Otways Victoria Australia
The scenic beauty of the Otways is only a short 2 - 3 hour drive from Melbourne. Visitors can discover the lush tranquil secrets of the Victorias newest national park - the Great Otway National Park which incorporates the former Otway National Park. The Great Otway National Park now covers 103,000 hectares - an increase of 60,000 hectares. The beautiful Otways Hinterland encompasses many cascading waterfalls, lush fern gullies and walking trails, and the newly developed walking and riding trails such as the Beechyline Rail Trail and Forrest Mountain Bike trails. The Great Otway National Park covers the area between Aireys Inlet and Lavers Hill on the Great Ocean Road, and the lush hinterland to the west.
Lake Elizabeth in the town of Forrest is in the heart of the Otways, formed by a natural landslide on the Barwon River, creating the peaceful lake that visitors can enjoy today. Lake Elizabeth is home to platypus and waterbird colonies which can be seen at dawn or dusk, either by taking a quiet stroll around the lake, or a tour with a local guide.
The scenic drives in the area take visitors to areas of tall timber forests where even on a summers day, the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees creates a tranquil and cooling atmosphere. The moist dampness of the rainforest can be enjoyed by stopping to do a short waterfall walk in the area such as Triplet Falls, Beauchamp Falls or Hopetoun Falls, or to experience the massive grandeur of old growth forests take the short walk at Melba Gully to find the aptly named "Big Tree". Driving towards the coast from Skenes Creek towards Apollo Bay, visitors can enjoy driving from the depths of the rainforest, towards the stunning views of the coastline. The newly upgraded Turtons Track meanders its way from Tanybryn to Beech Forest, once an old logging track, now a gravel road that winds past 1850s mountain ash trees and lush rainforest gullies.
Click the links below for more information on the Otways Region!
