
This is a fantastic section of trail however you will most likely be finished by 1pm and I’d suggest we then then head to Lavers Hill (15 mins drive from Johanna Beach) where there is a country cafe. I’d then recommend visiting Melba Gully which has a fantastic 35 min loop walk through the temperate rainforest of the Otways which will provide a great contrast to the coastal environments you’ve been experiencing. Camping wise, we could spend a second evening at Aire River West Campground (fires allowed) or we could camp at Johanna Beach (no fires allowed).
Day 3 – Ryans Den to Devils Kitchen Campground – 14.4kms.
This section of the trail is stunning, however it’s considered the hardest physically so 14.4km’s is long enough for day 3. To get you from Aire River or Johanna Beach to Ryans Den campground so you can commence your walk will be a 30-40min drive in the morning. Camping wise, the Devil’s Kitchen campground is one of the dedicated hike in campsites so it’s not accessible by car however I think it would be fantastic for you to experience this campsite as it has incredible ocean views and I can still hike in with all the equipment (only 1km from a carpark) and setup camp for you. It does probably mean a relaxing afternoon at camp enjoying reading a book etc. and just relaxing. I would camp here in the evening as well to make sure you have everything you need etc. *Disclaimer – If the idea of a hot shower sounds incredible, there is the option to camp at Princetown Recreation Reserve which has undercover BBQ facilities and toilets/hot showers (it’s very cheap to) so we can discuss this.
Day 4 – Devils Kitchen Campground to 12 Apostles- 15.1kms.
Probably my favourite section of the entire trail and waking up at one of the dedicated hike in campsites and knowing that you’ve got a great walk ahead that’s decent but very achievable will be a great way to end your Great Ocean Walk experience. Again like always I’ll ensure the van and supplies are never too far away, I’ll be able to meet you at Princetown which is a small little village on the Gellibrand River (8km’s into your walk) to ensure you have an enjoyable and comfortable walk along the remaining 7kms to the 12 Apostles. Rough finishing time will be around 2:30-3pm and it’s a 2 hour drive back to Airey’s Inlet.
Total of 64.5kms over 4 days
Sections You’ll Enjoy
The Great Ocean Walk is split up into 9 sections and the ones in bold below will be the ones you enjoy and which I believe represent the best trail experience for guests. For images and brief description of sections please click on the links below.
Stage 1 – Apollo Bay to Elliot Ridge
Stage 2 – Elliot Ridge to Blanket Bay
Stage 3 – Blanket Bay to Cape Otway
Stage 4 – Cape Otway to Aire River
Stage 5 – Aire River to Johanna Beach
Stage 6 – Johanna Beach to Ryans Den
Stage 7 – Ryans Den to Devils Kitchen
Stage 8 – Devils Kitchen to 12 Princetown
Stage 9 – Princetown to 12 Apostles
Read Our Reviews
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Candy Tong2024-07-03Jono went above and beyond to ensure that my family enjoyed Mornington and Great Ocean Road. He has been very accommodating to our family needs, and the little children also absolutely adored him! I would 200% recommend booking the private tour with Jono to anyone.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Kelvin Deer2024-07-01Jono (Good Time Tours) is a must if you are looking for something a bit bespoke and not your average trip out of Melbourne. Nothing was too difficult for Jono. From the suggested itinerary, the various pickups and then throughout the day, we had a knowledgeable local who shared his experiences with our group. Thanks Jono.... legend!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Cindy Kennedy2024-05-06Organised this wine tour to celebrate a couple of birthdays from work. Jono was very approachable, accommodating and flexible in terms of letting us choose our lunch destination. Each cellar door was very welcoming as Jono knew some of the winemakers and introduced us to them. Jono even went as far as suggesting this gorgeous spot for a great autumn pic. Overall everyone absolutely enjoyed their time and we will most likely book Jono again.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Paul & Marie-Louise McElwee2024-04-30We had an excellent trip to the Yarra Valley with Jono on Anzac Day. Nothing was too much trouble, from the initial enquiry the week before and arranging a tour that catered for the reduced mobility of two of our group. He was very flexible on the day as well. I would highly recommend touring with Jono.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Kate Moxhay2024-03-18Jono was an exceptional driver and host for our group's tour around the Heathcote wine region yesterday. Would highly recommend Jono to anyone looking for a reliable, friendly and fun host!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Jessica Cowin2024-03-09Jono was the most amazing tour guide. He elevated our Yarra Valley wine tour experience. Great fun and well managed tour, he got us everywhere on time and took us to some great wineries. Would definitely roll with him again!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nobu Kurihara2022-11-19Jono took our Japanese group to Heathcoat wineries. Excellent private tour. Our guide Jono was incredibly knowledgable, cheerful and gave us a fantastic day! We learnt about history, culture, features and much more. He was well traveled and have flexibility, high standards, and we were very happy with Jono's tour - he had great memory and experience in Japan and all over the world, we also enjoyed chatting with him!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Dale Manson2022-07-10Jono was fantastic. From prior to the booking right through to the day, Jono was accommodating and a great communicator. Jono looked after us superbly throughout our wine tour in the Macedon Ranges. If you’re looking for a reliable and quality tour, hit up Jono!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Anna Bevington2021-02-07We loved our 1 day winery tour in Heathcote. Jono had picked some great independent venues where you got to meet the owners and everything was well organised from start to finish. The bus was comfy and clean, price was very good value and Jono was a great host. Would definitely recommend!
Hiking Tour Reviews
“I can’t say enough about how wonderful our experience with Jono was. It truly was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip in Australia. We really wanted an experience that was off the grid and intimate, and explore parts of Victoria that the “locals” would share with their friends. It was all that and more. Jono was the epitome of what you would want in a guide: knowledgeable, professional, engaging, and above all a down-to-earth demeanor that made you feel comfortable from the get go. His attention to detail from the gear, the hidden gems he shared with us, and his insights on Australian culture(s) were terrific. I cannot recommend highly enough!“ Jenny Beagle – Colorado
“I went with a friend and had a fantastic time. Jono is professional, polite and has a great local knowledge. Really good camping gear, enough food. He allowed enough time for everyone to do things at their pace. Wilsons Prom is a really good spot and we did a lot, the day ended with Jono setting up the tents, marquee and sleeping bags.“ Sara P – Melbourne
“I went to Wilsons Prom on small group tour with Jono and Clint and had the best time! The guides were fantastic, and kept the itinerary flexible to suit our preferences and energy level. Everything from camping equipment to food (and sunscreen!) is taken care of, so you can just relax and enjoy the stunning scenery. I highly recommend Good Times Tours and can’t wait to do other tours with them!“ Linda H – Finland
“Jono runs a fantastic trip. Everything is covered, all you have to do is walk and enjoy. He has an excellent knowledgeable of the area. We hiked the Great Ocean Way for 2 days, then, on Jono’s suggestion, went over to the Grampians for a day. Hiking was wonderful, camping comfortable and easy (saw koalas at Aire River and kangaroos in Grampians)“ Deborah S – North Carolina
Check Out Our Great Ocean Walk Trip Reports
Great Ocean Walk & Great Ocean Road 2 Day Tour
Great Ocean Walk & Grampians 3 Day Tour
Great Ocean Walk & Grampians 3 Day Tour