Great Ocean Walk in 8 Days with Camping

We love hiking, which is why we hiked Mount Inerie in Indonesia as well as the Great Ocean Walk in Australia, Victoria. Eight days. 100 kilometers from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. No showers. Heavy backpacks filled with camping gear and food. We started with everything we needed on our backs and the Great Ocean Walk ahead of us. Eight days of hiking through different kind of forests, along wild and deserted beaches, past spectacular cliffs, and across rugged landscapes that revealed something new around every corner. We knew it would be challenging. But we had no idea how many animals we would encounter along the way.

DAY 1 – 10 km

Koalas in the Forest

DAY 2 – 12 km

Our First Wallaby and a Night by the Beach

The next morning, we packed everything up again. Tent, sleeping bags, food, water. Everything went back into our backpacks. Day two brought our first wallaby. Another small moment that reminded us why we were out here in the first place. By the end of the day, we reached our campsite by the beach. There was something special about spending the night so close to the ocean, hearing the waves before falling asleep.

Campsite: Blanket Bay
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DAY 4 – 10 km

Watching the Tides

More kangaroos and wallabies crossed our path on day four of the Great Ocean Walk. By now, seeing wildlife had become part of the experience, although every encounter was still special. We eventually set up camp beside a river. But getting there wasn’t always straightforward. Navigating with the map and keeping track of the tides became adventures of their own. On the Great Ocean Walk, it’s not just about following a trail. You also need to understand the coastline and know when it’s safe to cross certain sections of beach, what made it even more adventurous.

Campsite: Aire River
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DAY 6 – 14 km

A Tough Day on the Trail

Day six was exhausting. The trail went up and down, again and again. Our legs were tired, our backpacks were still heavy, and the kilometers seemed to demand a little more effort than usual. We didn’t spot any wildlife that day. After so many encounters earlier in the week, it felt almost unusual. But not every day needs to bring a new animal sighting or a spectacular viewpoint. One of the best parts of the Great Ocean Walk had become the people we met along the way. That evening, we had a lovely dinner with our Australian friends. Good food, good company and the chance to sit down after another long day. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Campsite: Ryans Den
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DAY 7 – 13 km

Snakes, Kangaroos and the Tides Again

By day seven, we were getting closer to the end. Along the trail of the Great Ocean Walk, we encountered a black snake and possibly a brown snake as well. Later, we spotted kangaroos grazing in a field. The wildlife kept reminding us that we were far from home. We almost completed another beach crossing, but the tide was too high. There was no point in pushing our luck, so we turned back and took the inland route to our campsite for the final night.