Details

Courtesy of The Australian Walking Company, enjoy a 4-day, 3-night Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk for 2 people: a guided walk along the most inspiring sections of the Great Ocean Walk, finishing at the iconic Twelve Apostles. Each night you will retreat to your eco-lodge accommodation and enjoy a 3-course dinner prepared by the guide come chefs. Stay includes a 3-night lodge stay, all linen and towels, 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, daily morning and afternoon tea, non-alcoholic drinks, walking gear hire, daily guided walks with professional eco-guide, vehicle support daily, all entrance & national park fees, 12 Apostles scenic helicopter flight, bus transfer from Melbourne to lodge day 1, bus transfers from lodge to Melbourne on day 4, optional airport drop off on day 4. Stay is valued at approximately $4,650 AUD / £2,710 GBP / $3,555 USD*.

With walking groups no larger than ten trekkers at a time, Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk is the only licenced eco-accredited tour operator based on the walk, and is recognised as one of the ‘Great Walks of Australia’.

Prize stay dates: to be booked in advance and taken before 30 June 2018 or between 01 September 2018 – 10 December 2018, excluding stays over excludes bookings over all Australian school holiday periods, subject to availability. Note: Walking season operates from September to June each year.

Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk offers true Australian hospitality with great ‘off-the-grid’ accommodations and expert guide come chefs. The team are passionate about showcasing Victoria’s beautiful coastline and delivering experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. Experience untouched beaches, surprising natural beauty and great diversity, all within three hours of Melbourne. Their walks are well organised, great value for money and delivered to excellent quality and environmental standards – as you would expect from a luxury lodge based walk.

Everyday trekkers benefit from the back-up of local staff on call all day long for support when you’re out on the trail. The experts have incredible local knowledge that’s shared with you during your walk. The winner and their guest will share company on the trail and at the lodge with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 other like-minded travellers, starting as walkers, ending as friends.

Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk has been continuously operating on the Great Ocean Walk since 2005, just before the trail officially opened. In 2008 they built a walking lodge with the vision of offering the best hiking facilities available with strong environmental credentials. It has been custom built to support hikers on this world-class trail and its midpoint location gives you a superior stay throughout your hike. The team operate all aspects of their walks: the lodge, vehicles, food, equipment and staff provide a level of quality control that defines us.

Wilderness first aid trained, your guide will fine tune the itinerary to suit walker abilities and daily conditions, and they also carry a satellite phone, EPIRB emergency beacon and extra water – it’s reassuring to know their emergency back-up is on standby at all times.

Collection & Drop Off Arrangements:

• Day 1: 7.45am Travelodge Southbank, 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3000 (Central Melbourne Departure Location)
• Day 4: 5-5.30pm Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (for domestic flights from 6.30pm / International flights after 7:30pm) or 5.30-6pm return to Travelodge Southbank

At a glance:

• Day 1: Castle Cove to Johanna Beach (7.5km) OR Castle Cove to the lodge via Johanna Beach (10.5km) & overnight at Twelve Apostles Walking Lodge. Includes lunch and dinner
• Day 2: Milanesia Gate to Moonlight Head (12.5km) OR Johanna Beach to Moonlight Head (20.5km) & overnight at Twelve Apostles Walking Lodge. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Day 3: Gables to Princetown (12.5km) OR Moonlight Head to Princetown (17km) & overnight at Twelve Apostles Walking Lodge. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Day 4: Princetown to the Twelve Apostles (8km). includes breakfast and lunch

What’s Included:

• Transfers from Melbourne CBD (see location below) to join the lodge, day 1
• Transfers back to Melbourne CBD (see location below) or Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, day 4
• 3 nights eco lodge accommodation, linen and towels
• 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners, daily morning and afternoon tea
• All walk snacks, fresh fruit and water (stainless water bottles are provided)
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Limited alcoholic beverages
• Daily walk transfers to/from the lodge
• Quality gear: daypack, jacket, walking poles, gaiters, weather gear, etc. (gear list below)
• Expert guide on the trail, wilderness first aid trained
• Expert walking lodge support staff
• 1 x clothes wash (the lodge includes a commercial washer and drying room)
• Daily use of foot spas, including mineral salts
• All national park fees
• 12 Apostles 15 minute scenic helicopter flight

What’s Optional

• 30 minute or 1 hour massage service (by prior arrangement / subject to avail)
• Additional loads of clothes washing (charges apply)

By day, the walk immerses you in the natural environment, by night you enjoy the beautiful comforts of our eco certified walking lodge. Designed and built to strict sustainability guidelines, its minimalist feel provides a host of walking specific features. It also offers hot rainwater showers, flushing toilets, travertine bathrooms, foot spas, fresh linen sheets and organic dyed soft furnishings are just for starters. Guests unpack only once as they make the lodge their home for 3 nights; leave your cares in your suitcase and carry only a daypack out on the trail as you enjoy the luxury of the Twelve Apostles Lodge walk.

Level of Fitness & Walk Preparation: The walk is a moderate graded walk, involves walking with a light day pack (3-5kg) on uneven hiking trails for up to 8 hours a day, at approximately 3 km per hour. To enjoy this walk you will need a reasonable level of fitness. On day 2, the walk is more challenging, with undulating climbs and descents covering much of the trail – this day is rated moderate to hard.

Equipment: Each day, you will carry a light daypack, weighing no more than 5kg. This is made up of your lunch, jacket, water and any personal items you choose to carry (camera, extra clothing etc.). Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk provides high quality gear valued at over $1,000 per walker to use during the trip, including a comfortable 32 litre day pack, weatherproof jacket, walking poles, water bottles and gaiters. Additional complimentary gear is available dependent upon weather conditions on the day (e.g. weatherproof pants, neoprene gloves, etc.).

The walk is designed with daily set menus with a low GI focus. Guests are welcome to indulge as little or as much as they like in the culinary delights created from locally sourced produce. From breakfast to dinner, all the food is made to order by the resident chef, and dietary requirements, dislikes and allergies can all be catered for.

As with all coastal walking, the weather can be unpredictable at all times of the year. Being cooler makes the walking no less enjoyable. Even the wildest days lend themselves to walking this rugged coastline, giving the opportunity to appreciate how a stretch became known as the “Shipwreck Coast”. Access to a weatherproof jacket is essential, and we recommend walkers bring thermal clothing along, just in case!

Accommodation: Twelve Apostles walking lodge is an environmentally sustainable award-winning lodge located 30 minutes from the nearest town and 3-hours from Melbourne. The Lodge itself is located on 35 hectares of private land and is surrounded by the Mount William National Park and adjoining coast and offers breath taking views of the Tasman Sea. The lodge is comfortably heated throughout. The dining area has a guest lounge space, communal dining table and 24-hour tea and coffee making facilities. Here you will also find daily newspapers, and nearby in the library a selection of reference and fiction books and magazines available to read during your stay. The bedrooms can be configured as King, twin share or two single rooms (by partitioning the King room into two) and all have access to a private ensuite bathroom with flushing toilet and rainwater shower. There are also hair dryers in each room as well as a range of in house Myrtle & Moss toiletries. Other guest facilities include: footbaths, available for daily use, lodge property walks, Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk boutique shop, gear hire and gear drying room. This is where you will find the washing machine – 1 complimentary wash with soap is included in your walk package, additional loads are charged to your tab to discourage excessive usage / environmental impact. The lodge has mobile coverage (with Telstra only) and wireless Internet. Power points are available in your room to charge batteries.

Terms and Conditions

Luxury Travel Diary terms and conditions apply. *This auction item is valued at approximately $4,650 AUD by The Tasmanian Walking Company – please note this valuation is the list price provided to Luxury Travel Diary by the Auction Prize Provider and should be used as a guide only as cheaper discounted rates may be available. No cash alternative is available. This auction item excludes flights and transport – you will need to arrange your own flights / transportation to and from your home to Travelodge Southbank, 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3000 (Central Melbourne Departure Location) to coincide with your booking. Your stay is subject to availability, must be booked in advance and taken before 30 June 2018 or between 01 September 2018 – 10 December 2018, excluding stays over excludes bookings over all Australian school holiday periods, subject to availability. Note: Walking season operates from September to June each year. Prize is subject to The Tasmanian Walking Company standard terms and conditions. Winners must pay for their auction item in full via Paypal within 48 hours of the auction end, otherwise Luxury Travel Diary Ltd. reserves the right to offer the auction item to the next highest bidder with immediate effect. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Luxury Travel Diary will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the winners’ use or enjoyment of the prize; and the winner acknowledges that Luxury Travel Diary accepts no responsibility whether directly or indirectly for any claims whatsoever arising in respect of the prizes provided by third party providers or sponsors.