Wrap yourself around the Great Ocean Road neighbourhood, the Great Otway National Park. The Park is an integral part of the visitor journey on the Great Ocean Road. The iconic Aussie road trip is a constructed thread between the rugged coast and the forested hinterland of the Great Otway National Park.
The park’s landscape is diverse from rugged coastline, rocky marine platforms, waterfalls, cool climate forest and windswept heaths. Check the Great Ocean Road itinerary location map to assist you in deciding where to go and how to get there.
GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK HIGHLIGHTS
- Lush cool climate forest tumbling towards the rugged coast
- The Otways bush and gully walks lead to cascading waterfalls
- Cape Otway Lighthouse is an imposing lighthouse overlooking the Bass Strait. The 90 metre lighthouse is open to the public
- Great Ocean Walk – a multiple day hike
- Short walks to glowworm grottos and fern gullies with the sound of birds and wildlife
- Mountain bike trails near the hinterland town of Forrest
The Great Otway National Park offers visitors an exceptional opportunity to experience emerald fern gullies, waterfalls, eucalypt old mountain ash forest with its heights over 90 metres. The Otways hinterland includes attractive heathlands covered in spring wildflowers.
Great Otway National Park is located in Victoria, Australia. The park’s Melbourne based entrance is the seaside town Torquay. The park neighbours the Great Ocean Road reaching into the hinterland about 40 km to the towns of Forrest, Beach Forest and Lavers Hill.
The park is approximately 100 km southwest of Melbourne. The Otways hinterlands finish near the town of Colac.
12 Apostles, Great Otways & Great Ocean Road Day Tour – BOOK NOW (up to 10% cashback)
The lighthouse is 90 metres in height with the final 78 steps metal open steps that are steeper than the stairs. Vehicle access is on a sealed road to the car park. It can be crowded in the peak summer season.
The Otways has mountain bike trails, transverse Forrest Mountain trails past eucalypt forest and bush. The trails have been designed around the village of Forrest and built with real mountain bikers in mind.
Waterfall walks and lush native Australian forest are best viewed in the Great Otway National Park in early spring through to the beginning of summer. (late August – early December). In June – August the weather is cold and windswept on the exposed coast with sometimes heavy rainfall. The bonus is very few tourists and thundering waterfalls.
WATERFALLS IN THE OTWAYS
HOPETOUN FALLS
Easy access less than 1 km walk with a viewing platform 20 metres from the car park. The waterfall has a 30 metre fall. The walk starts from the carpark located on the Aire Valley Road 10 minutes from Beech Forest and only a few minutes from the Otway Redwoods forest.
BEAUCHAMP FALLS
A strenuous steep 3 km walk. The 20 metre fall drops into a large pool. No swimming allowed. To get to the falls, take the walking path from the picnic area, located off the Aire Valley Road.
Best travel deals - Over 2 million happy travellers since 1962
TRIPLET FALLS
Ancient forests of mountain ash and myrtle beech, boardwalks lead to a triple cascading waterfall. Very picturesque with shady fern glades. The walk is quite close to the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures located on Phillips Track near Beech Forest. A moderately difficult walk as parts of the walk have steep steps. The walk is a 2 km return loop trail.
STEVENSONS FALLS
The most popular walk due to the campgrounds and picnic area in a valley of the Gellibrand River. Easy walk, wheelchair accessible 3.4 km return, no steps.
LITTLE AIRE FALLS
Stunning mountain ash forest walk leads to a cantilevered viewing platform with spectacular views over the falls. Parts of the walk are steep. The walk starts from the Triplet Falls car park located on Phillips Track, just 3km past the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures. The walk is a 5 km return trail.
CARISBROOK FALLS
Another short easy walk (approximately 10 minutes from the car park). Carisbrook falls flow is greatly diminished during summer. The falls cascade over a series of rock faces. The walk starts from the carpark located just off the Great Ocean Road, 12 kms east of Apollo Bay. The walk length is 1 km. This walk is very popular with day trippers and can be crowded.
Your energy-self-sufficient lifestyle on the road
ERSKINE FALLS
Ferns, layered in size and growth are green fans filtering light into sparkling shafts and shadowed areas on the forest path. Erskine Falls is a popular destination. The falls are spectacular, especially in winter when there is increased water flow. Two lookout points offer scenic views of this well-known, 30-metre waterfall cascading into a gully. The lower platform walk is 1km.
Note: TEMPORARILY CLOSED (7 to 25 October)
For waterfall fans and photographers the other waterfalls to consider are Hopetoun Falls, Beauchamp Falls, Triplet Falls.
OTWAY REDWOODS
Near the entrance to the Stevenson falls. The waterfall walk has two companion smaller trails. The Redwoods Boardwalk, showcasing the giant Californian redwoods, and the Blue Spruce Walk which runs along the Gellibrand River.
MELBA GULLY – GLOW WORMS
Moss, lush forest, fern gullies – a popular short walk.
Yes, you can camp inside the Great Otway National Park. Check out Otways Camping Grounds for details. Bookings are only available via Parks Victoria website.
Cameras, drones and everything you might need for stunning photos and videos
AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE IN THE GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK
Elusive wildlife sightings among the lush foliage. You will hear the birds, look up, listen and wait for a few minutes. Among the eucalyptus trees are koalas. Similar to the Port Campbell National Park, the Otway Ranges rugged coastline has lookout points to view whales. You will need binoculars. Forrest’s streams and waterways are known for hard to observe nocturnal platypus.
Great Otway National Park – Otway Fly Treetop Walk – BOOK NOW
KENNETT RIVER ROAD – WILD KOALA SIGHTINGS
The Grey River koala lookout walk starts at the Kennett River picnic reserve 6km up the Grey River Road. Check out the itinerary for the GREAT OCEAN ROAD and plan your visit around koala spotting.
Let’s get our walking boots on for LAKE ELIZABETH WALK and a highlight is Otway Eco-Tours guided platypus tours by canoe to maximise viewing potential of platypus. Contact Otway Eco Tours for details.
Great Otway National Park: Tours and Tickets – RESERVE NOW (free cancellation)
TOWNS NEAR GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK
- TORQUAY. Lunch and a chance to find your inner surfer. Torquay is part and parcel of Bells Beach & Rip Curl Pro where world’s best surfers compete, riding the waves at Bells Beach.
- LORNE is a well known settlement on the Great Ocean Road and dubs itself the waterfall capital of Australia. Lorne is a well-known pit stop for tour buses. Gift shops, cafes and accommodation will encourage visitors to take the slow lane and stay awhile longer. Lorne is a convenient stop for a meal
- ANGLESEA
- FORREST settlement is where mountain bike trails devotees set. The MTB are set among mountain ash forests
GREAT OCEAN WALK is a multiple day hike of 110 km.
Download the Great Ocean Road location map guide to walks and forest tracks. Ensure you have a paper copy as mobile service is not always guaranteed in a forest setting. Check the GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL MAP BROCHURE in the Travel Pack Section.
Over 100 Solutions For Foot Care!
BEFORE YOU VISIT THE GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK
Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.
Cheap deals on flights, cars, insurance, tours and activities here
Exciting adventures for your loved ones as a gift from You!
If we have accidentally used your photograph without your permission, we are sorry and will remove the photograph as soon as possible. Any use without permission is an oversight… for more information regarding our Terms and Conditions check HERE.
BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE