Victoria’s Great South West Walk
Victoria’s Great South West Walk
Victoria’s Great South West Walk
5 Days Starting and ending in Melbourne
Visiting: Melbourne - Portland, Glenelg River - Nelson, Bridgewater Lakes - Cape Bridgewater, Cape Bridgewater to Cape Nelson Lighthouse, Point Danger Coastal Reserve - Melbourne
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PRXW
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 10
Physical rating:
Medium
Age range:
16-99 years
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
Discover the dramatic scenery of Victoria’s South West, from rocky sea cliffs to remote bushland, on this 5-day walking trip of the region. White sandy beaches littered with shells, petrified forests, limestone caves and the beautifully secluded Cape Nelson lighthouse are some of the highlights you can expect to encounter. Not to mention the wildlife – from emus, koalas, kangaroos and seal colonies, as well as a staggering variety of seasonal orchids and wildflowers which enhance the forest floor. Your local leader will help you uncover all the natural wonders of one of the states’ most underrated regions.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Melbourne - Portland
Location: Melbourne - Portland
Meals Included: lunch, dinner
Welcome to Melbourne! Your day will start bright and early as you’ll meet your local leader and group at 7.15 am at the Melbourne Arts Centre. From here, you’ll spend the morning driving to Port Fairy with a few stops along the way. Grab lunch and stretch your legs in Port Fairy and enjoy the town’s charming ambience. After lunch, you’ll continue driving to Lake Condah, the traditional land of the Gunditjmara people. Here you’ll take a two and a half-hour guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape site, which is older than Egypt’s pyramids. You’ll arrive in Portland around 5 pm to check into your beautifully renovated historic hotel in the heart of town, before enjoying dinner with your fellow travellers and local leader.
Day 2: Glenelg River - Nelson
Location: Glenelg River - Nelson
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast this morning, transfer to the little fishing town of Nelson, sitting at the mouth of the Glenelg River. On arrival, stretch your legs with a scenic walk that follows a narrow path above the river, a perfect vantage point to admire the impressive limestone gorges it has carved out below. Veer inland and pass beneath forests of grass tree at eucalyptus, at one point crossing the border into South Australia before following the river back into Victoria. Keep an eye out for native wildlife as you go – your leader will be on hand to point out animal tracks along the trail. Enjoy morning tea and lunch surrounded by nature out on the trail, then wrap up today’s walk back in Nelson. If time permits, check out the stunning beaches just south of Nelson, then drive back to Portland for the evening.
Day 3: Bridgewater Lakes - Cape Bridgewater
Location: Bridgewater Lakes - Cape Bridgewater
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today, after breakfast, you’ll start your 18 kilometre walking day with a short climb to the mouth of Tarragal Caves, a network of ancient limestone caves within the Discovery Bay Coastal Park. From here a gentle walk through sand hills will bring you to the beginning of a day of sensational cliff-top walking, two large seal colonies, a surreal petrified forest, ocean blowholes, kangaroos, pristine lakes and remote rugged coastline. At lunchtime you’ll eat surrounded by a moonscape of petrified trees, then continue exploring the glorious coastline, including a stop at the aptly named ‘Perilous Parapet’. You’ll also encounter Australian and New Zealand fur seals who interestingly refuse to mingle even though they live in close proximity to each other. Today will end with a well-earned private dinner at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse before returning to your accommodation.
Day 4: Cape Bridgewater To Cape Nelson Lighthouse
Location: Cape Bridgewater to Cape Nelson Lighthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning after breakfast you’ll set off on a 23 kilometre walking day from Cape Bridgewater along Shelly Beach. The coastline is alive with birdlife including Pied Oystercatchers, Sandpipers, Hooded Plovers, Terns and Pacific gulls. The mostly pristine beach is subject to small patches of debris bought in by strong tides and coastal storms, so bring a bag if you’d like to collect up any rubbish along the way. The sand can be a little soft in places but the walking is pleasant and it’s possible to take your shoes off and appreciate ‘grounding’ with the earth. You’ll then leave the beach and climb a sturdy wooden stairway to the top of the cliffs for spectacular views over the Southern Ocean. After a pretty grove of coastal Tea Trees, the trail becomes more rugged as you’ll tackle the final stretch back to the Cape Nelson Lighthouse.
Day 5: Point Danger Coastal Reserve - Melbourne
Location: Point Danger Coastal Reserve - Melbourne
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning after breakfast you’ll drive to Australia’s only mainland gannet colony at Point Danger Coastal Reserve just a few kilometres from Portland. These striking birds can have a wingspan of up to two metres and dive fully submerged into the ocean in search of prey. After this, you’ll begin the journey back to Melbourne, with a stop on the way for lunch and other breaks, before arriving back in the late afternoon, where your trip comes to an end.
What's Included
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Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
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Accommodation
Hotel (4 Nights)
Accommodation
- Hotel (4 Nights)
Transport
- Private Vehicle , Walking
Check out our Q&As
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
Reviews of this Operator
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Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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COVID Protection
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and other Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination remains a requirement. Please refer to the Essential Trip Information of your chosen tour for more details.
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