Cape Otway Lightstation is a wonderful place to visit with many reminders and stories of Australia’s maritime history. Take a tour during business hours and explore Australia's oldest working lighthouse, operating between 1848 and 1994. Entry fees apply.
The Great Ocean Walk is one of Australia's iconic walks. Linking Apollo Bay with the Twelve Apostles it weaves through tall forests, coastal heathlands beside rocky shores and along windswept clifftops. Hike up to eight days or choose a day walk.
A feature of the spectacular waterfalls found in this part of the Great Otway National Park is their short walk access. Be sure to visit Triplet Falls, Beauchamp Falls, Sabine Falls, Hopetoun Falls and Anne's Cascades at Melba Gully.
The Aire River and Gellibrand River’s upper waters are popular with anglers seeking River Blackfish, Brown Trout and Black Bream near Princetown.
Get the most out of your day and plan for a picnic at Shelly Beach Picnic Area (loop walk through tall forest leading down to rocky shoreline), Blanket Bay (rockpools and beach at low tide), Aire River (camping riverside on a quiet estuary protected from the ocean), Johanna Beach Day Visitor and Camping Area (wild coastal beach), Melba Gully Picnic Area (rainforest walk and glow worms), or Sabine Falls.
A host of camping areas are available and plenty of off-park camping and accommodation opportunities in the Cape Otway area. Aire River Camping features two campgrounds located on opposite banks. This area is a haven for wildlife including wetland birds and a host of fish species. A great place to go bird watching, fishing, swimming and canoeing.
Alternatively, dog-friendly Johanna Beach Campground offers access to prime ocean swells while the smaller Parker Hill Campground is set on a forested hill high above the beach and inlet. Blanket Bay Campground is heavily used in holiday periods. It has a boat ramp, day visitor area, short walk and rockpools to explore.
As beaches and coasts are natural environments, you may encounter hazards. Follow our water safety advice to make sure your day out at Cape Otway and Apollo Bay is a safe and enjoyable one.
Things to do
Johanna Beach Campground
Triplet Falls
Melba Gully
Aire River East Campground
Aire River West Campground
Blanket Bay Campground
Maits Rest
Parker Hill Campground
How to get there
Cape Otway and Apollo Bay
Great Otway National Park is south-west of Melbourne via Geelong or Colac. From the east, approach Apollo Bay and Cape Otway along the Great Ocean Road (B100) by taking either Anglesea Road or Surf Coast Highway from Geelong.
From Colac, approach through Lavers Hill (inland route C155).
From the west, pick up the Great Ocean Road by approaching via Port Campbell (inland route C164).
A daily bus service between Geelong, Lorne and Apollo Bay connects with train services to Melbourne.
When you're there
Stay on the path while looking for the different mosses, fungi, lichens and ferns found growing on the forest floor. They play an important role in maintaining the rainforest - recycling leaf and bark back into soil nutrients.
Download the Cape Otway and Apollo Bay visitor guide for more information about this part of Great Otway National Park.
Need to know
Cape Otway and Apollo Bay
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
The Colac Otway Shire and Surf Coast Shire each have an all-terrain wheelchair, called a Trailrider, that is available for park visitors with mobility difficulties. The chairs can be booked with the respective shires.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
Change of Conditions
Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.
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Aire River West Campground (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)
Aire River West Camp ground - Sites 24 - 40 - CLOSED
- Sites 24 to 40 at the Aire West Campground are CLOSED due to flooding
- Due to an ongoing river mouth closure these sites are inundated and not suitable for camping.
- Sites will require time to dry out once any river opening occurs.
- Sites 24 to 40 are advised as closed until at least 31 March 2025
- Sites 1 -23 are not impacted > at this point.
- The Great Ocean Walk hike in camp sites are not impacted.
- Closed areas can not be booked nor camped in.
- National Park Regulations apply.
- Flood water can be hazardous.
- Visitors and campers should avoid flood water.
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Notices Affecting Multiple Sites
Kalimna Tramline link walk and Upper Kalimna is closed
The Kalimna Tramline link walk is closed due to damage to a pedestrian bridge. Walkers can still access the Lower Kalimna Waterfall via the Kalimna Falls Walking Track, which starts at Sheoak Picnic Area. Upper Kalimna Falls closed until further notice.Temporary night closures of sections of the Great Otway National Park
Between Monday 17th February 2025 and Friday 4th April 2025, rolling closures park closures will occur between dusk and dawn Great Otway National Park to enable staff to safely undertake park conservation programs. For your safety and for safety of park staff and contractors, please adhere to park closure signage.Visitor sites that may be impacted by temporary closures include:Surf Coast Walk between Southside and AngleseaIronbark BasinPoint AddisEumeralla Area - including all mountain bike tracksAnglesea HeathOld rifle range between Cecil and Woodland TracksDistillery CreekMoggs CreekOther areas that may be impacted by temporary closures include:Carlisle Heath, Kennedys Creek and Chapple Vale areasParks Closures will only occur at night and for short periods of time. Closures will be signposted, supervised and patrolled by Parks Victoria staff and Authorised Officers.For further information please email: westregiondcp@parks.vic.gov.auGreat Ocean Walk - Important Notice
Parks Victoria is received increasing reports of concerning observations on the Great Ocean Walk .This includes use of bikes, horses, unrestrained dogs, campfires and hikers arriving at their pre-booked campsites only to find them already occupied.🔹 All hikers must book a campsite before their trip, even though camping is free.🔹 Camping without a booking or outside designated areas is not permitted.🔹 Campfires are NOT permitted at any Great Ocean Walk hike-in campsite.🔹 Only medical certified companion animals are permitted (on lead).🔹 The Great Ocean Walk is a walking/hiking trail - not a long distance horse, trail bike or Mountain bike course.National Park Regulations Apply.Parks Victoria Authorised Officers patrol the Great Ocean Walk.Evidence of a booking must be shown to a Parks Victoria Ranger on request.To ensure a fair and safe experience for all:✅ Book your campsite before starting your walk.✅ Only camp in designated areas and at your assigned site.✅ Respect fellow hikers by only using the site you have booked.✅ Do not light campfires—use fuel stoves for cooking.✅ Do report observations of concern.If you observe:🚨 A campfire, bikes, animals other than native ones or hikers occupying an already booked site, please report it immediately (when safe to do so) to Parks Victoria on 131 963.⚠️ Parks Victoria cannot respond to emergency situations involving hikers and campers who have not booked a campsite.Thank you for helping us protect the Great Ocean Walk and ensuring a safe, enjoyable experience for everyone.For bookings and further information, visit Parks Victoria’s website.Parks VictoriaCaring for Country, Connecting PeopleAccess to The Redwoods along Binns Road from the Great Ocean Road closed
The Colac Otway Shire has announced that Binns Road access from the Great Ocean Road (southern end) will be closed for two weeks, from the 18th March, to fix a landslip.Access from this side of the road will prevent access to the Aire Valley (Redwoods) and Hopetoun Falls within the Great Otway National Park.Binns Road will remain open from the Beech Forest (northern end) which will allow access to visitor sites including Aire Valley (Redwoods), Hopetoun Falls and Beauchamp Falls. -
Cora Lynn Cascades Walk (Great Otway National Park)
Cora Lynn Cascades Walking Track Closure
Cora Lynn Cascades walking track is currently closed due to damaged infrastructure. Please note this closure will affect you if you plan to walk from Allenvale through to Erskine falls and vice versa. -
Melba Gully Day Visitor Area (Great Otway National Park)
Melba Gully - Large bus access
Melba Gully Walk Track and picnic area is accessible for large coaches. Toilet facilities are available on site -
Maits Rest Rainforest Walk (Great Otway National Park)
Maits Rest Carpark- bus access
Maits Rest Carpark is suitable for small coaster buses only. Large buses or coaches are advised to use Melba Gully walk track near Lavers Hill. -
Aire Crossing Campground (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)
Aire Crossing Campground
- Camping: Aire Crossing Campground has five (5) unbooked campsites, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping outside these designated sites—including in the car park or along the Aire River—is strictly prohibited.
- Campfires: Not permitted at any time.
- Access: The campground is accessible via Aire Crossing Track. A 4WD is recommended.
- Halls Ridge Track (4WD only) is seasonally closed and frequently inaccessible outside these periods. Use is not advised.
- Vehicle Recovery: If your vehicle becomes stranded, retrieval must be arranged privately at your own cost.
- Fire Danger > South West Fire District Closures:
- The campground may close on Extreme Fire Danger Rating days.
- It will be closed on Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating days.
- Weather & Track Conditions: Conditions can change rapidly due to wind and rain, leading to potential track closures.
- Tree Hazards: Trees and branches may fall at any time, even in calm weather. Please be aware of the risk.
- Phone Signal: No mobile reception is available at Aire Crossing.
- Regulations & Enforcement:
- National Park Regulations apply.
- The area is regularly patrolled by Parks Victoria Authorised Officers, Rangers, Forest Fire Management Victoria, and the Conservation Regulator.
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