COURSE OVERVIEW

CLICK ON MAP BELOW TO SEE DYNAMIC CAPRA MAP IN A NEW TAB.

Strictly limited to 250 registrations! Enter early.

The run follows the established Great Ocean Walk track which is well signposted. 

While the official Parks Victoria distance for the walk is actually 105km, previous race measurements indicate this is closer to 100km. In the spirit of running the official GOW track from end-to-end, there are no deviations or add-ons. This might mean the distance traveled is slightly less than 100km. Or it might be slightly more than 100km. Being a true trail race there will always be variations in measurements and the distances listed below are to be used as a guide only.

There are numerous junctions and camping grounds along the Walk that are generally very well signposted. Stop and look and NOTE: you do not leave the trail to go into any Hike-In Campgrounds.

Be aware that you should never be on a beach after Milanesia (65km) and never on bitumen apart from in the Otway Lighthouse carpark and the 12 Apostles carpark at the finish line. Do not run on a bitumen road. If you do, you are in the wrong place.

While there will be some supplementary course marking, GOTU is essentially an unmarked course. The course marking will be very minimal and mainly for the first section which is run in pre-dawn light. Runners are expected to be able to navigate the course following their map, and the Parks' signage and any electronic nav they so choose. There are almost no junctions that are confusing anymore. Given that the course follows the coast fairly closely for most of the way navigation is relatively straight forward. The trail does pass through areas of dense rainforest and getting off course could pose considerable dangers here so stay on the track. If you miss a beach exit at any stage and find yourself on rocks at sea level going around a headland, go back as there are no dangerous places like this on the course.

This is a closed course. This means that the established trail must be followed. There should be no cutting the course, no cutting switchbacks, and no detours that would shorten the course. If you get off course you need to retrace your path until you return to the official course before continuing under your own effort i.e. do not accept a ride in a vehicle back onto the course as this will lead to disqualification. 

Follow the yellow arrows on the timber posts and check the green metal distance signs and you can't go wrong. The green signs have the GREAT OCEAN WALK clearly labelled. The signage looks like this:

IMPORTANT NOTE CHECKPOINT #1 BLANKET BAY

NO CREW are allowed into Blanket Bay and runners do not go through the campground anymore (following complaints from campers).

Instead, you will traverse the beach to the southern end of the beach where there will be signage and hopefully a marshal to direct you up a ramp straight into the new checkpoint in the day visitor car park and picnic area. Do not go up a ramp unless you see the race ribbons or are directed by the marshall. There are toilets adjacent to the aid station if needed.

FOR MORE GENERAL EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT OUR FAQ PAGE CLICK HERE

SOLO MARATHON THE FULL SHEBANG

Lucky buggers - you get to run the entire 100km. Have fun.

TEAM MARATHON EVENT TOSS WHO GOES FIRST

The teams category has been introduced to allow runners to experience the 100km distance together as a team, but as individuals you only need run half the distance each.

PLEASE NOTE: due to the location of the transition, the first half of the run is approx 55km, while the second is approx 45km. Yep, that toss of a coin matters now, doesn’t it!? The first team runner will start at Apollo Bay and finish at Johanna Beach Car Park at the transition area. The second runner needs to be ready to run well before your partner comes in, and will set off fromJohanna beach Car Park transition area and finish at theTwelve Apostles Visitor Centre. You will need to be responsible to make your way to the transition area and be ready for your team mate to arrive.

EVENT PROGRAM DOWNLOAD

KEY INFORMATION
100km

RACE DATE
Saturday 25 October 2025

DISTANCE
100km

RECORDS 100km

MENS
9hr 8min 28sec (2014)
Blake Hose (The North Face), Victoria
6min / km pace

WOMENS
10 hours 30 min 45 sec (2014)
Gill Fowler (La Sportiva), NSW 
6min 36sec / km pace

TEAMS
8 hours 16 min
Blake Hose & David Byrne
5min 13sec / km pace

START POINT
Apollo Bay

END POINT
Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre

ENTRY FEE* SOLO
$475

ENTRY FEE* TEAMS
(2 runners, half distance each)
$545

START TIME
5am
Race brief at start line

CUT-OFF TIME
Yes. There is a 1am cut off at the finish. But if you are looking like missing that, you will be cut off earlier in all likelihood:

CP1 Blanket Bay > 9am (4 hours)

CP2 Aire River West > 1:30pm (8.5hrs)

CP3 Johanna Beach > 4pm (11hrs)

CP4 The Gables > 9pm (16 hours)

CP5 Princetown> 11.00pm (18 hours)

Finish Twelve Apostles > 1am (20 hours)

AID STATIONS & WATER POINTS

There will be four aid stations / water points along the race route:

• Blanket Bay 22km

• Aire River Campground 41km

• Johanna Beach 53km

• The Gables 77km

• Princetown approx 88km

NOTE: THIS IS A CUP-FREE EVENT! There will be no cups supplied at aid stations on course or at the finish, in line with our environmental stewardship. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN hydration receptacles – hydropack, hand held bottles, water belt, collapsible cup…

BIB PICK UP

4.30 - 6.30pm
Friday, 24th October 
Mechanics Hall, Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay

Bibs / race numbers will need to be picked up at registration on Friday afternoon. NOTE: there is NO BIB PICK UP on the morning of the race. You MUST pick up on FRIDAY.

MANDATORY RACE BRIEFING

6.30pm - 7.30pm
Friday, 24th October 
Mechanics Hall, Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay

“The Greatest Ocean Ultra of them all! Those Race Directors are amazing. But I wish they’d clean their room up.”

— Chris’s Mum.