Alright, so picture this – you’re standing in a pitch-black rainforest gully, water dripping somewhere in the darkness, and suddenly you realize the rocks above you are covered in thousands of tiny blue-green lights. Not torches, not LEDs. Living creatures putting on a light show that’ll make you question if someone slipped something in your coffee.
Glow worms are basically nature’s con artists. They’re not worms at all – they’re baby fungus gnats. Yeah, gnats. But before you go “ew,” hear me out. These larvae have worked out this brilliant scam where they glow to attract bugs, dangle these sticky fishing lines, and when some poor mosquito thinks “ooh, pretty light” – BAM. Dinner time.
The glow comes from their rear (seriously) and it’s a chemical reaction – same sort of thing as fireflies. Each one’s about the size of a matchstick. Doesn’t sound that impressive until you realize there’s literally thousands of them in Melba Gully. We’re lucky to have them – they need everything to be just right. Too dry? They die. Too windy? Can’t hang their threads. Too bright? They shut off the lights.
The walk’s dead easy – about 1.2km on a proper track. Takes maybe 30-40 minutes if you’re dawdling. During the day it’s nice enough – big tree ferns, moss everywhere, the usual rainforest stuff. You might see a pademelon bouncing around if you’re lucky. They’re like wallabies but smaller and cuter.
But mate, going during the day is like going to a concert and leaving before the band comes on. You need to rock up when it’s getting dark. Park your car, grab your torch, and walk in as the light’s fading. By the time you get to the good spots, it should be proper dark.
Full moon nights are pretty ordinary for viewing – too bright. You want it dark. REALLY dark. And here’s a tip nobody tells you – Friday and Saturday nights in school holidays can be a nightmare. Tour groups with forty people all talking and waving torches around. Try a Tuesday if you can.
You’re driving all the way out there, might as well make a proper trip of it. Lavers Hill is your last stop for fuel and food. There’s a bakery that does okay pies. Nothing fancy but does the job. If you want something nicer, Aire Valley Restaurant knows what they’re doing – they get the glow worm crowd coming through for early dinners.
The Californian Redwoods are about 10 minutes away if you want to tick that off too. Weird seeing those massive American trees in the middle of the Otways but kids think it’s ace. Hopetoun Falls is close-ish if you haven’t done that yet.
Driving back in the dark, watch for wildlife on the road. Seriously, the amount of wallabies and wombats around there… Take it slow.
Just remember – wet night, no moon, middle of the week if possible, torch off, patience. Get those things right and you’re golden.
Otways Tourist Park is nestled in Gellibrand, a short drive from the charming rural townships of Colac and Forrest, Victoria. Otways Tourist Park is a welcoming destination – perfect for those looking to unwind, slow down, and reconnect with nature and loved ones.
Nearby attractions include the world-famous Great Ocean Road, waterfalls, rainforest walks and the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk.
The park is also conveniently located within easy reach of popular destinations like Apollo Bay, Lorne and the Twelve Apostles, making it an ideal base for exploring the spectacular Otway Ranges and Surf Coast region.
