Club Aims
The main purpose of the club is:
- To promote interest in and to encourage bushwalking and related outdoor activities
Secondary purposes are:
- To promote interest in and to encourage the conservation of the natural environment
- To promote good fellowship among those interested in bushwalking and related activities
Day walks
Day walks are offered on Tuesdays (easier walks), Thursdays and on either Saturday or Sunday. These vary from easy to medium or difficult. Walk gradings are explained on the 'Program' page. See Walk Grading.
We have a wide range of excellent day-walking areas near Geelong, from the Otway Ranges to coastal walks, the Werribee, Anakie and Lerderderg Gorges, Brisbane Ranges, the Ballarat, Daylesford and Creswick areas, walks through forests, along rail trails, rivers and coastline, up ancient volcanoes and more.
Base Camps
On base camps walkers remain at one campsite or other type of accommodation, and walk out each day.
Basse camps have been held at the Glenelg River, Nelson; Heathcote-Graytown National Park; Croajingolong Coastal Walk; Cathedral Ranges; Lamington National Park, Queensland; Wilson’s Promontory; Castlemaine; Hepburn Springs; Deep Creek (SA); Wangaratta.
Extended walks
These are pack carrying walks usually lasting for several days, and often of a high level of difficulty, though introductory extended walks are sometimes offered. Extended ski trips are also occasionally on the program.
Extended walks have included the 3 Capes in Tasmania, the Grampians, Beeripmo Circuit near Beaufort, the Picton Circuit in SW Tasmania, Mallacoota to Cape Howe and the Nadgee Nature Reserve in NSW, the Great Ocean Walk, Coast to Coast in WA, and the Larapinta Track.
Overseas
Our members often get together to plan their own walks overseas. Destinations have included New Zealand, England, Swiss Alps, Camino Trail in Spain and Portugal, and Nepal.
Visitors are asked to take part in three activities before applying to join the club as a Full Member.
The 6-month program is under the Program tab. Contact us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to enquire about coming on a walk as a visitor. You should do an easy or medium grade walk before attempting anything more difficult.
Our fees cover the cost of the monthly newsletter, our affiliation with Bushwalking Victoria and our Public Liability Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance while on club activities.
Members have access to a variety of outdoor equipment and are eligible for discounts at selected retail outlets.
A general club meeting is held at the South Barwon Community Centre in Mt Pleasant Rd Belmont on the second Wednesday of the month in February, May and October and a club barbeque at Eastern Gardens in December.
Contact us if you would like to attend a meeting as a visitor.
The 4th Edition of the Geelong Bushwalking Club's "Walking The Otways" edited by John Chapman offers 43 walks from Anglesea to Apollo Bay and north to Gellibrand and Forrest. The walks vary from easy to quite demanding, and cover areas of magnificent forest, unique heathland, beautiful coastal views and many of the hidden Otways’ waterfalls.
Click here to send a message to the coordinator to purchase a copy at member rates:
It is also available from information centres along the Surf Coast, hiking shops in Melbourne, or from the editor at: www.john.chapman.name/pub.html
Information about errors or significant changes should be sent to Walking the Otways Co-ordinator, email contact above. Updates are posted below. Most changes will result from notes made by leaders of Club walks along these tracks, but input from non-members will also be appreciated. Only major changes that affect trip planning or navigation will be included here.
These are the latest updates to the book:
Club History
Geelong Bushwalking Club was formed in 1973 by a group of people wanting to share their liking for the outdoors. For the first walk 6 people met under a special old pine tree at Steiglitz, a tree pointed out to members every time we pass that way! Since the initial 6 people the Club has grown to over 200 members of varying ages, interests and experience.
While essentially a walking club, we have over the years explored other areas, such as canoeing, cross-country skiing and cycling.
Since those early days we have joined Bushwalking Victoria, provided volunteers for Bushwalking Victoria Search and Rescue squad and volunteered with Parks Victoria to develop and maintain walking tracks. We fund-raise for Relay for Life (support for cancer research).
Booklets celebrating our 10th, 20th and 30th anniversaries are listed here:
10th anniversary: 
GBC_10th_Anniversary_Edition.pdf22.83 MB
20th anniversary: GBC_20th_Anniversary_Edition.pdf
30th anniversary: GBC-30th-Anniversary-Edition.pdf
We support our members to take the St John First Aid course and regular refreshers.
For extended walks we have use of Club owned MT410G Personal Locator Beacons.
All walkers carry their own First Aid kit and an Emergency Form in case of accidents
The current version of the GBC Risk Management Plan can be found under Club Procedures and Policies below.
Club policies and procedures
GBC_Risk_Management_Plan_22_23_Walking_and_canoeing_FINAL.pdf
GBC_Child_Safe_Code_of_Conduct.pdf
GBC_COVID-19_Vaccination_Policy.docx
GBC_COVID-19_Safety_Plan_update_Oct_16_2021.pdf
