Self-guided education visits

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Supporting teachers to lead their own visits and activities in Great Otway National Park and on the Great Ocean Walk.

Great Otway National Park and the Great Ocean Walk provide opportunities for bush kinder, school excursions, fieldwork, camps, hikes and outdoor learning activities.

The following information will help you plan a safe visit, manage risk and reduce your group’s impact on the environment.

Let us know you’re coming

  1. Once you have decided on your location or walking section, organised your excursion in line with your school’s procedures and policies, and completed the Department of Education’s Student Activity Locator, if required, please complete our NP School Camp | Expression of Interest Form for each group staying.
  2. A member of our team will process the booking and send the nominated contact person a booking confirmation/permit and invoice.
  3. All booking fees must be paid in full within 14 days of the booking being confirmed.
  4. For school/group bookings made within 30 days of arrival, full payment is required at the time of booking.
  5. If we are unable to accommodate your request, we will notify the nominated contact person via email.

Submitting an Expression of Interest helps us understand your planned visit and allows our team to provide relevant site information where required. It also supports emergency planning, visitor management and environmental protection across Great Otway National Park and the Great Ocean Walk.

Holders of a valid Victorian Tour Operator Licence (LTO) conduction organised activities are eligible for the applicable School camping fees where they have been engaged by a Primary or Secondary school to provide an organised activity, and all participants of the group are from that Primary or Secondary School. To be eligible for Schools camping fees, LTO's must provide their business name, Tour Operator Licence Number, and name of the participants' school at the time of booking.

Before you visit

Schools and education groups remain responsible for planning and supervising their visit, including risk assessments, permissions, staffing ratios, first aid, emergency planning and compliance with Department of Education requirements.

Completing an Expression of Interest does not replace your school’s own excursion approval process.

Keep informed about local conditions

When learning outdoors, conditions can change at short notice. Please check the latest information before your visit and again on the day of your activity.

This will help you identify risks for your risk management plan and make alternative arrangements if conditions change.

Useful information sources include:

Great Otway National Park and Great Ocean Walk conditions
 Check the relevant park, campground or walking section page for current closures, access changes, track conditions or local advice.

VicEmergency
 Download the VicEmergency app and create a watch zone for your activity area to receive current emergency information and warnings.

Catastrophic fire danger and park closures
 Some parks and reserves may close on days of forecast catastrophic fire danger. Check current advice before travelling.

Planned Burns Victoria
 Planned burns are coordinated by Forest Fire Management Victoria and may occur at short notice when conditions allow. Subscribe for notifications but be aware that updates may be issued close to the time of the burn.

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