Walking the Great Ocean Walk

Australia is best experienced on foot and with so much of the Great Ocean Walk set in really remote stretches of coastline, there's often no other option. Forget the Twelve Apostles and the bright lights of Melbourne, this is an opportunity to seek out the secret spots and appreciate the wild, untamed nature and Aboriginal history of Victoria from an on-the-ground Aussie angle.

A wide variety of walking trails unveil Victoria section by section from the Surf Coast in the east, to the Shipwreck Coast in the west. Landscapes morph from sandy beaches to rugged cliffs, fern-filled rainforests to open heath and bushland, positively bopping with wallabies.

The Great Ocean Walk is a 104km signposted trail that curves around the coast from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell National Park. It weaves through dense rainforest in Great Otway National Park, around bird-filled estuaries at Aire River inlet, towards ocean views at Moonlight Head and The Gables, and onwards to completion at the Twelve Apostles.

Walking with a guide allows you to ask questions and find out more about the true owners of the land and the rights and issues still facing them today. Guides also explain more about environmental challenges facing the region and what travellers can do to help. Of course, one sure fire way that you can help is by walking rather than joining the coachloads on the road.

Overnight accommodation might be in lighthouse keeper's cottages at Cape Otway or a locally owned small hotel in Port Campbell. All meals are included in the price of a small group holiday and solo travellers have the option of sharing a room with a group member of the same sex or opting for a single room for an additional supplement.

Self guided walking holidays are ideal for travellers looking to get away from it all but with the added confidence that comes from local recommendations. Detailed walking notes, trail maps and a designated driver and guide, on call, gives you the extra confidence to go the extra mile. Not only that; locally-owned accommodation and luggage transfers are included too.

It's also possible to walk with an experienced wildlife guide. What better way to understand the natural habitats of kangaroos, koalas and echidnas other than with an experienced Aussie animal expert? These local wildlife guides are highly trained and also encourage an environmental ethic and have great respect for the ecosystems and animals that you'll encounter. This type of three day walking tour can be tailor made to suit your interests and fitness levels. You'll get to observe animals safely and respectfully as well as learning more about the environment.

Tailor made tours encourage walkers to achieve average daily distances of 15km en route to some of the most welcoming inns in Australia. Local hosts will provide breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals as well as information about what you can expect from the trails ahead. You might even dine out in an Aussie pub in a tiny outback town like Little River.

Not only will you get closer to the natural environment on the Great Ocean Walk but you'll also give a financial boost to people living in remote regions of Victoria. Guest house hosts, especially, are genuinely welcoming and friendly folk. They love to greet and hear more about their guests from all over the world. You literally will not be able to leave until you've got a full belly and an earful of stories – some even true.

Below are a few of the walking route options that you might wish to experience. From easy going and circular routes to moderate walks and trails that are more of a challenge; this is your chance to choose your own adventure and experience authentic Australia.

Apollo Bay to Castle Cove is known as the 'mild side' of the Great Ocean Walk and offers a range of shorter walking options for those seeking something more akin to a stroll than a hike.

The 10.3km stretch from Blanket Bay to Cape Otway, for example, offers a gentle climb through coastal forests. You'll get to experience impressive views of Parker River as well as manna gum groves where koalas are often seen.

Another easy going option is the 4.2km Aire River Escarpment Lookout walk. This takes you along the Aire River estuary to the bird filled Hordern Vale wetlands and Escarpment Lookout point.

The Surf Coast Walk is a scenic 65km marked trail from Torquay to Lorne. This includes some beach walking as well as the majestic forests and cascading waterfalls of the hinterland. The 5km section from Bells Beach to Point Addis is particularly picturesque, featuring red cliffs, sandy beaches, mine ruins and forests of ironbark and messmate. If you time your visit for the spring, the coastal heath lands around Anglesea will be covered with colourful wildflowers.

For contrasting scenery head further west to the area around Warrnambool where the volcanic geology makes for an interesting backdrop to some moderately challenging hikes. In Mount Eccles National Park take the 3km Crater Rim Walk through manna gum woodland (popular with koalas) to the north end of the crater for breathtaking views and the chance to visit a lava cave.

Top tip: bring a torch so you can explore this subterranean wonderland and check out the lava canal which was formed when large sections of the roof of a lava tunnel collapsed.

From here you can either continue around the rim to see a series of smaller volcanic vents – and possibly peregrine falcons – or follow the lava canal for a more strenuous 6.5km walk over rocky terrain on which you might encounter wallabies, echidnas and diverse, noisy birdlife.