RAW Australia Great Ocean Walk

FREEDOM Walk along wild beaches, listening to the pounding

Rhythms of the Southern Ocean

JOHANNA BEACH

The Great Ocean Walk Come and experience what is fast becoming one of the world’s great walks

Opened in 2006 and recently upgraded, the new Great Ocean Walk spans 104 kilometres of one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Australia. If you think you already know this area from driving the Great Ocean road, think again!

The Great Ocean walk extends from Apollo Bay through the Great Otway National Park, to the famous Twelve Apostles near Port Campbell.

Along the way it traverses some of Australia’s most amazing coastal scenery, cutting through the Otway National Park where mountains and forest plunge dramatically to meet the Southern Ocean.

The trail is rich with wildlife as the Otway national park is home to over 60 threatened species, so expect to see Wallabies, Koalas, Echnidas and other iconic Australian wildlife on your hikes as well as abundant birdlife.Add in Shipwrecks from the 1800’s, one of Australia’s most significant lighthouses, rich Aboriginal heritage and two expert guides to explain it all and you have one fantastic walk.

Great Ocean Walk

SOLITUDE Deserted coves and windswept bays,

Where Nature still holds sway

CRAYFISH BAY

Great Ocean Walk

HISTORY The wild Shipwreck Coast has many stories to tell

and the wrecks from the age of sail can still be seen

Take a walk with our Shipwreck Historian and hear these

amazing stories

CAPE OTWAY LIGHTHOUSE

What’s unique about our walks?

On our 7 day walk we stay at 3 different accommodations, meaning our walk route is a continuous one, traversing from East to West each day and picking up where you left off on the previous day. On our 3 & 4 day walks we have chosen the outstanding highlights of the walk, offering some of the most spectacular and remote sections of the trail to showcase the wonderful diversity of scenery and habitats. Our Great Ocean Walks have attained the highest standard of eco-certification.

We use local experts to bring the walk to life and inform you about the history and environment you’re walking through. On our 3 & 4 day walks you’ll meet with a local legend and Shipwreck expert. On our 4 & 7 day walk he is also joined by a Koori guide who will give you insights into the lives and history of the first inhabitants of this coast. Our lead guide David Mitchell is also eco-certified.

You do not need to carry anything other than a day pack each day as your luggage is left at your accommodation and you can choose to walk as little or as much as you want.

Our meals are sourced from local produce & suppliers, of excellent quality and plentiful! It often mentioned a highlight for our guests. We prepare our own meals and eat out as well.

Great Ocean Walk

“This  was  an  absolutely  fantas2c  walk  –  lots  of  hills,  fantas2c  scenery  and  great  leaders.  I  would  recommend  it  to  everyone  who  enjoys  the  outdoors”.  Ellen  Sheridan

Highlights

RAW’s Great Ocean Walk is an inspiring journey that immerses you in natural beauty, with a warm bed, great food and interesting people along the way:

• Discover deserted beaches, wrecks and quiet inlets

• Enjoy informative talks on the natural environment

• See prolific wild and bird life along the walk

• Hike along the magnificent Johanna and Station Beaches

• Cape Otway Lighthouse tour & Shipwreck history talk

• Experience remote Milanesia and high sea cliffs

• Spot Koalas right outside your accommodation

• Enjoy picnic lunches & rest stops in pristine locations

• Finish your walk at the Twelve Apostles

Great Ocean Walk

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RICH  IN  NATURE  The  Great  Ocean  walk  abounds  with  wildlife.  Cape  Otway  is  a  natural  haven  for  wildlife  and  frequently  sighted  animals  and  birds  include  koalas,  eastern  grey  kangaroos,  swamp  wallabies,  possums,  blue-­‐winged  parrots,  Black  cockatoos,  Bowerbirds,  falcons  and  kookaburras.  Many  other  species  are  seen  on  occasion  but  require  more  discreet  observaBon  such  as  feathertail  gliders,  long-­‐nosed  bandicoots,  platypus  and  long-­‐nosed  potoroos.    

 There  are  also  a  number  of  rare  and  threatened  species  surviving  in  the  area  such  as  the  spoCed  tailed  quoll,  hooded  plover,  Swamp  Antechinus,  Broad-­‐toothed  Rat  and  Common  Bent-­‐wing  Bat  and  rufous  bristlebird.      At  night  the  sound  of  the  Yellow  bellied  Glider  can  someBmes  be  heard  in  forest  between  Shelly  Beach  and  Blanket  Bay  with  it’s  unusual  screaming  sound  or  the  puppy  like  yaps  of  a  Sugar  Glider.    

“The  accommoda+on  and  meals  closely  competed    With  the  picture  perfect  scenery,  not  to  men+on  reality    of  the  Australian  wildlife  always  at  your  side!    Thank  you  again  for  an  unforge=able  trip!  “  Angela  Kelly

Great Ocean Walk

Flexibility & full support

RAW’s Great Ocean Walk is very achievable as we have designed our walking routes with flexibility in mind, given that people have different abilities and aims for their trip.

There’s no pressure to walk the entire way, you only walk as much as you’d like to. Our driver and vehicle will transfer you back to your accommodation should you choose to end your walk early.

Or if you are keen to extend your walk as much as possible then your guide will accompany you for the full distance and our vehicle will meet you at the other end.

You’ll only need to carry a day pack on each day’s outing. RAW’s experienced guides are trained in First Aid and carry emergency communications ( handheld radios carried by the Leader (s) and Driver plus a satellite messenger to alert emergency services) giving you security and peace of mind outdoors. We have an excellent track record with safety and our main leader David Mitchell also works with Alpine search and rescue teams in the wintertime, so we are very conscious of giving our guests a safe and enjoyable trip.

Sometimes the elements turn against us but we have contingency plans that allow us to make the most of every trip and still get you outdoors. .

Great Ocean Walk

“The  Great  Ocean  Walk  with  Raw  Travel  is  a  fantas+c  experience,  with  excellent  organisa+on,  great  food,  good  accommoda+on  and  amazing  views.  Most  of  the  walk  is  easy  to  moderate,  with  pull-­‐out  points  along  the  way  making  the  walk  achievable  for  almost  anybody  with  even  moderate  fitness.  It  is  well  worth  the  effort”.  Grant  Williamson

RELAX Into the slower rhythmns of Nature

and discover your own pace again

BALD HILL, NEAR SHELLY BEACH

“The  Great  Ocean  Walk  blew  my  mind.  The  magical  scenery    would  have  done  that  alone,  but  then  add  in  the  seamless    organisa2on,  the  onsite  logis2cs  and  the  enthralling    personali2es  leading  the  troops  and  the  whole  experience    becomes  truly  memorable  and  unique.”    Annalee  Ma=hews

AccommodationRAW’s Great Ocean Walk gives you the best choice of accommodation of any tour:

On our 3 day walks you have the choice of either standard cabins with kitchen & balcony or upgrade Deluxe cabins with all the mod cons when we stay at Cape Otway. Here you’ll see Koalas walking past your cabin and prolific birdlife in the surrounding forest. There are communal facilities where we take our meals.

We stay in a modern, self contained retreat at Cape Otway light station on our 4 day walks So you can stay in historical accommodation in the light station precincts dating back to the 1800’s where our dining and bathroom facilities are shared. If you prefer more luxury then look at the 3 or 7 day options but if unsure please ask our consultant for exact accommodation details at the time of booking.

Our 7 day walks use beach front hotel accommodation in Port Campbell ( 2 nights) and stay at Cape Otway cabins for 4 nights in deluxe cabins, giving you variety and a sense of journey and cuts down on transfer times as you walk from east to West.

Great Ocean Walk

1. Interior  of  a  private  cabin  at  Cape  Otway    with  ensuite,  kitchen  and  siJng  area.  Cabins  will  vary  in  configura2on  but  have  private  facili2es  for  2  or  more  people  to  share.  

Interior  of  deluxe  cabins  used  on  most  3  day  and  7  day  trips,  which  contain  own  bathroom  and  kitchen  as  well  as  indoor  and  outdoor  siMng  areas  to  relax  and  enjoy  the  expansive  views  and  resident  Koalas  from  your  balcony  

Our  guests  enjoying  the  private  dining  room  at  our  cabin  accommodaBon  at  Cape  Otway    (  3  &  7  day  trips  

 not  to  be  confused  with  the  lighthouse  accommodaBon)

Interior  of  the  Cape  Otway  light  staBon  accommodaBon  with  shared  dining  /  social  lounge  and  an  example  of  a  bedroom  used  on  4  day  trips.  The  historic  building  and  precincts  are  atmospheric  &  though  not  luxurious  are  charming.    

“What  a  fantas+c  experience.  I  walked  in  November  2014  with  guide  Mitch  and  Lee.  They  were  excellent  in  ensuring  we  enjoyed  our  hike  to  the  max.  The  culmina+on  of  spectacular  views,  wonderful  forests,  wildlife  and  great  walking  companionship  make  it  a  wonderful  holiday.  The  accommoda+on  was  superb  and  Franks  cooking  far  exceeded  expecta+ons,  his  bubbly  personality  helped  to  forget  our  aches  quickly.  I  am  highly  recommending  this  company  to  all.  “  Joanne  Gerritsen

Great Ocean Walk

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LOCAL  TEAM  We  are  very  proud  of  the  7  person  team  that  we  have  working  on  our  Great  Ocean  Walks    -­‐  they  are  without  equal  and  also  the  longest  serving  staff  of  any  operator  on  the  GOW.    We  have  consistency  in  our  operaBons  and  the  people  you  read  about  in  our  reviews  are  the  people  you’ll  meet  on  your  trip.  Some  of  them  are  local  born  and  bred  in  the  area  who  know  the  region  inside  out.  

What  this  means  for  you  is  a  level  of  experBse  and    professionalism  that  all  our  guests  comment  on.    Our  lead  guide  Mitch  is  eco-­‐cerBfied  and  all  leaders  are  trained  professionals  with  a  long  experience  in  leading  groups.  Their  aim  is  to  ensure  that  you  have  a  fun,  safe  and  extremely  memorable  Bme  when  you  travel  with  us.  

Check  out  Trip  Advisor  to  see  recent  reviews  and  our  customers  feedback.  

David  Mitchell  (  pictured  above),  Jo  Bowtell  and  Eric  Ward  lead  our  Great  Ocean  walk  groups.  

Lee  Bryant  is  our  driver  and  support  for  all  our  walkers  on  guided  and  self  Guided  trips.  Steph  Johnston  is  our  GOW  expert  and  organiser  in  the  RAW  Travel  office.  

Frank  FoBnas    is  our  host  and  Chef  at  Cape  Otway  cabins,  whose  hospitality  &  sense  of  fun  is  matched  only  by  his  great  food!  

Mark  Bracks  entertaining  presentaBons  on  Shipwrecks  and  Natural  History  are  a  highlight  of  many  people’s  walk

When to walk?

RAW operates it’s Great Ocean Walk from October to May each year. The walk offers something different in every season: in Spring an abundance of wild flowers, Summer brings dry, balmy days that can be ideal for a cooling swim, Autumn can bring cool, sunny weather ideal for walking.

The truth is every season has it’s beauty and also it’s share of sunny and overcast days as well. As long as you are properly prepared you’ll enjoy any day on the Great Ocean walk.

Great Ocean Walk

Route of the Great Ocean Walk

PH: 1300 208 245 www.rawtravel.com

ESCAPE The crowds and discover a hidden side

to this World famous Coastline

GIBSON’S  STEPS