Great Ocean Trail Ultra 2024

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.