A new long distance walk
The Great South Coast Walk is Australia’s newest long-distance walk and, at 660 km, is the longest coastal walk in Australia. It links many shorter tracks along the southern coastline of New South Wales, from Bundeena on the southern fringe of Sydney, to Mallacoota, just over the border in Victoria. The Great South Coast Walk was first walked in 2004 and, since then, many others have either walked it end-to-end or completed stages of it.
Another feature of the Great South Coast Walk is the numerous water-crossings, which add to the adventure of the walk. While some have bridges or available boat transport, others may require shallow or deeper wades and a few even require a short swim. As with any coastal walk, knowledge of the tides and sea conditions is critical for water-crossings or walking on rock platforms.
The walk crosses twelve national parks and six nature reserves or conservation areas, which show-case the diversity of flora and fauna. The rich birdlife is a particular highlight, while seals and migrating whales can be seen in season. The South Coast of New South Wales has a string of towns and villages along it, which means that, for the most part, walkers can choose their overnight accommodation. After walking through natural landscapes during the day, it is possible to stay in cabins, holiday houses or camp in tents. This offers a more “European” style of walking for those who choose it.
This site has been set up to describe the Great South Coast Walk, to provide maps, track files and a set of resources that will aid anyone planning to do the walk, either in part or in full. It is currently set out in 11 stages, each covering 3-4 days and 50-70 km of walking. Generally, walkers should expect to complete the Great South Coast Walk in 35-40 days, though the fastest end-to-end walk is 20 days. The route for the Great South Coast Walk was first mapped in 2004, but has been continually modified since then to take into account the creation of new sections of tracks and improved routes, largely from the contributions of walkers. If using the track files from this website, it is best to ensure that you have the latest set.
Contributions that may improve this website and the walk are always welcome.
