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Exploring the stunning coastal scenery on the Twelve Apostles Walk - Twelve Apostles Walk, Australia
Exploring the stunning coastal scenery on the Twelve Apostles Walk  | Linda Murden
Following the Great Ocean Walk to Milanesia - Twelve Apostles Walk, Australia
Following the Great Ocean Walk to Milanesia
Experience the breathtaking coastal scenery on the Twelve Apostles Walk - Twelve Apostles Walk, Australia
Experience the breathtaking coastal scenery on the Twelve Apostles Walk  | Linda Murden
The Great Ocean Walk includes spectacular coastal scenery such as the Twevle Apostles - Twelve Apostles Walk, Australia
The Great Ocean Walk includes spectacular coastal scenery such as the Twevle Apostles
Final stretch of the trail with the Twelve Apostles sight - Twelve Apostles Walk, Australia
Final stretch of the trail with the Twelve Apostles sight  | Caroline Mongrain
Wreck Beach on the Great Ocean Walk - Twelve Apostles Walk, Australia
Wreck Beach on the Great Ocean Walk  | Tourism Victoria
Experience the breathtaking coastal scenery on the Twelve Apostles Walk - Twelve Apostles Walk, Australia
Experience the breathtaking coastal scenery on the Twelve Apostles Walk  | Linda Murden

Twelve Apostles Walk

Explore the south coast's magnificent coastline staying in luxury accommodation

Australia
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 50 reviews

4 Days from

$ 

Trip Code: GOW
View dates to Book
Essential Information
Duration
  • 4 Days
Activities
  • 4 days walking
Accommodation
  • 3 nights Lodge
Meals
  • 3 Dinners
  • 4 Lunches
  • 3 Breakfasts
Difficulty Grading  
4 / 10

Introductory to Moderate

Carbon Footprint  

48kg of CO2-e PP per day

(144kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Twelve Apostles Trip highlights

  • Twelve Apostles Walk is a trip of the Great Walks of Australia
  • Trek through Eucalypt forests with native rosemary, cushion plants and wild flowers in season
  • View the mighty limestone Apostles from the Gables Lookout, one of Australia’s highest cliff-top vistas
  • Spend your evenings at the Twelve Apostles Lodge, a stunning eco-lodge in Johanna with chef-inspired meals

Overview

This adventure takes place on EASTERN MAAR and GUNDITJMARA Country. We acknowledge their enduring connection with this Country, as they are the traditional custodians of this land, and we journey in respect of their Country.

Don't have time for a long trip away? This fully guided four day walking adventure takes in the rugged beauty of the world famous Twelve Apostles, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle of life and fully rejuvinate your senses in just four short days. Departing from Melbourne, this trip will visit renowned destinations including Johanna Beach, Moonlight Head, The Gables, Wreck Beach and of course the stunning Twelve Apostles. Over four amazing days, you will sample the most picturesque stages of the trail, walking past dramatic coastal terrain. Chef-inspired meals, transfers from Melbourne, a stunning eco-lodge, daypacks and waterproof jackets are all provided. Your expert guides are with you every step of the way, teaching you about the history, flora and fauna of the breathtaking landscape you are walking through.

Itinerary

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The group will meet at 7:45am at the Mercure Melbourne Southbank in Melbourne (9 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3000). Our guide will introduce you to the other walkers before departing for our drive to Blanket Bay. Be dressed and ready to walk, with your daypack fully packed for the days' walk ahead. After a scenic drive from Melbourne, we start the first section of the walk at Blanket Bay, one of the highlights of the Great Ocean Walk. We follow the coast of Great Otway National Park, climb along cliff tops and walk barefoot on golden sand beaches, learning about the unique flora and fauna as you go from our expert guides. You are sure to see some local wildlife on this unique part of the trail, with koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas all scattered about. The Cape Otway Lighthouse makes for a great end to the walk, where our guides can teach you all about the naval history of the area. From the lighthouse, we transfer you to our private lodge in Johanna, where we welcome you with a glass of local sparkling and a spectacular long table dinner of fresh Apollo Bay seafood to celebrate your first day of walking.

Meals: L,D

We drive 30 minutes this morning to the beginning of the most challenging day on the trail. It comes with great reward – the most visually spectacular and isolated sections of the Great Ocean Walk – known as ‘the wild side’ that gives the sense you’re at the world’s edge. We take a winding path that leads from Milanesia Track down through the forest to the beautiful Milanesia Beach. After a gentle beach stroll, we turn upwards for a short, but steep climb that sets the tone for the trail ahead. The trail is dissected by gullies before a gradual climb, which delivers fabulous views back over Milanesia. Rough tree ferns and towering remnant Eucalypts dot the path before an ascent of 138 steps. The trail continues in a westerly direction until a steady climb leads us out of the forest and into Ryans Den campsite. From here, coastal views stretch to both Cape Volney and Cape Otway, an ideal place to reflect on your journey so far. The walk from here rises and falls many times as it parallels the coastline before cutting along the ridge behind Cape Volney, providing breathtaking views to the west. A final seated lookout delivers a magnificent vantage point, just metres from the walk’s end.

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast it’s a 30 minute transfer to Moonlight Head. The first 4.5km gently meander through native stringybark forest providing a contrast to the coast, concluding with a rise to the Gables, one of mainland Australia’s highest cliff top lookouts. Tide-dependent, you will descend onto Wreck Beach and explore the historic shipwreck ruins before continuing through to Devil’s Kitchen for lunch and onto the historic Fiji shipwreck memorial. Wilder days will give an insight into the cauldron-like ocean at this part of the coast. After lunch, we follow the Devil’s Kitchen Track through fern gullies and over a ridge populated with grass trees to Wreck Beach carpark. On our way back to the lodge we divert for a short walk around Melba Gully, an enchanting rainforest gully with towering Mountain Ash and Beech Myrtle with an understory of tree ferns and waterfalls. After returning to the lodge we celebrate our last night together with a rejuvenating foot spa, a long table dinner and a glass of local wine.

Meals: B,L,D

Enjoy your final morning at Twelve Apostles Walking Lodge. After another wholesome breakfast, there’s a final pack up, check out and lodge farewell before a 45 minute drive to Princetown. These fabulous natural wonders emerge on slow reveal as the trail rises and falls along the coastline. There is a viewing lookout exclusively for walkers before our final stretch of trail into the Twelve Apostles Visitors Centre. You’ve made it! We’ll then move on to the nearby town of Timboon where we visit our dairy supplier, Schulz Organic Dairy, for lunch before returning to Melbourne. We offer a drop off to the airport* and Melbourne CBD** after your walk. *Tullamarine drop-off time: 5:00pm, in time for domestic flights from 6:30pm and international flights after 7:30pm. **Melbourne CBD (Mercure Melbourne Southbank) drop-off time: 6:00pm.

Meals: B,L

Ready to start your adventure?

97 scheduled departures between 13 Oct 2026 and 28 May 2028.

  • Departs 13 Oct 2026 – ends 16 Oct 2026 (4 days)
  • Departs 20 Oct 2026 – ends 23 Oct 2026 (4 days)
  • Departs 27 Oct 2026 – ends 30 Oct 2026 (4 days)
  • Departs 3 Nov 2026 – ends 6 Nov 2026 (4 days)
  • Departs 10 Nov 2026 – ends 13 Nov 2026 (4 days)
  • Departs 13 Nov 2026 – ends 16 Nov 2026 (4 days)
  • … and 91 more departures.
View dates to Book

What's included?

Included

  • 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
  • 3 nights eco-lodge accommodation twin share with linen and towels
  • Daily morning and afternoon tea
  • Non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of local beer and wine
  • Professional walking guide, driver and support staff
  • Use of a day pack, ankle gaiters, walking poles, and waterproof jacket during the trip
  • Fly nets, wet weather pants, dry bags and other weather dependent items are available and offered when required
  • All entrance and national park fees
  • Return transfers Melbourne/Twelve Apostles Walking Lodge/Melbourne
  • Daily foot baths including mineral salts
  • Emergency communications and group first aid kit

Not included

  • Travel to and from Melbourne
  • Accommodation in Melbourne before and after the trip
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, car parking and spa treatments
  • Travel insurance

Reviews (50)

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My wife and I did the Twelve Apostles in mid-April. Really fantastic trip! Our guides Joe, Jody and Mitchell were excellent, especially able to make adjustments for weather, the group and the tides. The beach sections were incredibly special. The lodge is super, very comfortable for all of us to hang out, and Dane provided super gourmet meals! We loved this trip!

David|Seattle, Washington
18 May 2026
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Fabulous experience doing the best bits of the Great Ocean Walk. Definitely recommend doing some decent prep as it was a bit harder than I expected with lots of stairs and challenging inclines.

Catherine|Grange, QLD
22 Mar 2026
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We had a great time on our 4 day walking holiday. The scenery was stunning, the guides excellent, the food amazing, and the accommodation excellent. We felt both invigorated and pampered.

Susan|West Vancouver, Bc
25 Feb 2026
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Absolutely great guides! Chris and Bruce were fantastic; competent, kind, knowledgeable, experienced, and great company. Huge thanks from us for a wonderfully enjoyable fours days of hiking.

Neena|London
24 Dec 2025
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This was a very interesting and enjoyable hike. Great scenery. Mike Paul and Sam were excellent guides. Very informative and good company. Finn's cooking was awesome. The lodge was first class.

Geoffrey|Balmain, NSW
25 Sep 2025
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It was a great walk with wonderful views and great guides. The accommodation and food was excellent.

Nicholas|Asquith, NSW
24 Sep 2025
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food,accomodation great

Adrienne|Gisborne
15 Apr 2025
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The booking process was relatively simple and the recommendation that we stay at the pick up hotel was good.Guides were thoughtful, knowlegable and obliging .Accommodation and meals exceeded expectations. The actual walk was more challenging than I was lead to expect from the information provided, especially day 2. The number of stairs is greatly understated . Some stunning views and it was great to see a snake and a koala but there was very little sign of birds or marine life .

Ruth|Gisborne, New Zealand
15 Apr 2025
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The Great Ocean Trek was fantastic, led by Joe and Elliott. The team of Em and Jaz at the Eco lodge were brilliant, offering tasty snacks on return from our walks, beautiful food and interesting and tasty lunches. The looked after my gluten free diet and even made me a birthday cake. Wonderful rooms and a great atmosphere with our fellow trekkers.

We would recommend this to anyone.

Thanks again

Andy & Jayne

Worcestershire, UK.

Jayne Gwillam|Bromsgrove
25 Feb 2025

Responsible Travel

Reconciliation Action Plan
The cultural conversation at Standley Chasm will teach you more about Arrente country | Luke Tscharke
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
 
As an Australian-owned and operated organisation, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing custodianship of the land, waters and culture for over 60,000 years.
 
In April 2024, we launched our inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. Our vision is to create cultural safety within the community, our organisation, and on all the lands we are privileged to share, through collaboration, meaningful engagement, and continuous learning while respecting the wisdom of Traditional Custodians.
 
For nearly four decades, we have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to curate immersive adventure experiences across Australia. Every journey begins with a meaningful Acknowledgement of Country, and most of our Australian multi-day itineraries include cultural engagement with local Traditional Custodians.
 
Our Australian Walking Holidays, Tasmanian Expeditions, and Blue Mountain Adventure Company divisions hold Triple Certification from Ecotourism Australia, including the Respecting our Culture Certification, underscoring our dedication to cultural authenticity, responsible business practices, and acknowledging the profound spiritual connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the land and water.
 
Read our RAP

Extra trip info

AccommodationWill My Trip Run?FAQs
Stay at the Twelve Apostles Lodge

Twelve Apostles Lodge

At the end of a day out on track, the Twelve Apostles Lodge is a forest-hugged refuge three hours from Melbourne. This is where the foot spa awaits, along with rainforest showers, kitchen garden, dining room stocked with local wines, and your king or twin share bedroom with spacious ensuite.

Every departure date advises whether the date is confirmed, and roughly how full it is. Here is what each one means.

Is the departure confirmed?

Guaranteed to go This departure has reached its minimum number and will run.
It is the point travellers should wait for before booking any non-refundable flights.
Close to guaranteed This appears only when a date is close to reaching minimum numbers. If it shows 1 or 2 to guaranteed, book as a pair on a date needing two and it reaches its minimum. Your booking confirms the date for everybody already booked.

How full is the date I am looking at?

Space is filling or Space is filling fast This date has bookings and places are still open. Filling fast means limited spots available, so don't leave your decision too late.
Closing soon Down to its last few places, or close enough to departure that we are finalising numbers. Still bookable online.
Closed Not bookable online - either full, or inside the notice we need to arrange permits, flights and logistics. Ask us anyway, you never know!

Availability questions answered

Will this trip actually go ahead, or could it be cancelled?

If a date shows Guaranteed to go, it runs regardless of further bookings.

What does 2 to guarantee mean?

It means two travellers are enough to confirm the departure. It could be 2 more to add to the group, or the date only needs 2 people to run. Either way, if you book for two people, the date will become guaranteed to run.

What happens if my departure does not reach minimum numbers?

You will know the status before you book. Every date on this page is labelled, and dates marked “Guaranteed to go” are running regardless of further bookings. Where a date has not reached its minimum we either offer a surcharge to operate for a smaller group size so it can still run, or we cancel it. We contact you directly either way.

Will I get my money back if you cancel a departure?

If we cancel a departure due to not meeting minimum trip numbers, you receive a full refund of everything you have paid us less any non recoverable costs, where insurance may cover you. We cannot refund money committed elsewhere – additional non refundable deposits advised at the time of booking, flights, visas, vaccinations, gear - which is why it is worth waiting for “Guaranteed to go” before booking other arrangements around this trip date. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before you book.

Why can't I book some dates online?

Each trip closes online a set time before departure. Permits, internal flights and hut or campsite bookings all have to be arranged before we take payment. Call or enquire as it might still be possible to organise last minute places.

The date I want is closed. What are my options and why does it say to enquire?

Cancellations happen and places do open up on closed dates, so it is worth being on our list. We can also tell you which nearby date on the same trip has space, which is usually the faster route.

None of these dates suit me. Can you run this trip on another date?

Yes, as a private departure. We can run this trip on a date you choose, for your own group - family, friends, a club, or in many cases, just for the two of you. Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming, and we will build it around that.

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The Great Walks of Australia are an exclusive collection of the best multi-day walking experiences in Australia. Each walk is an independently owned guided walking experience that enables access to some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes. All of the Great Walks of Australia can be viewed on their website - www.greatwalksofaustralia.com.au

To qualify as a great walk, each walk provides exceptional guided walking experiences in high-value natural areas for small groups. These experiences include outstanding accommodation, food & wine.

We return to the lodge all 3 nights so all you need to carry is a daypack, containing a drink bottle, lunch, rain jacket and a camera. The guides carry the rest!

We recommend lace-up hiking shoes or boots that have sturdy, treaded soles (flexible material and Vibram soles recommended). If you haven’t worn your boots for awhile please dust them off, take them for a walk and make sure the soles are still firmly attached to the boot. There is nothing worse than your boot failing on day one.

Boots must be worn in prior to departure to minimize the risk of blisters.

Please note that elasticized footwear, runners, trainers, or similar styles are not acceptable and you will be unable to commence the walk without the appropriate footwear, so please feel free to contact us for more details or discuss footwear with you. Please note that the final decision will be made by your guide at the briefing if they assess that there is an increased risk of injury due to extreme weather/other conditions.

Twelve Apostles Lodge has mobile coverage with free WIFI.

Yes, there are 3-pin power outlets (Australian) in the communal spaces around the lodge for charging your electronic devices.

Yes - if you have a favourite day pack, Gore-tex jacket, walking poles, or gaiters, you are more than welcome to bring your own instead of using the ones provided.

For your convenience, you may like to stay at Mercure Melbourne Southbank the evening prior to your walk as this is where our shuttle departs from and returns to on the last day (unless you are flying in on Day 1 and out on Day 4 from Melbourne Tullamarine airport). You are more than welcome to choose alternate accommodation, however, please ensure you are ready to leave from Mercure Melbourne Southbank at 7:45am sharp (arrive 10-15min earlier).

Yes, you are welcome to self-drive to the start of the trip. Please advise your reservations consultant in advance if you will be self-driving instead. In this case, there are two meeting points you can choose from:

1. You will meet your guides and group at 9:15am at Cafe La Hoot. Address: 1 Willis Street, Winchelsea VIC 3241. From there you will follow the bus to the lodge.

2. You will meet the group at 10:45am, at the Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre, and follow the bus from there.

No, hairdryers are not available at the lodge so you will need to pack your own if you need access to one.

Each trip requires a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 participants. All rooms are twin share and if the group is full, you will be sharing with another participant of the same gender.

Twelve Apostles Lodge is an environmentally sustainable, award-winning lodge - your hiking home base. This modern architecturally designed eco-development incorporates many best practices: self-sufficient water supply, on-site waste water treatment, low consumption electric and water fittings, and hydronic heating. That said, you will not be short of creature comforts: footbaths available for daily use, gear drying rooms, large communal spaces, and even a lodge library.

The bedrooms can be configured as king or twin share and all have access to an ensuite bathroom with flushing toilet and rainwater shower.

It is a condition of booking a tour with us, and your responsibility to ensure that you are adequately insured for the full duration of the tour in respect of illness, injury, pre-existing medical conditions, death, loss of baggage and personal items and cancellation and curtailment. You must provide evidence to AWH that you have obtained personal travel insurance. You must ensure that your personal travel insurance covers all of the activities you expect to participate in.

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