10 Best hikes and trails in Great Otway National Park

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Great Otway National Park

Best trails in Great Otway National Park

4.4(11,478 reviews)

Australia
:
#33 of 638 national parks

Great Otway National Park is located in the Barwon South West region of Victoria. It is part of the Otway Mountains range and features coastlines, waterfalls, and tall mountain forests. The park is rich in fungal diversity with 278 species of fungi.

There are facilities at several of the trailheads.

Top trails

#1 - The Canyon (Lorne Waterfalls Circuit)

This scenic route is located just inland of Lorne and on the eastern edge of Great Otway National Park. The path follows 2 creeks for most of its length. It packs in a lot in under 8 kilometres passing by 3 waterfalls. It is also along beautiful fern-lined bushland trails. The trailhead is near Allenvale Mill Campsite.

#2 - Point Addis and Bells Beach Loop Trail

This is a long walk on the beach with rock scrambles and plenty of climbs up and down rolling sandhills. The path is lined with scrubby gums, wattle, and lots of tiny paper daisies in springy paper daisies. There are many opportunities to glimpse the ocean and surf beaches once you turn inland. The route is well-marked, with the bonus for indigenous warmakers and interpretation. Bring your water along; no potable water is available on the trail. Plan your hike so you will not be walking on...

This is a challenging hike through ferns, tall eucalypt trees, and incredible scenery not far from Lorne on the surf coast. Start in the car park just off Allenvale Road near Allenvale Mill Camp Site. Then, head up alongside the St George River alongside orchard before a descent to the base of Phantom Falls. The trail has one steep section with significant rock scrambling for a few hundred meters leading up to Cora Lynn Cascades and about 1km after Erskine Falls. Wear decent boots - this is...

This is a longer loop through the dry heathy woodlands of the Otway Plains on Gadabanud land. Along this loop you'll pass by tall ironbark trees (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) and possibly encounter some native wildlife too, all part of an ecosystem with a high biodiversity value. The Currawong Falls are best visited after heavy rains, otherwise there isn't much water passing through. There are also great views on this trail overlooking Aireys Inlet. The trail is shared by cyclists and hikers. Be...

#5 - Lake Elizabeth Loop

Enjoy this gorgeous undulating hike through the lush green valley and around Lake Elizabeth. Visit at dawn or dusk for the best chance of spotting a platypus! The area is filled with large ferns and the banks of the lake are peppered with the trunks of dead trees, drowned when the valley was flooded more than 50 years ago by a natural landslip. A number of chairs to stop and rest with lookout stops along the way. Muddy underfoot in some places after rain. You can camp nearby the trailhead...

#6 - Great Ocean Walk: Blanket Bay - Cape Otway

The Great Ocean Walk starts from the east in Apollo Bay, traverses west to the Twelve Apostles, and usually takes six to eight days to complete. Often, smaller one-day or half-day sections can be taken to experience sections of the walk. This bucket-list long-distance trail takes walkers beneath tall forests, through coastal heath and lush green pastures, on top of coastal cliff tops, and across sandy beaches pounded by the waves of the Southern Ocean. This is the fourth official section...

#7 - Surf Coast Walk: Point Addis via Bells Beach

This well-formed grade 3 track connects two iconic surf coast landmarks in Bells Beach and Point Addis as part of the Surf Coast Walk. From Bells Beach follow the track inland through the forested Ironbark Basin – a part of Great Otway National Park – while keeping an eye out for wildlife like echidnas and a myriad of reptile and birdlife. From Point Addis you can hang out and have lunch after taking a swim and enjoying sweeping views from one of the many lookouts. Time your walk with low...

#8 - Lower Kalimna Falls

This is a short and simple walk through Great Otway National Park to the base of Lower Kalimna Falls. The trail and area is often wet, so be prepared for a bit of mud. Great Otway is not short on beautiful waterfalls and the two Kalimna Falls options are no exception. The walk begins from the popular Sheoak Picnic Area and follows a mostly flat and well-maintained track through lush forest to the lower falls.

#9 - Great Ocean Walk: Elliot Ridge Campsite - Blanket Bay

The Great Ocean Walk starts from the east in Apollo Bay and traverses west to the Twelve Apostles, and usually takes between six to eight days to complete. Often smaller one-day or half-day sections can be taken to experience sections of the walk. This bucket-list long distance trail takes walkers beneath tall forests, through coastal heath and lush green pastures, on top of coastal cliff tops, and across sandy beaches pounded by the waves of the Southern Ocean. The Great Ocean Walk's...

#10 - Lorne Waterfalls Loop

This is a gorgeous trail through the Great Otway National Park on the south coast of Victoria, located not too far from the town of Lorne. This looped route begins and ends from the parking area on Allenvale Road, near the Saint George River, Enjoy making your way through the rainforest, winding up and down along the way. The return walk back via Garveys Track and Allenvale road has a section at the end that is shared with vehicles, which make for a dusty ending to a great...

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Top Picks in Great Otway National Park

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Trail reviews for Great Otway National Park

13,983 trailgoers Busiest in January

Gary Higgins

Jan 6, 2025•Hiking

Not crowdedGreat conditions

A long-time favourite of the Great Otway National Park; I completed my photography training here more than 35 years ago. Decades on, I still visit Hopetoun for the challenge of getting down, but especially the bigger challenge of getting back up 93 large and sometimes muddy wooden steps!! Car park at the top can be tricky to get into and out of with many visitors parking in front of others; no short-cut out, just have to wait until they return. Nearby Redwoods and splendid upstream scenes of the Aire River are a worthwhile extension to this walk — after you have rested your legs and lungs from the long haul back up!

Difficulty: Moderate

Hopetoun Falls Walk

Liam McNaughton

Jan 10, 2025•Hiking

Good conditions

A mix of beachcombing and a coastal walk through the great Otway national Park. You'll need to check the tide times to get the best experience of the rock pools. You can check these here https://tides.willyweather.com.au/vic/barwon/wye-river.html NB we didn't fully complete the loop back to Wye River as we saw a path to our accommodation but it's clear where to follow the track to

Wye River to Jamieson Track

David Kennett

Mar 6, 2025•Hiking

Good conditionsGood viewsEasy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms available

Nice out and back walk on defined walking trails , part of Great Ocean Walk in Great Otway NP from Parker Hill campground to Blanket Bay Car Park including Pt Lewis return. Great bush and coastal scenery. Numerous birds, blue wren, crimson rosella, kookaburra etc.

Conditions: No bugs, Dry ground, Well maintained

Blanket Bay to Parker Hill via Great Ocean Walk

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Great Otway National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Great Otway National Park is The Canyon (Lorne Waterfalls Circuit), which has a 4.6 star rating from 854 reviews. This trail is 4.8 mi long with an elevation gain of 938 ft.

What is the longest trail in Great Otway National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Great Otway National Park is Federation Track West: Queenscliff to Twelve Apostels. This trail is estimated to be 185.0 mi long.

How many trails are in Great Otway National Park?

There are 171 trails in Great Otway National Park. These trails have an average 4.4-star rating from 11,478 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Great Otway National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Great Otway National Park has you covered. Federation Track West: Queenscliff to Twelve Apostels boasts the most elevation gain with 24,278 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Great Ocean Walk, which will get you 8,904 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Great Otway National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 41 camping trails in Great Otway National Park and the most popular is Lake Elizabeth Loop with an average 4.7 star rating from 263 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Great Otway National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 63 running trails in Great Otway National Park and the most popular is Currawong Falls with an average 4.4 star rating from 430 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Great Otway National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 12 biking trails in Great Otway National Park and the most popular is Currawong Falls with an average 4.4 star rating from 430 community reviews.