Carisbrook Falls Walk (Great Otway National Park)

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Carisbrook Falls Walk (Great Otway National Park)

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Carisbrook Falls Walk (Great Otway National Park)

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Carisbrook Falls Walk (Great Otway National Park)

Safety in nature

You can benefit both mind and body when you get outdoors to explore and experience Victoria's natural places. Before you go, take a look at our safety tips and check our changed conditions and closures information for a great visit.

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. Parks Victoria provides a range of a equipment, including all-terrain and beach wheelchairs, facilities, accommodation and accessibility information and programs to help you plan and enjoy your visit to Victoria's parks.

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.

Warnings & Restrictions

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed

Restrictions

No fires permitted
No camping
No dogs allowed
No firearms allowed
No horses
No bicycles
No fishing
No drones without a permit

Warnings

Terrain hazards
Uneven ground

Steep track

Be Prepared

Stay safe and get the most out of your park visit by preparing for natural hazards and other outdoor risks in Victoria’s parks. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those in your care. Find out more.

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.

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.

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.

Lake Elizabeth Campground Upgrades

Lake Elizabeth Campground and the associated campground car park will be closed from: Tuesday 27^th January 2026 to Tuesday 31^st March 2026. We ask visitors to stay clear of the campground and campground carpark which will have signed closures in place.

The closure is for enhancing the camping experience and these renovations have been funded by the Victorian Government’s Victoria’s Great Outdoors program. Victoria’s Great Outdoors is a $106.6 million investment by the Victorian Government into better campgrounds, walking trails, 4WD tracks and visitor facilities across Victoria’s parks and state forests.

All other areas at Lake Elizabeth will remain open, including ablutions, day use areas, walks to and around the lake.

Aire Crossing Campground Closed

The Aire Crossing track and the Aire Crossing campground will be closed from the 12th -16th January 2026 for urgent maintenance works.

The Youngs Creek track will also be closed to prevent access to Aire Crossing campground.

Erskine Falls - CLOSED

Access to Erskine Falls is CLOSED following storm damage on 15 JAN 2026.

Following flash flooding impact assessments, the site may be opened when safe to do so.

Great Otway National Park - sites CLOSED

Great Otway National Park – Temporary Closures Due to Storm Damage

Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding on 15 January 2025 have caused significant damage across parts of the eastern Great Otway National Park.

For public safety, the following areas are closed until further notice while assessments and clean-up works are undertaken:

Visitors are not advised to visit any sites within the Great Otway National Park between Aireys Inlet and Kennett River while assessments and recovery works continue.

Closures included but are not limited to :-

Erskine falls
Blanket leaf
Sheoak picnic ground
Sheoak falls
Jamieson Campground
Allenvale Campground

Wye Rd & 4WD Tracks and Back Roads

All walking tracks
St George
Phantom falls
Lemonade ck
Kalimna
Henderson
Sheoak Falls
Cumberland Garvey link
Kalimna Garvey Link
Castle Rock

Many roads, tracks and visitor facilities are impacted by debris, flooding and unstable conditions. The Great Ocean Road has been impacted,

https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

https://traffic.transport.vic.gov.au/

Always follow safety signage and directions from response crews, and do not enter any closed areas.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as works are undertaken to make these popular areas safe to visit again.

Aire West - Campground flooding - Sites impacted

Sites 17 to 40 at Aire River West campground are impacted by high water.
These sites have been impacted by riverine flooding due to a closed river mouth.
Even if, or when the river mouth opens, these sites may take some time to dry out.
Sites 1 to 16 at Aire West, Aire East and the GOW hike in camp site are unaffected.

Attachments: Aire West 16 JAN 2026 (1,029KB)

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.

Lake Elizabeth Campground Upgrade Information

As you plan for your holidays please do not attempt to book the Lake Elizabeth campground from Tuesday 27th January - Tuesday 31st March 2026.

All other areas at Lake Elizabeth will remain open, including ablutions, day use areas, walk to and around the lake.

Great Ocean Walk destination car parking at the Twelve Apostles visitor center during summer & Peak Visitation periods

During the busy peak visitation period at the Twelve Apostles precinct (from summer through to early autumn including school holidays, public holidays, long weekends & busy peak visitation weekends concluding after Chinese New Year / Easter), due to the sheer volume of visitors onsite, a traffic management program is in place to maximize public safety & ensure visitor experience. If you are planning to park your vehicle at the Twelve Apostles before walking the Great Ocean Walk (or sections of it including section 8) during this period, please communicate this information to onsite traffic control staff at the entrance & they will do their best to accommodate your vehicle in the main carpark. This will avoid your car remaining in the overflow carpark area which needs to be cleared and locked each night. Similarly, if you arrive at the Twelve Apostles to park your car at a time when traffic control are not onsite, or setting up, please park your vehicle in the main carpark area. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Bushfire closures and reopenings

Parts of Great Otway National Park that were closed due to fire activity in the area have now reopened. This includes the Cape Otway Lightstation. Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve remains open.

The following sites have reopened: Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, Cape Otway Lookout Walk, Great Ocean Walk and all associated campgrounds including Blanket Bay Campground, Parker Hill Campground, Aire River East Campground, Elliot Ridge Hike-in Campground, Blanket Bay Hike-in Campground, Cape Otway Hike-in Campground and Aire River Hike-in Campground.