Upcoming Events South Solitary Click here AGM Sep 17th More details here Landslip causes DETOUR More details here   Welcome to the Great South West Walk. Portland Victoria                                        Established in 1981    This website is proudly sponsored by Merv Gay   Find out more here The Great South West Walk has been developed as a bushwalking trail suitable for most ages and abilities comprising short 2 hour loop walks, full day walks or for the intrepid, the whole 250km loop that begins and ends at the Maritime Discovery and Visitor Information Centre in Portland Victoria, Australia. This unforgettable experience winds around 3 National Parks, hardwood forests,  the pristine Glenelg river, the picturesque township of Nelson, aboriginal heritage sites, the mighty Southern Ocean and vast sand dunes, sandy bays and beaches, rugged cliffs, freshwater lakes, an operational Light station and a diversity of natural fauna and flora including Blue and Southern Right Whales, a mainland Fur Seal colony, a mainland Australasian Gannet rookery and lots more.                                                                                                                                                                                Australasian Gannet Rookery on Point Danger The GSWW is located at the Western Gateway of the Great Ocean Road, approximately midway between Adelaide and Melbourne and because of its remote locality and size, does not have overcrowding issues.   Fees or bookings are not required as with some other walking tracks located nearer to major cities, however we do advise individual walkers, and in particular groups of walkers, to contact our walker liaison co-ordinator during your planning or prior to your arrival. Why not try one of the 17 shorter sections or tackle the entire 250 km walking trail, either way you are destined to experience some of Australia's most beautiful natural scenery and wildlife.    On the other hand, if you prefer to return in the evening to a comfortable bed, shower and civilised cuisine, you can enjoy many of the integrated short loop walks that this internationally renowned  walking track has to offer, as it is easy to access the walk from many locations. So if you like a walk that's moderately challenging, remote, full of surprises and which takes you through some of Victoria's magnificent National and State Parks, then the Great South West Walk is just for you! When will you do it ? The RACV 100 Must Do Things online survey ranked the GSWW 37.  You can read the unsolicited comments made by others about our walk here   Links for information on current weather conditions and tides. Portland/Cape Nelson weather forecast---A link to Portland's weather details and the 7 day outlook. Mount Gambier RADAR---Link here to B.O.M. real time rain distribution. (Not advisable for dial-up connection) Portland Tides---A link to Portland's tide heights and times for 7 days from your selected date. (CFA) Country Fire Authority - Victoria---Link here for Total Fire Bans (TFB) and other fire related information. "Discovery" a symphony in four movements by Music Glenelg 2007/2008.   Collectors DVD and CD on sale NOW!  Are you interested in becoming a Friend of the Great South West Walk?---more here                                               Site last updated June 2009   © Copyright Great South West Walk, Portland, Vic. 3255 Australia www.greatsouthwestwalk.com