You might think of chasing waterfalls as a summer activity, but these stunning natural wonders are particularly beautiful in winter, due to heavier rainfall. And Great Otway National Park, located roughly two to three hours away from Melbourne, is home to many spectacular waterfalls. This national park is a great place to visit all year round, and offers an utterly dreamy escape during the colder months. When you’re not whale watching on the Great Ocean Road, venture into the Otways for an enchanting forest walk and encounter misty trees, fern gullies, fungi and waterfalls. The colder months also have less crowds, so you can enjoy your nature escape in peace.
The best waterfalls to see in the Otways
Erskine Falls
The popular Erskine Falls is pretty easy to get to, as it’s just 15 minutes away from Lorne. Park nearby and take a short walk to see the falls from the top, then descend over 200 steps to reach the base. Watch the water cascade down 30 metres into the rockpool below. If you’d like to really stretch your legs, there are some lengthy walking trails available, such as the Lemonade Creek track (4.4km one way) or the Erskine River Walk (7.5km one way). These tracks will take you through the forest one your way to see the falls.
Sheoak Falls
Another lovely waterfall near Lorne is the peaceful Sheoak Falls. Watch the water tumble 15 metres down a sheer rockface and into a deep pool. This waterfall is about 600 metres away from the carpark, and there are quite a bit of steps. After admiring the falls, keep climbing up the trail to see Swallow Cave nearby. You’ll get to see some alternative views of Sheoak Falls as you go. However, the journey to Swallow Cave might be impassable in winter, as you’ll need to cross a river. For another long walk, park at Sheoak Picnic Area and follow the path to Sheoak Falls. This trail is 3.6km one way.
Lower Kalimna Falls
For a long but relatively flat walk, take a stroll to see Lower Kalimna Falls. Starting from the Sheoak Picnic Area, this 6.5km return walk takes about 2.5 hours to complete. Journey through a deep creek valley, and stumble across this peaceful waterfall. Watch it fall into the pool, and climb behind the water for a different view. Please note that the Upper Kalimna Falls is currently closed. See more here.
Hopetoun Falls
Nestled in the Otways, just a few minutes drive away from a magical redwood forest, you’ll find Hopetoun Falls. This beautiful waterfall is about 10 minutes away from Beech Forest and roughly an hour away from Apollo Bay. Thankfully, the walk to see it is quite short, with an upper viewing platform just 20 metres from the carpark. Watch the water descend 30 metres into the Aire River below. Then, take a steep walk down roughly 200 stairs to reach the base of the falls.
Triplet Falls
Embark on a scenic loop through ancient rainforest in search of Triplet Falls. The 1.8km walk takes about an hour to complete, and you’ll meander past lush mountain ash and myrtle beech trees. Along the way, you’ll see the three cascades of the falls from elevated viewing platforms. This area is also the site of an old timber mill, so you’ll see remnants like log carts along the trail.
Beauchamp Falls
If you’re up for a longer walk, take a hike to see Beauchamp Falls. First, head to Beauchamp Falls campground, which is just a short drive away from Beech Forest. Then, follow the 3km path through to mountain ash forest, and see the spectacular 20-metre waterfall plunge into a large pool. The walk takes about one hour to complete, and you’ll need a reasonable amount of fitness, as the path back can get quite steep. There is a viewing platform for you to admire the falls.
Stevensons Falls
Not to be confused with the similarly named Steavenson Falls in Marysville, Stevensons Falls in the Otways is a pretty easy one to visit. The walk to the falls is wheelchair-accessible and pram friendly, and it’s just a short walk from the car park. As you journey to see the falls, you’ll pass through some towering Californian redwoods, which were first planted in the 1980s. After that, cross over the Gellibrand River, then follow the path to a viewing platform at the base of the falls. If you’d like to stay overnight, there is a campground and picnic area nearby.