Great South West Walk - GSWW

The Great South West Walk is a 250-kilometre trek that takes you through the stunning landscapes of South West Victoria, Australia, with a very small portion extending into South Australia. This walking track offers a captivating experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region. As you embark on this adventure, you will encounter diverse ecosystems, from lush forests and tranquil rivers to breathtaking coastal views. The trail takes you through picturesque coastal towns, where you can rest and refuel before continuing your journey. Along the way, you may spot native wildlife, such as koalas, kangaroos, and a variety of bird species. So lace up your hiking boots and get ready to be amazed by the magnificent scenery of the Great South West Walk.

The recommending starting point is the Maritime Discovery & Visitor Information Centre in Portland. The friendly staff there are happy to take your details to check you return safely & they are also happy for you to park your car in the visitor car park for the duration of your walk.

It was established in 1981 and passes through:

• Lower Glenelg National Park,

• the Cobboboonee National Park,

• the Discovery Bay Coastal Park,

• the Mount Richmond National Park,

• and the Cape Nelson State Park.

The walk features four contrasting environments:

• the Cobboboonee Forest,

• the Glenelg River,

• the beach of Discovery Bay,

• & the cliffs and capes of the region.

If you stay at each campsite, it will take you 15 days & obviously then 14 nights, however, depending on your time frame, you can break it up into shorter sections as there are many entry & exit points, or depending on your fitness level there is at least two days you can combine into one for a 20k day. Or like two guys who we passed going the other way, they tried to do it in 7 to 10 days. Some of their days were close to 40k’s….no wonder they complained about sore feet…crazy! The difficulty rating is moderate, & apart from some days being over 20k’s in distance it was flat generally speaking. The track is administered, maintained, & promoted by The Friends of the Great South West Walk Inc., a volunteer organisation, in partnership with Parks Victoria. We'll provide more info on them shortly as they were very helpful in getting us to the start of our hikes.

We had the opportunity to do this hike in two separate sections, once for five days & then again for nine days. We were informed this is the second most popular hike in Victoria,...um, ok, so where was everybody?? We completed the first section in December 2022 & the second section in April 2023. With the exception of the first night, we were fortunate enough to have each campsite all to ourselves. As we walked along the track, we couldn't help but notice certain areas that seemed untouched for a long time. It made us wonder when was the last time someone had walked through those parts. Regardless, we were delighted to have the campsites entirely to ourselves. One of the advantages of the Great South West Walk (GSWW) is that campfires are allowed, although the last campsite, Mallee camp, does not permit them.

It really is a beautiful walk, especially along the lower Glenelg River, & there's a small section called the enchanted forest. That was beautiful, so annoyed I didn't take any photos. I would be happy to do the walk again. Although, Tanya is a ‘once I’ve done it, let’s explore somewhere else girl’.

sitting back for lunch & a short rest in a secluded section along the Glenelg river