A world-class experience including rugged cliffs, sublime bays, tranquil forests and pristine river, all within four National Parks.
The Great South West Walk has been developed as a bushwalking trail suitable for most ages and abilities comprising short 2 hour loop walks, full day walks, or for the intrepid, the whole 250km loop that begins and ends at the Maritime Discovery and Visitor Information Centre in Portland Victoria, Australia.
The 250km trek, which weaves through the communities of Portland, Cape Bridgewater, and Nelson, across the capes of Discovery Bay and trailing the Glenelg River, is one of the region’s biggest tourist attractions.
A world-class experience including rugged cliffs, sublime bays, tranquil forests and pristine river, all within four National Parks. Ideally set up for shorter walks, day walks or the whole loop.
Discover more at: greatsouthwestwalk.com
Campsites
Walker’s overnight campsites are located every 10-20 kilometres along the walk. Fees and bookings are now required for the designated GSWW campsites.
Further information can be obtained at the Great South West Walk website.
Visit Parks Victoria for campsite bookings.
Attractions
The footprint of the Great South West Walk covers an area from Portland through to Nelson which has long been recognised as the western gateway to the Great Ocean Road. This area attracts many international walkers because of its diversity of natural attractions that are part of this amazing experience.
Some features are permanent and are always visible while others such as the abundant native flora may only be seasonal or as with most of our animals, birds, reptiles, and marine creatures, they are more usually encountered by chance.
Maps and Guidebooks
The Friends of the Great South West Walk published a new guidebook in 2020 and it is available to purchase from their website. The Official GSWW Map is also available to purchase from the website www.greatsouthwestwalk.com, and from the suppliers Meridian Maps, ABC maps and other larger map retailers.
Both the maps and the guidebooks are also over the counter at the Portland and Nelson Visitor Information Centres and Davis & Sons Newsagency Portland.
Contact Your Walker Liaison Coordinator
We encourage walkers to touch base with the Portland Visitor Information Centre and check the website (www.greatsouthwestwalk.com) for updates on the Great South West Walk.
Further information for walkers can be obtained from our walker liaison coordinator during your planning and prior to your arrival.
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
