Great Otway National Park

AIRE RIVER- BEACH ACCESS
Start: Aire River East, Distance: 5kms, Time: 2hrs return, Difficulty: Moderate

AIRE RIVER WEST - CASTLE COVE
Start: Aire River West, Distance: 11.2kms, Time: 4hrs return, Difficulty: Strenuous

BLANKET BAY - TELEGRAPH WALK
Start: Blanket Bay, Distance: 6kms, Time: 3hrs return, Difficulty: Moderate

CAPE OTWAY - AIRE RIVER
Start: Aire River East / West, Distance: 22kms, Time: 8hrs return, Difficulty: Easy

CAPE OTWAY - RAINBOW FALLS
Start: Lighthouse precinct, Distance: 5kms, Time: 2hrs return, Difficulty: Moderate

CAPE OTWAY LIGHTHOUSE - CEMETERY
Start: Lighthouse precinct, Distance: 2kms, Time: 20mins return, Difficulty: Easy

CAPE OTWAY LIGHTHOUSE WALK
Start: Lighthouse precinct, Distance: 1km, Time: 45mins return. Difficulty: Easy

CASTLE COVE - JOHANNA BEACH
Start: Castle Cove/ Johanna, Distance: 7kms, Time: 2.5hrs one way. Difficulty: Strenuous

CASTLE COVE BEACH
Start: Castle Cove, Distance: 600ms, Time: 18mins return, Difficulty: Moderate

ELLIOT RIVER WALK
Start: Shelly Beach, Distance: 4kms, Time: 2hrs return. Difficulty: Difficult

ESCARPMENT LOOKOUT
Start: Aire River, Distance: 4kms, Time: 2hrs return. Difficulty: Moderate track

JOHANNA BEACH
Start: Johanna Beach, Distance: 8kms, Time: 3hrs return. Difficulty: Easy

KATUBANUT TRACK - BLANKET BAY
Start: Blanket Bay, Distance: 1.5kms, Time: 45mins return. Difficulty: Moderate

MAITS REST RAINFOREST WALK
Start: Maits Rest, Distance: 1km, Time: 45mins return, Difficulty: Easy

PARKER RIVER INLET
Start: Parker Hill, Distance: 500m, Time: 15mins one-way, Difficulty: Strenuous

POINT FRANKLIN - CRAYFISH BAY
Start: Crayfish bay / Point Franklin, Distance: 3kms, Start: 30mins return. Difficulty: Moderate

POINT FRANKLIN - PARKER HILL
Start: Point Franklin / Parker Hill, Distance: 3kms, Time: 1.5hrs return. Difficulty: Easy

RED HILL TRACK
Start: Blanket Bay, Distance: 12kms, Time: 5hrs return. Difficulty: Easy

SHELLY BEACH - BLANKET BAY
Start: Shelly Beach / Blanket Bay, Distance: 14kms, Time: 5hrs one way, Difficulty: Easy

SUTHERLANDS BEACH CIRCUIT WALK
Start: Johanna, Distance: 4kms, Time: 2hrs return. Difficulty: Strenuous

GREAT OCEAN WALK (GOW)
Start: Apollo Bay Finish: Glenample Homestead Port Campbell. Distance:91kms Time: 8 days.

The 91km walk links Apollo Bay to Glenample Historic Homestead, adjacent to the Twelve Apostles and passes through the Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks. Short walks, day hikes and overnight trecks are possible, with guided walks, hire equipment and accommodation transfers all available to make the experience accessible. Overnight campers must register their intentions with Parks Victoria. A map of the GOW is available from Colac & Apollo Bay visitor information centres.

Visit the Great Ocean Walk website

Waterfalls

TRIPLET FALLS HERITAGE TRAIL
(Moderate 0.9km, 40mins)
This walk to Triplet Falls, a broad, triply divided cascade set in a ferny rainforest of stately Myrtle Beech trees, also incorporates an interpreted heritage trail which tells of the early history of the forest.

BEAUCHAMP FALLS WALK
Start: Beauchamp Reserve, Distance: 1.5kms, Time: 1hr return. Difficulty: Moderate

CARISBROOK FALLS WALK
Start: Carisbrook Reserve, Distance: 500m, Time: 20mins return. Difficulty: Moderate

HOPETOUN FALLS WALK
Start: Hopetoun Falls Reserve, Distance: 0.3km, Time: 45min return. Difficulty: Strenuous

STEVENSONS FALLS WALK
Start: Stevensons Falls Reserve, Distance: 1.5km, Time: 1hr return, Difficulty: Easy

WEST BARWON RESERVE - DAM WALL WALK
Start: West Barwon Reserve, Distance: 400m, Time: 20mins return. Difficulty: Easy

Lake Elizabeth

Lake Elizabeth is a unique lake of national geomorphological significance which was formed in June 1952 after record rainfall caused a landslip, blocking the East Barwon River. The lake can be accessed by the Lake Elizabeth Walk, a short 1 hour return walk which takes you from the carpark through magnificent stands of Manna Gum to the viewing platforms at the lake. Longer walks are also available.

The lake has an abundance of waterbirds and a resident platypus population which provide for excellent nature observation. Interpretive panels provide information about the plants and animals that you might see along the walking track.

LAKE ELIZABETH BEACH WALK
Start: Lake Elizabeth, Distance: 2kms, Time: 2hrs return. Difficulty: Moderate

LAKE ELIZABETH LOOP WALK
Start: Lake Elizabeth, Distance: 6km, Time: 4hrs return. Difficulty: Moderate

LAKE ELIZABETH WALK
Start: Lake Elizabeth, Difficulty: 1.2km, Time: 1hr return, Difficulty: Moderate

Melba Gully

Melba Gully is 3km. west of Lavers Hill and south of the main Otway Ridge. Densely forested, it is one of the wettest places in Victoria. Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and tree ferns, with a dense undergrowth of low ferns and mosses can be seen, and beautiful walks through the forest and along the Johanna River can be taken.
The Madsens Track nature walk of about 35 minutes in duration is numbered for convenience and features bridges, cascades, and the 'Big Tree'. The track is steep in places and often wet and slippery.
Mostly nocturnal, the possums, platypuses and native bush rats are usually not seen, however, glow-worms can be seen at night along the walking tracks. In holiday periods, the rangers operate guided night walks to observe them.
Melba Gully was named after the renowned Australian soprano Dame Nellie Melba (1861-1931), by its then owner Mrs. Jessie Fry, who operated tea-rooms there until 1948. It was a popular picnic stop for visitors and was sold to Mr. and Mrs. John Madsen in 1958, and offered to the Victorian Conservation Trust in 1975. It is now managed by the Department of Conservation and Environment. An explanatory board near the entrance will gives information on the walk.

MADSEN TRACK
Start: Melba Gully, Distance: 1.16kms, Time: 30mins return. Difficulty: Easy

Kawarren Regional Park

OLD BEECHY RAIL TRAIL
Start: Colac Station Finish: Beech Forest, Distance: 45km, A walking / cycling track which can be completed in shorter sections if desired. Car shuffle required.

BIRNUM PICNIC GROUND WALK NO.1
Start: Birnum Station, Distance: 0.3km, Time: 15mins return, Difficulty: Moderate

BIRNUM PICNIC GROUND WALK NO. 2
Start: Birnum Station, Distance: 0.3km, Time: 20mins return Difficulty: Moderate

LOVE CREEK WALK
Start: Love Creek, Distance: 0.55km, Time: 15mins return. Difficulty: Easy

Colac & Surrounds

RED ROCK:
17kms northwest of Colac near Alvie is the Red Rock Scenic Lookout. A short stair climb to the top of this dormant volcano offers stunning views over a volcanic plain with over 40 eruption points. There are two lookout points from which on a clear day 30 district lakes can be seen, including Lake Corangamite - Australia's largest permanent saline lake.
Undercover picnic facilities, free gas BBQs, toilets, playground. Dogs on lead.