Great Ocean Road, VIC
Two beach crossings and Bald Hill lead to Shelly Beach.
Overview
This is the 4.7 km one-way Great Ocean Walk section from Marengo Caravan Park to Shelly Beach Picnic Area. Allow about 2.5 hours. It’s a medium coastal walk with low cliff tops, two beach crossings, an exposed rise over Bald Hill and sheltered tea-tree forest toward Shelly. It’s point to point: arrange a pickup at Shelly, or plan on 9.4 km if you walk back to Marengo. Low tide and calm seas are the sensible window for the beach sections; dogs aren’t allowed in the national park.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the walk for you?Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Ocean Road Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Ocean Road. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Great Ocean Road audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Marengo Beach and Fur Seals“You're approaching Marengo Beach, a good stop for a shore walk and a chance to spot Australian fur seals offshore.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Great Ocean Road Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
The signed, formed path drops onto two beaches, winds through coastal tea tree and uses stone steps between the shore and the track. Most of the route is gently undulating rather than a sustained climb. Bald Hill is the exposed rise; pause at the bench just beyond its top for the broad coastal view. The route then ducks back into sheltered scrub and forest on the way to Shelly.
Look offshore toward Hayley’s Reef and Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary. Paired navigation beacons were built in 1858 after the Annie and Grange wrecked on nearby reefs; they line up to mark Henty Reef, nearly 3 km offshore. The present beacon was reinstated with some original timber in 2019–20. Seals are often visible offshore, and southern right whales may pass in winter.
This route ends at Shelly Beach Picnic Area, above the shore. To reach the cove, take the separate steep, stepped access down to the beach and allow time for the climb back. The shore is mostly rocky, with a small sandy landing and rock pools; it’s a better place to explore than an easy swimming beach. Public toilets are at the car park.
Wildlife
900 sightingsKoalaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
358 sightingsKangarooMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
49 sightingsLittle PenguinMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
155 sightingsEchidnaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
33 sightingsFur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
59 sightingsRed-necked WallabyMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Ocean Road. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingGreat Ocean Walk100 km · 1.5 days · 2.7 km awayA 100 km westbound trek through forests, beaches and sea cliffs.
ModerateShelly Beach Walk1.8 km · 45 min · 4.2 km awayFern gullies and coastal scrub descend to Shelly Beach.
ModerateElliot River Loop Walk4.5 km · 2 hr · 4.2 km awayA 4.5 km loop with river rocks, steep steps and lush forest
ModerateMarriners Lookout Walk1 km · 30 min · 4.9 km awayA short, steep climb for Apollo Bay's wide coastal view.
EasyApollo Bay Foreshore Walk5.5 km · 1 hr · 5 km awayA coastal footpath threads past Apollo Bay’s foreshore sculptures.
ModerateKatabanut Loop3.1 km · 1.3 hr · 9 km awayA forest loop climbs to Upper Blanket Bay Falls.
ModerateBlanket Bay to Cape Otway Walk11 km · 3.8 hr · 9 km awayA coastal stage with a tidal inlet and a steep stair alternative.
ModerateBlanket Bay to Parker Hill Walk4.5 km · 2 hr · 9.1 km awayCoastal forest, two lookouts, and a finish at Parker Inlet.
Campground · 0.1 km awayMarengo Family Caravan ParkBeachfront cabins and campsites beside Marengo’s reef
Beach · 0.3 km awayMarengo BeachSandy shore, rock pools at low tide, and fur seals offshore.
Campground · 1.7 km awayApollo Bay Recreation ReserveA riverside campground within walking distance of Apollo Bay.
Food · 2.4 km awayApollo Bay Fishermen's Co-opBass Strait seafood from a fishermen's co-op founded in 1948.
Food · 2.6 km awayApollo Bay BakeryTry the scallop pie in creamy Mornay or mild curry.
Sight · 2.6 km awayWildlife WondersA guided Otways walk among free-roaming wildlife and ocean views.
Visitor center · 2.8 km awayGreat Ocean Road Visitor Information CentrePlan the next leg with local advice, maps and ticket bookings.Sight · 4.7 km awayMarriners LookoutApollo Bay’s curve of coast is worth the short climb.Parkwolf’s Great Ocean Road ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
