Great Ocean Walk: Blanket Bay to Cape Otway

This is the 11 km, one-way section of the Great Ocean Walk from Blanket Bay Campground to the Cape Otway hike-in campsite. It threads coastal forest and heath, with openings toward Parker Inlet, Bass Strait and the Otway coastline. Parks Victoria’s stage plan estimates about 3 hours 45 minutes and grades the walk Easy/Medium. Leave extra time for breaks and for the river crossing; this is a full walking day with several climbs, not a quick beach stroll. The mapped profile rises from near sea level to around 100 metres and finishes on higher ground near Cape Otway.

The two campgrounds are the route’s endpoints. Arrange a vehicle transfer or fit the stage into a longer westbound itinerary before leaving Blanket Bay. Cape Otway GOW Campsite is a hike-in site, so plan the final connection and pickup in advance. Great Ocean Walk campsites have limited capacity and require advance booking for an overnight stay. Dogs are not allowed on this national park route.

From the car-based campground, the track climbs out through coastal woodland before opening to views over the bay and sea. Much of the walk stays among forest and heath, with occasional clearings rather than continuous cliff-top views. The path descends toward Parker Inlet, where river, beach and coast meet. Expect varied, unpaved footing through the stage; keep a comfortable pace for the rises and uneven sections instead of judging the effort by the map distance alone.

After the inlet, follow the marked hill alignment past Parker Hill Campground and continue west through forest and coastal heath. The route rolls between sheltered stretches and open glimpses of Bass Strait. Toward Cape Otway, look for views down the coast and toward the Lightstation. The stage finishes at the Great Ocean Walk’s Cape Otway hike-in campsite. A visit inside the paid Lightstation precinct is a separate stop, so allow for it outside the stage’s 11 km and walking time.

Parker River is an unbridged crossing on the stage. Tide, swell and river level matter: Parks Victoria’s walk guidance advises crossing unbridged rivers and coastal sections only at low tide, in calm seas and with low water levels. Heavy rain can raise water quickly. Be ready to wait or turn back when the crossing is unsafe, and check current park advice before setting out. Older route accounts describe a low-tide rock or beach alternative; use the marked stage route instead of treating that older line as the standard walk.