Cape Otway and The Great Ocean Walk.

There is a Great Ocean Road and a Great Ocean Walk. 

The Great Ocean Road runs from Port Campbell via Apollo Bay to Anglesea and can be driven in 5 to 6 hours (if you don't dawdle).  Half of the total distance is inland and the rest is either immediately along the ocean or has a view of the ocean.

The Great Ocean Walk, on the other hand, is a walking path on the hillsides and headlands immediately next to the ocean. And at low tide you can, in certain sections, drop down to the beach for short sections.

It is shorter in total length, starting at Apollo Bay instead of Anglesea, and finishing 10 k before Port Campbell.  It is usually done as a 5 to 7 day walk. As direct  access is limited, and often a fair drive from the closest town or lodging,  it is usually done as a backpack with camping at designated campgrounds.

Kath and I decided that a 7 days of camping was too long and instead we rented a cottage on Cape Otway with the plan to do several 7 or 8 mile day walks of various sections of the trail. That way we would to see the differing terrains with the added benefit of a daily warm shower, warm bed, and a comfortable place to have our evening wine as we watched the setting sun.








































Cape Otway is its own ecosystem, being fairly heavily wooded with eucalyptus trees. And with eucalyptus you see ..... koalas!!   In Yellowstone a group of cars by the side of the road means a bison, or even a bear. Here it is a koala sighting.






















Here are a few random photos of our daily walks. After hiking in Patagonia a few years ago, and passing other groups every 1/4 mile or so, I was amazed at the lack of other walkers here. We did a 8 mile walk one day and saw only 3 other groups for the entire time. And on one beach (where you can see Kathy walking  - alone), we had what was at least a 1 1/2 mile beach all to ourselves for over the hour we were there. This really is an undiscovered part of the world.