Travel
I
’dalwaysimagineddriving
theGreatOceanRoadina
convertiblewithmyhairtied
ina scarfliketheglamorous
broadsinHollywoodclassics.
Instead,I hikedit.Overfour
daysand55km,
withouta hintof
glamour– atleastnot
inmydirection.
AustralianWalking
Company’sTwelve
ApostlesLodgeWalk,
though,isasglamas
hikingexperiences
get– luxedigs,daily
footspas,flowing
wine,endlesscanapes,
andbubblesbythe
sparklingGellibrand
River,inthisspecial
cornerofthecountry.TheTwelveApostlesLodge
hidesthreehourssouth-westof
Melbourne,ina remotepocket
ofJohanna.We’repickedupatthe
airportbyHugo,oneofourtwo
tourguides,whoseenthusiasm
issocontagioushelaterthrills
mewitha lessoninfungi.SERENITYPLUS
Awalkaroundtheeco-retreat
andI’mmuttering,“How’sthe
serenity?”Showntomyroom,I
throwmyselfonthecloud-like
bed,thankfulI gettoreturnhere
forthenextthreenightsandnot
someflimsytentI’dneverbe
abletopitch.Theensuiteholds
thelargestshowerI’veeverhad
thepleasureofsingingin.
Hikersgetexclusiveaccessto
thelodge,whichmakesforcosyAdd to the bucket list...
gatheringsinthediningroom,
where we fuel up with big
brekkies, and unwind over three-
course dinners. Forget bush
tucker – even our lunchboxes
burst with gourmet goods (like
pasta that rivals my nonna’s)
packed for us by supremely
hospitable property managers
Ben and wife Ania, who bakes
treats each night for our
morning-tea stops the next day.
The walk stretches 104km
along Victoria’s windswept
coastline, through Great Otway
National Park, and this hike
covers half that. Moderate in
pace and difficulty, its handful
of heart-pumping hills and
steep staircases are worth every
bead of sweat. At The Gables
lookout, for instance, I watch theDaily foot spas
and drinks were
very welcome.Our 55km walk
was made easier
with glam digs.“How’s the
serenity?”
ended up
being Jess’
catchcry.
Ditch the drive! The best way to experience Australia’s
natural wonder is on foot, writes JESSICA MULTARI