The Otways & waterfalls
Behind the coast rises a different world: the Great Otway National Park, a cool-temperate rainforest of towering mountain ash, tree ferns and tumbling waterfalls. It's a lush, green counterpoint to the wild coast — treetop walks, glow-worm gullies, cascades and ancient redwoods, all within easy reach of Apollo Bay. Here's how to explore the road's hidden hinterland.
Rainforest & the Otway Fly
Start high: the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures at Beech Forest carries you along a 600 m steel walkway up to 30 m into the rainforest canopy, with a springboard cantilever, a lookout tower and an optional zipline tour. Back at ground level, the easy Maits Rest boardwalk (near Apollo Bay) loops through a magical gully of giant ferns and ancient myrtle beech. Together they show off the Otways' cathedral-like forest from every angle.
Falls, redwoods & glow worms
The Otways are made for waterfall-chasing. Erskine Falls (near Lorne), Triplet Falls, Hopetoun Falls and Beauchamp Falls each reward a short walk, and run fullest in winter and spring. Don't miss the towering Californian Redwoods at Aire Valley, or an after-dark visit to Melba Gully to see thousands of glow worms light up the ferns (bring a red-filtered torch). Wear sturdy shoes — the gullies mean steps down and back up.
Give the Otways a day
Many visitors blast along the coast and skip the ranges entirely — a mistake. The Otways are a genuine highlight and a total change of scene, and even a couple of hours (a waterfall, the treetop walk, a rainforest boardwalk) is deeply rewarding. Base yourself at Apollo Bay or build it into the inland leg of your drive. For nature lovers, the forest alone justifies adding an extra day to the trip.
The Otways & waterfalls: your questions
The Great Otway National Park is a world of cool-temperate rainforest — towering mountain ash, tree ferns and mossy gullies — laced with waterfalls and walks. Highlights include the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures walk, the easy Maits Rest rainforest boardwalk, waterfalls like Triplet Falls and Hopetoun Falls, the Californian Redwoods at Aire Valley, and glow worms at Melba Gully after dark. It's a lush, green contrast to the coast.
The Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, at Beech Forest, is a 600-metre steel walkway suspended up to 30 metres high through the rainforest canopy, including a springboard cantilever and a lookout tower. There's also a zipline tour for the adventurous. It's a paid attraction and a wonderful way to experience the forest from above — great for families. Check current opening hours and book the zipline ahead in peak periods.
The Otways are waterfall country. Near Lorne, Erskine Falls is a stunning fern-gully cascade; deeper in the ranges, Triplet Falls (a lovely loop walk), Hopetoun Falls and Beauchamp Falls reward a short walk each. They're at their fullest and most spectacular in winter and spring after rain. Wear sturdy shoes — most involve steps down into the gullies (and back up).
At Melba Gully, in the Otways near Lavers Hill — a short rainforest walk that comes alive after dark with thousands of glow worms lighting up the fern banks. Bring a red-cellophane-covered torch (white light disturbs them) and go quietly on a still, dark night. It's free and magical. There are also glow worms in gullies near Lorne. Please stay on the paths to protect this fragile habitat.
Absolutely — many visitors rush the coast and miss the Otways entirely, but the rainforest is a highlight in its own right and a complete change of scene. Even an hour or two — a waterfall, the Maits Rest boardwalk, or the treetop walk — is well worth it, and easy to fit in from Apollo Bay or on the inland route. For nature lovers, it's reason enough to give the road an extra day.