The Otways has more waterfalls than you can poke a stick at. Every valley seems to have water tumbling down it somewhere. Some you can basically drive to, others need a proper hike, and a few are so hidden that only locals know about them. After a decent winter rain, this whole area turns into waterfall central.
Hopetoun Falls is your gateway waterfall. Three kilometers from Beech Forest, 200 metres walk from the car park, and spectacular enough that nobody feels short-changed. The water drops about 30 metres into this ferny grotto that looks like something from Jurassic Park.
The viewing platform puts you right at the perfect angle for photos. Every Instagram influencer in Victoria has the same shot but whatever, it’s a good shot. The spray on a windy day will soak you so maybe don’t wear your good camera around your neck. Morning light is best – afternoon the falls are in shadow.
Only drama is the car park. Holds about 8 cars comfortably, 12 if everyone’s friendly. Weekends and holidays it’s chaos by 11am. Either get there early or late afternoon when the tour buses have gone. The road in is sealed but narrow – watch for people walking on the road because the car park’s full.
Twenty minutes from the park, three different falls on one walk. Little Aire Falls is the appetizer, Triplet Falls is the elegant main course, and Henderson Falls is the powerful dessert. After proper rain Henderson absolutely goes off – you can hear it from the car park.
The 2km loop track is well-made but has loads of steps. Your knees will know about it the next day if you’re not used to stairs. But seeing three different waterfalls in an hour of walking? That’s efficiency. Plus the forest between them is stunning – massive mountain ash, tree ferns everywhere.
Everyone races to Triplet and Hopetoun but Beauchamp Falls near Beech Forest is a ripper that doesn’t get the crowds. It’s about 3km return walk through beautiful tall forest. The track’s a bit rougher than the tourist-friendly ones but nothing too hectic.
Stevensons Falls is way up near Barramunga, about 40 minutes from the park. The drive alone is worth it – winding mountain roads through forest that gets less touristy the further you go. The falls are at the end of a 3km return walk through forest that feels properly remote.
This waterfall changes personality completely depending on rainfall. After a dry spell it’s this gentle curtain of water. After storms it’s a thundering beast that you hear way before you see. The viewing platform is pretty basic but the setting is magic – just you, the falls, and massive trees.
Lower Kalimna Falls is easy enough – about 1km from Sheoak Picnic Area near Lorne. But if you want to see Upper Kalimna as well, you’re in for about 8km of walking with some solid climbs. The track between them is rough in places and after rain it’s a mud fest.
Upper Kalimna is worth the effort though. It’s this series of cascades through a narrow gorge that most people never see because they can’t be bothered with the walk. You’ll probably have it to yourself, which is rare for waterfalls around here.
Not the Little Aire at Triplet Falls – there’s another one near Aire River. This one requires a bit of bush bashing to get to and most people don’t know it exists. You park at the Aire River camping area and follow the river upstream. There’s a rough pad but it’s not official.
About 20 minutes of scrambling over rocks and through scrub and you’ll find this beautiful little waterfall in a ferny glade. Feels like you’ve discovered it yourself. Just don’t go after heavy rain – the river rises fast and you won’t get through.
Down near Lorne, about 35 minutes from the park, Erskine Falls is the local favourite. You can view it from the top (easy) or walk down to the base. It’s a 30-metre drop and after rain it absolutely pumps. The walk down is all steps – we’re talking 200+ of them. What goes down must come up.
The good thing about Erskine is it flows year-round. Fed by springs or something so even in dry summers there’s decent water. The bad thing is everyone knows this so it gets busy. Early morning is magic though – mist rising through the forest, nobody around, birds everywhere.
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.
