Frequently Asked Questions

There are no shops on the track itself, and you do not walk through any towns. However there is a café in the Cape Otway Lighthouse which sells coffee/sandwiches but opening times vary so please do not rely on this. 

There are several shops and a chemist/ pharmacy in Apollo Bay, but they tend not to be open on Sundays (and are open for limited hours on a Saturday.)

There are two supermarkets in Apollo Bay and several cafes and restaurants.

When you think of travelling in Australia, it’s understandable that your mind may stray to snakes.
In short, yes, there are snakes in the area around the walking trail. But the reality is, they aren’t interested in you! They don’t like people.
All you have to do is try and avoid them. Given the opportunity, snakes will happily choose to escape rather than attack.
Just be aware of where you rest your hands and feet and don’t walk barefoot in the long grass. If you see a snake in your path, stop; don’t touch it, don’t threaten it and try not to frighten it.
The best thing to do is to stay still or back away slowly to give it a chance to retreat.

If you come prepared there is no such time as a bad time of year, just bad preparation.

September to November is a wonderful window for trekking, however be prepared for spring showers. This is also a fantastic time to see the spring flowers emerge and the wildlife and birds spring back to life.

You will find that December in this part of Victoria can start warming up quite a bit, but it is still a lovely time to explore the Great Ocean Walk. 

By January and February, however, the weather can get hot and the flies come out in force! However, each year is so different you can expect hot sun or rain.

However, if you are not used to walking long distances in the heat and have not been training for your walk in the hot weather, we would suggest avoiding these peak summer months just in case.

In addition, February, in particular, can be affected by fire warnings.

Going into March and April, the weather starts cooling down a little, so it’s the perfect time to walk if you enjoy the sunshine but don’t want to be out in extreme heat.

Easter is a really nice time to walk, but it is also our most popular time of year. If you want to guarantee a spot with Walk91, we advise booking early!

May and June start cooling down further, so you may experience the odd light shower, but it’s still a great time to enjoy walking the track.

Walk91 still operates at this time. In fact, this is one of our favourite parts of the year.

In July and August, we start to get a lot of rain (if we’re lucky!). The wet weather is perfect for refilling the water tanks on the track and rejuvenating the rainforest. But it can be harder work than usual if you’re walking in it every day!

Walking poles are also a personal choice. Some walkers swear by them, saying that they couldn’t have done the walk without them.

They tend to help on longer distances and on hills where the track might be a little slippery.

However, other walkers find them cumbersome and uncomfortable to carry if they decide they don’t need them halfway through the day.
Our suggestion would be to have a practice with them before you arrive. If you’re not sure you need them, you can always borrow them from us here at Walk91. And if you decide not to use them after all, you can leave them in our vehicle.