Things to do at Great Otway

Last reviewed 20 July 2026 · verify live conditions with Parks Victoria

Most visits revolve around a waterfall stairs day near Lorne, a rainforest + Cape Otway day from Apollo Bay, or inland Triplet / Hopetoun when you budget hinterland driving. Mixing every Instagram pin into one Melbourne day is how groups get hangry on the highway.

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Triplet Falls in the Otway Ranges, viewed from a track observation area — Triplet Falls · Mikeybear · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Day one rule

One primary nature hero + one soft secondary (town, beach, short boardwalk). Do not collect every pin on day one.

After rain / wet stairs

Prioritise upper lookouts if timber streams. Grip shoes. See the waterfalls-after-rain article before stacking hinterland falls.

Base match

Lorne ↔ Erskine; Apollo Bay ↔ Maits Rest + Cape Otway; hinterland Triplet/Hopetoun needs real drive budget — not a coastal “quick add-on”.

1
Erskine Falls (Lorne)
High intent · stairs · Lorne base
Lorne’s signature waterfall — upper lookout first, stairs after rain with grip shoes. Natural eastern hero for Melbourne first nights.
Trail guide →Lorne waterfall day After rain article
2
Triplet Falls circuit
Moderate circuit · rainforest · hinterland
Hinterland rainforest classic near Beech Forest — the Otway waterfall day many visitors mean. Real drive time from the coast strip.
Trail guide →Pair: Hopetoun Falls 2-day multi-base
3
Maits Rest rainforest
Easy boardwalk · Apollo Bay
Easy boardwalk rainforest west of Apollo Bay — wet-green atmosphere without a stair-day. Soft win when kids or energy budgets need a reset.
Trail guide →Apollo Bay day Family plan
4
Cape Otway Lightstation
Headland · wind · fees separate
Headland horizon, heritage lightstation and cooler-month whale scans. Confirm operator hours and fees before Lighthouse Road.
Trail guide →Whale season tips Cape Otway area
5
Kennett River koalas
Wildlife etiquette · short stop
Famous Great Ocean Road wildlife pause — legal parking, quiet viewing, no crowding. Sightings never guaranteed.
Stop guide →Etiquette article Lorne base
6
Hopetoun Falls
Short stop · high impact · hinterland
High-impact short waterfall add-on near the Triplet hinterland cluster. Energy and wet-track realism required.
Trail guide →Pair: Triplet Falls Beech Forest area
7
Lake Elizabeth (Forrest)
Moderate · hinterland · multi-base
Hinterland lake walk when you want forest quiet after the postcard coast. Multi-base Forrest nights help.
Trail guide →Forrest area Where to stay
8
Great Ocean Walk (sample)
Hard / multi-day · planning first
Multi-day coastal trail culture — not a casual afternoon add-on. Sample day orientation only; full logistics on Parks Victoria.
Sample guide →Sample day plan Plan your visit

All walks on this guide

8 practical walk and stop pages with logistics. Always confirm on Parks Victoria.

Erskine Falls — moderate · 30–90 minutes depending on how far you descend
Triplet Falls — moderate · About 1 hour typical; longer with photos and rest
Hopetoun Falls — easy · 20–60 minutes
Maits Rest — easy · 30–45 minutes at a calm pace
Cape Otway Lightstation — easy · 1.5–3 hours including lighthouse precinct time
Kennett River koalas — easy · 20–60 minutes (plus drive time on the Great Ocean Road)
Great Ocean Walk samples — hard · Day sections often 4–8+ hours; full walk multi-day
Lake Elizabeth — moderate · 1–2.5 hours typical for many visitors

Walks hub Itineraries Articles Plan visit

Stays, tours & gear (optional)

Optional next steps after you pick an activity. Park camping fees and official Parks Victoria bookings are never affiliated.

Nearby stays

Lorne (primary) · Apollo Bay · Wye River

Hotels & apartments in Lorne— best base for Erskine Falls and the eastern Otway coast
Apollo Bay— main western hub for Maits Rest, Cape Otway and rainforest days
Wye River— quieter coastal option between Lorne and Apollo Bay

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Guided tours

Optional — useful for Melbourne day trips without self-driving fatigue

A tour does not replace checking Parks Victoria alerts, weather, or cliff safety yourself.

What to bring

Practical kit for cliff walks and changeable mountain weather

Grip trail shoesWet timber stairs at Erskine, Triplet and Hopetoun — fashion sneakers fail here
Waterproof / rain shellRainforest drip and Great Ocean Road squalls — year-round, not “just if it rains”
Merino or fleece mid-layerCool gorges and windy Cape Otway headlands even when the beach strip feels mild
Day pack 20–30 LWater, layers, snacks and first aid for multi-stop road days
Water bottle or bladder 1–2 LHinterland loops have fewer cafés than Lorne / Apollo Bay foreshores
Sun hat + high SPFCloud still burns on the coast strip and open headlands
HeadlampDusk wildlife drives, late trail exits, short winter days
Compact binocularsKennett River koalas; cooler-month whale scans off Cape Otway — no guarantees
First-aid / blister kitStairs, boardwalks and long road days punish under-prepared feet
Packable microfibre towelWet gear, kids, boardwalk splash — keeps the car less miserable

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