344 Great South West Walk Expectations
Show notes
As this podcast goes to air I am just a few days out from starting my journey on the Great South West Walk in southwest Victoria. In this episode I talk about the trip planning and discuss my pre trip expectations; and hesitations!
Podcast Overview
In this episode we discuss the my pre trip expectations before I head off on the Great South West Walk (Victoria):
- Podcast and Episode introduction (time index 0:01:34)
- Why this trail? (time index 0:01:49)
- About the trail (time index 0:02:55)
- Total 262 km 0r 251 km
- 14 day trail
- Trail of two halves
- Inland
- Coastal
- Gunditjmara country
- Known for world heritage listed cultural site Budj Bim
- Officially opened 13 November 1983
- Can be walked throughout the year
- Pre and post trip accomodation and Transport (time index 0:05:37)
- Transport
- To Melbourne
- Melbourne to Portland
- Hotels
- Transport
- Campsites (time index 0:09:20)
- 14 campsites, tuning from 11-23km apart
- Must book each site
- 2 Campsites are booked through the Great South West Walk website
- The remainder of campsites are booked through Parks Victoria
- Distances on trail (actual figures are approximate) (time index 0:17:58)
- Day 1
- Planned 20.2km
- Day 2
- Planned 15.0km
- Day 3
- Planned 22.9km
- Day 4
- Planned 21.6km
- Day 5
- Planned 19.4km
- Day 6
- Planned 13.4km
- Day 7
- Planned 20.9km
- Day 8
- Rest day 0km
- Day 9
- Planned 22.2km
- Day 10
- Planned 17km
- Day 11
- Planned 22.1km
- Day 11
- Planned 29.7km
- Day 11
- Planned 15.3km
- Day 12
- Planned 22.2km
- Total 262.3km (Shorter option available)
- Day 1
- Trail (time index 0:13:152)
- Trail tread
- Facilities
- Toilets
- Mobile/Internet reception
- The scenery / animals (time index 0:15:01)
- When to walk (time index 0:15.57)
- Person schedule
- Temperatures
- Prevailing winds
- Expectations and hesitations (time index 0:18:08)
- Personal fitness
- Food weight
- Tides
- Close (time index 0:22:20)
Resources
Great South West Walk map from the trail website
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Publishing date
14 April 2026