Walk the shipwreck coast
A coastal crossing of south west Victoria, reimagined as a virtual challenge you complete with your everyday steps.
This 92.9 km route follows the Great Ocean Walk from the fishing harbour at Apollo Bay, west past the Cape Otway lightstation and along a coast that wrecked enough ships to earn its name, finishing at the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles.
With Zelus, you walk the real trail coordinates. Your daily steps move you along the route on a live map, unlocking seven milestone checkpoints at the Aire River estuary, the long open sand of Johanna Beach, the cliff camp at Ryans Den and the final descent of the Gibson Steps.
7 milestones along the way
Each milestone marks a real landmark on the route. Unlock them one by one as your daily steps add up.
Leave the fishing harbour and turn west along the shipwreck coast.
The oldest working light on mainland Australia, watching the strait since 1848.
Cross the estuary where the river meets the dunes and black swans work the shallows.
Long open sand under crumbling cliffs, the swell arriving straight off the Southern Ocean.
The hardest stretch, steep gullies in and out, and the finest clifftop camp on the walk.
Down the cut stairs to stand at the foot of the cliffs and look up.
Finish at the stacks, limestone left standing as the cliff retreated around them.
How it works
Ready to start walking?
Download Zelus and pick the Twelve Apostles route. Your first steps today count toward the finish line.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this challenge take?
The in-app target is 10 days, but there is no time limit. At around 3.1 km of walking per day you would finish in a month. Go at whatever pace feels sustainable.
What is the Great Ocean Walk?
It is a coastal walking track in Victoria, Australia, running roughly 100 km from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park. It follows cliff tops, beaches and river mouths along a stretch of coast known for shipwrecks, passing the Cape Otway lightstation on the way.
Are there really twelve apostles?
No, and there never were. The limestone stacks were called the Sow and Piglets before being renamed for tourism in the 1920s, and fewer than twelve have stood at any point in living memory. They are also temporary: the sea keeps cutting new ones out of the cliff and knocking old ones down.
Do I need to run?
No. Zelus is built for walking: commuting, errands, lunch walks, pacing on a phone call. Running counts too, but it is not required.
How are my steps converted to distance?
Zelus syncs with your phone's step counter and converts steps into kilometres using a calibrated stride length. Your position updates on the map automatically.
What happens when I finish?
You earn the Twelve Apostles completion medal, which is permanently added to your profile. Then you can pick your next route from the 20 challenges available.