The 8 best coastal walks in Victoria

Victoria’s surf central, Torquay, is the start (or end) point of the Surf Coast Walk – a stunning 44km trail offering an abundance of natural landscapes, sweet coastal villages and encounters with wildlife. Dip in and out of the trail, thanks to 12 trailheads, or forge all the way through to Aireys Inlet-Fairhaven over two or three days to admire the Split Point Lighthouse that still warns vessels traversing the dangerous Shipwreck Coast. Climb to the top balcony to try to spy dolphins and whales cruising through the Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary.

The territory traversed by the Great Ocean Road – also the world’s longest war memorial, built by hand by World War I returned soldiers – can be explored in more vivid detail via the Great Ocean Walk. Stretching across 110km from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell, the multi-day walk can be conquered in a variety of ways, thanks to accommodation that suits all budgets and shuttle services that can (literally) take a weight off your back. Do the whole walk if you're feeling adventurous, or choose a section that suits you. Highlights include Cape Otway Lightstation (mainland Australia’s oldest surviving lighthouse) and that jewel in the crown, the seaspray-wreathed 12 Apostles.

Want a day walk that’s not too challenging terrain-wise but full of pretty views? Hit the 17km Bellarine Coastal Trail connecting Portarlington and St Leonards. On a clear day, you can spy the Melbourne skyline across Port Phillip Bay and feel a million miles from the big-city hustle and bustle. Indulge in fish and chips on the beach, wander Portarlington Pier to see the mussel fleet, look for the Ozone shipwreck off Indented Head and celebrate at St Leonards by exploring the pier or sipping on a bevvie in the ocean-facing beer garden opposite.

Want to hit the Mornington Peninsula’s longest continuous walking track? Point yourself towards the 26km Two Bays Walking Trail that leads you from suburbia (bayside Dromana) to the wonderfully primal Bushrangers Bay near Cape Schanck. Start by winding your way up to the granite peak of Arthurs Seat, the peninsula’s highest viewpoint, before continuing on the inland track through eucalyptus forest and remnant bushland to reach Bushrangers Bay (home to gin-clear rock-pools, suitable only for low-tide swimming). 

On Cape Woolamai, part of Phillip Island Nature Park, you’ll find the island’s highest point (the 112-metre-high spot is marked with a beacon). Between October and April, the cape is also a rookery for up to a million shearwaters (muttonbirds). Hikers can explore the reserve, which protects the island’s southern tail, through a network of trails. These lead you past snaggle-toothed sea-stacks known as the Pinnacles, sea caves and the Old Granite Quarry, and offer stunning panoramic ocean views from sheer clifftops.

Near the bridge over to Phillip Island is San Remo. From here, you can tackle the 7km George Bass Coastal Walk – a dramatic clifftop amble that leads you to pocket-sized Kilcunda. Dipping through coastal gullies, drawing you past emerald hills dotted with contented cows and even venturing onto a secluded beach, this walk is one of the most satisfying treks you can find in all of Victoria, without being too long. You might even spy a cruising whale along the way. Refuel at the walk's end at the Kilcunda General Store or Killy pub, and make sure you see the photogenic Kilcunda Trestle Bridge.

East Gippsland’s coastal walking tracks are slowly recovering from the devastating Black Summer of 2019-20. In Croajingolong National Park, a place of dazzling white-sand beaches and ultramarine waters, explore a section of the famous Wilderness Coast Walk. Using two-wheel-drive access roads to reach Shipwreck Creek or Mallacoota Inlet (depending on how far you'd like to walk), strike out on foot through coastal heathland for the serene destination of Benedore River.

Wilsons Promontory National Park is packed with great walks – but if you want to tap into true hiking bliss, aim to summit Mt Oberon in time to catch sunrise’s first golden rays. After dragging yourselves from slumber (there’s accommodation at nearby Tidal River) and dressing in warm layers, head to the Telegraph Saddle carpark to embark on the 6.8km return trip. After steadily ascending to the 558-metre summit’s viewing platform, swing around to soak up the extraordinary 360-degree views over the Australian mainland’s southernmost point.