Great Otway National Park

A rainforest the size of a small country

The Great Otway National Park is one of Victoria's largest, covering 240,000 hectares of the Otway Ranges and a coastal strip from near Anglesea to Princetown. It contains some of Australia's tallest hardwood forest — mountain ash trees that routinely exceed 80 metres, second only to the California redwoods globally. Beneath the canopy, dense temperate rainforest of myrtle beech, blackwood, soft tree ferns, and moss-covered fallen logs creates a humid, prehistoric environment that feels distinctly older than the surrounding farmland.

For Great Ocean Road travellers, the park is the green hinterland behind the towns. From Lorne, the park is fifteen minutes inland; from Apollo Bay, the park begins immediately at the town's edge. The road from Apollo Bay through Lavers Hill to Princetown threads directly through the heart of the park — the most scenic inland section of the entire Great Ocean Road drive.

Within the park, the highlights cluster into four groups: the waterfalls (around ten of them, ranging from easy roadside stops to multi-hour hikes); the koala forest at Cape Otway and Kennett River; the visitor-engineered attractions like the Otway Fly Treetop Walk and the Cape Otway Lightstation; and the Great Ocean Walk — the 110 km thru-hike that runs from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. A week in the Otways doesn't exhaust the park; a half-day at minimum is needed to scratch the surface.

What lives in the Otway forest

The Otway National Park supports unusually dense populations of several Australian species, partly because the forest is contiguous (less fragmented than most southern Victorian habitats) and partly because the temperate climate suits species that struggle in drier inland forests.

• Wild koalas — densest at Cape Otway and Kennett River. Drive Lighthouse Road or Grey River Road slowly in late afternoon for near-guaranteed sightings.
• Eastern grey kangaroos — common throughout the park, often grazing near roadsides at dawn and dusk.
• Glow worms — Melba Gully holds Australia's largest glow worm population. Visit at night with a torch (red-light filter recommended to avoid disturbing the worms).
• Echidnas — frequently seen on quieter walking tracks, particularly in autumn.
• Wallabies — common in the inland forest sections, less frequent near the coast.
• Birds — yellow-tailed black cockatoos, crimson rosellas, lyrebirds (heard rather than seen). The park is on multiple birdwatching routes.
• Platypus — present in some Otway streams (notably the Aire River) but rarely seen.

See the wildlife guide for ethical viewing principles, the best months for each species, and the most reliable spots.

How to spend a day in the park

From Lorne (a half-day): Drive to Erskine Falls (15 min). Walk to base and back (45 min). Drive 10 min to Sheoak Falls. Walk (30 min). Coffee back in Lorne by lunchtime.

From Apollo Bay (a full day): Drive south on Lighthouse Road for koala spotting (60 min). Visit Cape Otway Lightstation (90 min). Lunch at the lightstation or back in Apollo Bay. Afternoon: drive inland to Maits Rest (30-min walk) and Triplet Falls (1.5 km loop). Optional: add the Otway Fly for a longer day.

From Apollo Bay (a hiking day): Drive to the Apollo Bay end of the Great Ocean Walk. Walk one of the day sections — Apollo Bay to Marengo (5 km return) or Marengo to Elliott Ridge (12 km return). Pack lunch. Half-day to full-day depending on section.

From Apollo Bay (the full Otway hinterland day): Otway Fly Treetop Walk (90 min). Triplet Falls (45 min). Hopetoun Falls (45 min). Lunch at Lavers Hill Roadhouse. Drive back via Maits Rest. Total: ~6 hours of activity and driving.