Ironbark Gorge Walk (Great Otway National Park)

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Ironbark Gorge Walk (Great Otway National Park)

A great family adventure through Ironbark forest and heathland as the sides of the gorge slowly start appearing and before long you are surrounded by green under growth and red ironbarks. Look out for sleepy Koalas nestled in the eucalypts. Great photography and wildlife viewing oportunities.

How to get there

Ironbark Gorge Walk (Great Otway National Park)

Facilities

Carpark

Need to know

Ironbark Gorge 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 allowed but must be on a leash

Restrictions

No horses
No bicycles
No vehicles

Warnings

None applicable

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.

Upper Kalimna Walking Trail Closed

Walking trail to Upper Kalimna Falls closed until further notice due to storm damage. Lower Falls remain open.

Erskine Falls Lower Lookout Closed

Erskine Falls lower lookout is closed until further notice. Access to the base of the waterfall is no longer open due to unsafe conditions. Erskine Falls can be viewed from the top lookout which looks across to the top of the falls. Straw Falls is also inaccessible from the Erskine Falls carpark due to this closure. Erskine Falls walking track is still open from the Lorne township up to the base of Erskine Falls.

Youngs Creek track closure

This track is closed due to roadworks

Delayneys Track Closed

Delayneys Track is closed until further notice.

Garvey Track Closed until further notice.

Garvey track will remain closed until further notice. Major road works are due to occur when conditions are suitable.

Kalimna Tramline Trail Closed

This walking track 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.

Cora Lynn Campground Closure

This campground is closed until further notice due to hazardous trees.

Great Ocean Walk - Wet and Muddy conditions

As a result of ongoing rain in the Great Otway National Park over autumn and through winter 2023, conditions of the track on the day 1 and day 2 sections of the Great Ocean Walk are advised to be very wet and muddy.

The Elliot Road section of walk is particularly unfavourable, and heavy conditions are anticipated to be ongoing until late Spring 2023.

South West District Weather forecast

Attachments: GOW May 2023 (540KB)

Blanket Bay - Bush Rats

Following the success of our fox and feral cat management programmes population numbers of Rattus fuscipes have grown again in the Blanket Bay campground area of the Great Otway National Park.

The combination of less predators and conducive weather conditions has allowed a population to return that campers at Blanket Bay should be cautious of.

The Bush rat has some specific features that can help you distinguish it from similar rats.

· It has pointed head and rounded ears.

· Its tail is smaller than the rat's body.

· Another key feature is their front teeth - they are chisel-shaped with hard yellow enamel.

These native rodents are known to scavenge on campers’ food, gnawing through tents to get to uncontained foodstuffs.

Native bush Rats are protected wildlife in the National Park and may form part of your camping experience while camping at Blanket Bay.

Attachments: Native vs Non-Native FS (779KB)

Lifejackets Required For Rock Fishers from March 1, 2022

A two-year trial of new laws that require rock fishers to wear a lifejacket at high-risk locations will commence on 1 March 2022.

For Great Otway National Park this includes:

Artillery Rocks, west of Lorne
The rock platform opposite Sheoak Falls, south of Lorne

This factsheet includes maps of the affected areas.

Fines apply if you don’t wear a lifejacket at these sites.

To find out more, visit Victorian Fisheries Authority

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 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.

No All-Abilities Toilet at Sheoak Picnic Area

No all-abilities toilet access at Sheoak Picnic Area. Portable toilets temporarily in use.

Aire West Campground - sites closed

Due to wet conditions Aire River West campground, campsites 17 - 40 are closed through until Spring.

These sites can not be booked nor used until at least September 2023.