You may have a question to ask as you plan your intended hike on the Surf Coast Walk.

Where can I start my Surf Coast Walk hike?

What are the distances between the Surf Coast Walk sections?

What Surf Coast Walk maps and brochures are available?

What overnight accommodation choices are there?

How can I organise transport for the walk?

Where can I park my car?

Is there water available along the walk?

What about food on the trip?

Clothing

Day Pack

Do I need to check the tide times?

Flies & Mosquitoes

What is minimal impact walking?

What do I need to know about Total Fire Ban days?

Will I have mobile phone coverage on the walk?

Charging personal electronic devices

What are some handy contacts?

Does my trip include travel insurance?

Can I still travel with a pre-existing medical condition?

What do I have to carry?

What will I receive before I travel ?

What sort of people travel with Surf Coast Walks?

Do you cater for special dietary requirements?

Where do I join the tour?

What language are the tours conducted in?

What standard is the accommodation?

What is included on my walk?

What is not included?

Can I travel as a single?

What is Twin Share?

How far ahead do I need to book?

Do you have a Cancellation Policy?

Where can I start my Surf Coast Walk hike?
You choose the walk options you prefer. In general we travel from east to west in order to enjoy the sun setting in the west and to progress the journey. Trips may be weather and tide dependant.
If negotiating a half or one day walk you can choose the walk.

What are the distances between the Surf Coast Walk sections?
see Walks

What Surf Coast Walk maps and brochures are available?
Spatial Vision maps: The Great Ocean Road and Otway Ranges. 2nd ed. Lorne and Aireys Inlet.

We will provide you with a welcome pack which includes a map and laminated brochures on indigenous animals and plants. You can also refer to VicMaps 6885, and 6904 -6908.
Website: www.spatialvision.com.au

What overnight accommodation choices are there?
We have selected a number of Bed and Breakfast type providers who offer dinner, breakfast and a massage. Availability of rooms will determine the choice. At certain times of the year accommodation is at a premium and in winter some providers are closed.

How can I organise transport for the walk?
You can drive to the start point of the walk which will be a town or arrange to be picked up.
For hikers who require public transport, there is a V/Line bus service stopping at Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne via the Great Ocean Road. There is a V/Line train service from Melbourne(Southern Cross station) to Geelong.
Contact V/Line www.vline.com.au to book your trip or phone 136 196 (from overseas: +61 3 9697 2076)

Where can I park my car?
You can leave your car at the police station where available. Parking is at your risk.

Is there water available along the walk?
Generally not. We will provide water to fill your bottles before the walk. If you have a camel-back type water storage you could bring that.

What about food on the trip?
All meals will be included as part of our tours, however if you want to purchase further snacks, shops are available at Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne.

Our emphasis is on fresh food wherever possible and our meals are nutritious and varied, catering for an active holiday. If you are vegetarian or gluten intolerant please discuss this with us at the time of booking.

Clothing
During the walk, it’s best to bring layers for cooler weather, such as thermals, a polar fleece sweater and soft-shell jacket. Thermals made from natural fibres don’t tend to carry odours as much as synthetic based thermals, as well as regulating your body temperature to keep you cool when it’s warm, and warm when it’s cool. Firm walking shoes with ankle protection are required. In summer, we wear long trousers and gaiters to guard against snake bite, which although very rare is possible.

Day Pack
A small daypack to carry your coat, camera, sunscreen, lip balm, water bottle, food and anything else you want to keep handy.

Do I need to check the tide times?
No. There may be some beach walking and we will check tidal conditions in advance.

Flies & Mosquitoes
Flies and mosquitoes are a part of summer life and can bother some people. If you are one of these people, ensure you purchase a fly net. To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes wear loose, light-coloured clothing and use an insect repellent containing diethyl toluamide (DEET).

What is minimal impact walking?
We run the very real danger of ‘loving our natural areas to death’. By learning to ‘walk softly’, we can minimise the damage to the natural environment and reduce the need for restrictions on walker numbers and track closures. You can help minimise damage in the following ways.

• Stay on the track even if it’s rough and muddy. Walking on the track edges and cutting corners on steep ‘zigzag’ tracks, increase damage, erosion and visual scarring, as well as causing confusion about which is the right track.

• Avoid sensitive vegetation. Vegetation is easily destroyed by trampling. Stay on rocks and hard ground wherever possible.

• Keep the wilderness wild. Damaging vegetation or feeding wildlife changes nature of the place. Keep your distance and never encircle an animal.

• Walk softly. Choose appropriate footwear for the terrain. Solid but lightweight walking boots are best. Respect all other track users.

• If you’ve carried it in, you can carry it out. Carry out all your rubbish, including those easy-to-forget items like silver paper, plastic wrappers and orange peel which won’t easily decompose.

• When there is a toilet, please use it.

• In areas without toilets, bury your faecal waste. Choose a spot at least 100 metres away from campsites and watercourses. Dig a hole 15 cm (6 inches) deep (your guide has a hand trowel for this purpose). Bury all faecal waste and paper, mixing it with soil to help decomposition and discourage animals. Carry out sanitary pads and tampons.

• Spray shoes to minimise the spread of Cinnamon Fungus.

What do I need to know about Total Fire Ban days?
We will walk on these days unless there is considered to be a risk in the area. At that point we will suspend or cancel the walk. Staff will check weather forecasts and maintain phone contact with fire and park authorities. On extreme fire days (over 40°C and high winds) we will cancel the walk.

Will I have mobile phone coverage on the walk?
There is generally good but occasionally patchy reception on the walks. Higher points on the cliffs are better than on the beaches. Some forest areas will be patchy at times. Mobile phone users can call 000 for connection to Police, Ambulance or the Country Fire Authority.

Charging personal electronic devices
During your trip there will be opportunities at the accommodation to charge personal electronic devices such as camera batteries, iPods and mobile phones,

What are some handy contacts?
V/LINE train and coach services - 136 196
Queenscliff/Sorrento Ferry - 03 5258 3244
Parks Vic Info - 131 963
Torquay Visitor Information Centre - 130 614 219
Lorne Visitor Information Centre - 130 891 152

Does my trip include travel insurance?
Travel insurance is NOT included, we strongly advise participants to take out their own travel insurance against illness, injury, loss/damage to personal belongings and not being able to travel on the confirmed departure date.

Can I still travel with a pre-existing medical condition?
In some cases, yes. We require everyone to fill in a confidential medical form for us and if you have a pre existing medical condition, receive your doctor’s approval. Where a condition impairs your ability to walk we suggest you consider your capacity to participate.

What do I have to carry?
You carry only a day pack containing up to two litres of water, a weather proof jacket and any personal items such as a camera and sunglasses, lunch and snacks. We can provide a day pack for you to use, if you don’t have one. The rest of your kit is transferred on ahead, waiting for you at the day’s end.

What will I receive before I travel ?
When you book and pay a deposit, you will receive some information about your trip and the region of Victoria you will travel to. Upon receipt of your final payment, we email out a comprehensive travel kit, including information of what to bring and what you can expect on your journey.

What sort of people travel with Surf Coast Walks?
Our journeys are open to travellers of all ages - assuming you are fit and healthy - we take travellers from 16 to 80. The trips provide all walkers with the opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the world in which they live. Children from 8 to 15 are welcome on our journeys in special groups.

Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
If we know in advance, we can cater for most dietary requirements. We include space for this on our booking form, which each traveller needs to complete to reserve a place on our walks.

Where do I join the tour?
Surf Coast Walks operate walks along the Surf Coast in Victoria, Australia. Our tours start and end at a prearranged central pick up point or you can be collected in Melbourne CBD. We will confirm the pick up time and place when we receive your deposit. You need to make your own arrangements to meet at this point.
Some of our journeys depart early, so we recommend interstate or international customers stay in the area the night before to ensure a timely pick up. Transport can be arranged from further afield.

What language are the tours conducted in?
All our tours are conducted in English. German can also be catered for.

What standard is the accommodation?
We specially select all our places to stay based on comfort, quality and uniqueness. All are comfortable and offer warm hospitality. Some are Bed and Breakfasts and others are four star accommodation. Some have shared facilities and some have private ensuites - based on availability and group needs. We aim to provide beautiful, local produce where possible and local quality wine.

What is included on my walk?
Nearly everything! We include your accommodation, local transfers to join your walk, all meals, some wine with dinner (half a bottle per person), morning and afternoon tea, use of a weather proof jacket and day packs, if required, the services of our professional guides and entrance fees to any attractions we visit.
See Prices for all inclusion details.

What is not included?
At your own expense will be additional wine beyond the half bottle per person at most dinners, and your own personal spending on souvenirs and mementos. Transport from further afield is possible and will incur an extra charge based on distance.

Can I travel as a single?
We welcome single travellers on our journeys, but due to the boutique and remote nature of our accommodation choices, we cannot always cater for single rooms. If you are travelling on a single basis you can twin share a room with one other walker or pay a surcharge.

What is Twin Share?
Twin share means two people sharing a room. This will mean either a couple sharing a queen size bed or two people in one room each having a separate single bed.

How far ahead do I need to book?
We suggest you book early(at least 60 days) to ensure the date of your choice. Each season has its advantages: wildflowers and orchids in the heathlands are present in Spring and early Summer, refreshing dips in waterfalls and the ocean along with extended twilights of Summer, milder days are generally assured in early Autumn while natural wonders such as whale migration occurs in Winter to late Spring along the Surf Coast. If you have a particular special interest let us know and we will try and advise you of the best time to travel.

Do you have a Cancellation Policy?
Yes, see Bookings