Stage 3 of the Great Ocean Walk covers 10.8 km from Blanket Bay to Cape Otway, with 298 m of ascent and 209 m of descent. The highest point is 102 m. Allow about 4 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Holiday park among manna gums with campsites, camping pods, bunk rooms, on-site vans and cabins, about 1.5 km north of the trail and 2 km from the Cape Otway hike-in campground. Open all year; it publishes its own Great Ocean Walk notes.
Hike-in campground in manna gum woodland about 600 m past the Cape Otway Lightstation, often visited by koalas: 8 sites for up to 3 people plus a group area, rainwater tanks, composting toilets and a shelter. Book before you walk.
Heritage cottages and B&B rooms inside the lightstation precinct, on the trail about 0.8 km before the hike-in campground. Conservation works from September 2026 to mid/late 2027 limit the dates on sale and the tower is closed; the café stays open.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed by the regional tourism board or on OpenStreetMap but could not be checked on their own website. The hike-in campsites must be booked night by night before you walk, and each site holds up to 3 people. Lodges and cottages away from the trail are reached by shuttle or by arrangement with the host, so book transport with your room.
Emergency: call 000 (112 from a mobile). Check the tides. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.