Great Ocean Walk Highlights Wandertour - 4 Tage

This was our first ever guided walk of more than a day in an unfamiliar group. Despite the tracks being graded easy / moderate, at times walking was not exactly a "walk in the park". We perhaps weren't prepared for some of the slippery surfaces or having to be alert for quite a bit of the time. Despite this we managed really well and were well satisfied with completing it. Our guides were very personable, polite, kind, funny and worked very hard to respond to our needs. They were great cooks and time managers and responsible drivers. They humored us (being slightly older than them) and engaged us in interesting conversations. We had a lovely room. Facilities were clean, warm enough and very comfortable. No complaints. Food was amazing. Great recipes. Beautifully cooked. No complaints. Cost may be a bit of a barrier to regularly doing these kinds of activities. We probably would have benefited from a quick chat to someone before we went as one of us might have taken walking poles. A little bit more info on the natural wildlife would have been great. Breaking up some of the longer walking stretches might have helped make things a bit more interesting, although it does feel good to have achieved a decent amount of the track.

COMMUNICATION: Easy communication via email with Park Trek, they responded promptly to any questions. KNOWLEDGE: Al and Siraan know this hike inside out. Great knowledge of the flora and fauna and bush tucker as well. After hikes, these guys offered optional tours if you wanted to the local experiences in the area. THE THREE CAPES HIKE: Multi day hike on the Tasman Peninsula including a wonderful Wilderness Cruise on day 4. Stunning scenery along with great company. The Tasman Peninsula has a lot to offer and is a wonderful destination to explore. THE GUIDES: Al and Siraan were absolutely amazing guides, 5 star and top notch. Nothing was too much trouble for these guys. They very much cared for the 10 of us on the tour 24/7. Their organisation of our meals and daily prep for hiking was great. They did an excellent job. These guys work very hard and are always smiling and looking out for the group. Al and Siraan are a credit to Park Trek and I hope they are very much appreciated. THE ACCOMMODATION: Pick up is from Hotel Grand Chancellor, so we spent our first and last nights at the Grand Chancellor. The Wilderness lodge on the Tasman Peninsular is beautiful for a hiking experience. Each bedroom had an ensuite, shared main areas. The view from our room was stunning. SUMMARY: Very well organised would not hesitate to use this company again.

My son and I thoroughly enjoyed our Three Capes Walk. The hiking consisted of approximately 5 hours a day walking, and the end reward was always totally worth the effort. We also had the opportunity to visit Port Arthur, the Unzoo, Bangor the local vineyard, and the local Tudor-style pub for dinner on the final night. The wilderness cruise on the final day was a treat! Experiencing the three capes including the sea cliffs, waterfalls, rock formations, archways, sea caves and seal colonies from an ocean-perspective topped-off our trip perfectly. Our guides, Rob and John, were great. Rob is so passionate about his work, especially when sharing his knowledge about the endemic habitat and wildlife. We learnt so much from him. I also think it is of significant importance that companies like Parktrek promote conscious everyday sustainability and conservation and Rob and John are genuine advocates for this. Tasmania is a beautiful part of the world and it must be protected. The food was great, simple but healthy, wholesome and plentiful. Even my teenage son, who is always "starving", was sufficiently content during our stay :-) The accommodation is clean, comfortable and homely, and the views from the deck and bedrooms are magnificent. We loved it!