Distance: 17 Km | Duration: 6 Hrs | Grade: Grade 3 | Rating: | Style: Return | Map
About the Walk
Overview
This varied walk includes; beach walking through particularly fine coastal scenery and around some charming inlets, some tall wet eucalypt forest, and a few steps and hills to add zest. It includes much of the first stage of the Great Ocean Walk (GOW).
The Walk in Detail
At Marengo Caravan Park (1) there is the option to walk around the rock platform and beaches or follow the trail, with plentiful trail markers through the Park and along sandy foreshore and boardwalks. Continuing onwards, the countryside becomes more rural farmland. The trail continues up a small hill with a stile (2) to climb over a fence. There are good views along the coast from a conveniently placed rest bench, followed by a steep descent past The Blowhole.
The area after Three Creeks Beach can get a bit boggy after rain so be prepared with appropriate footwear. The trail initially enters low forest (3), then just above Shelly Beach starts to climb into the higher forests of the Great Otway National Park. At the junction on the trail (4) turn left down to Shelly Beach and cross the Elliot River at its mouth. Then continue to follow the GOW markers north-west uphill for about 1500 m to a junction (5) with Elliot Road. Turn right and follow Eliot Road past the junction with Snowy Ridge Road and over the Elliot River to rejoin the track leading down to Shelly Beach (6). From there retrace your steps to Marengo.