Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

A view down the coastline from a lookout with the a sandy beach between the ocean of the right hand side and sandstone cliffs on the left.

This area has additional visitor advice This area has reported issues This area is closed

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Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

Great Otway National Park

Anglesea and Aireys Inlet are framed by the natural splendor of the Great Otway National Park. Experience stunning coastal vistas, lush valleys, wild oceans, breathtaking coastal cliffs, waterfalls and tall eucalypt forest. Surf the iconic swells of Bells Beach, discover the delicate kaleidoscope of wildflowers in the heathlands of Anglesea, or snorkel and dive off Point Addis.

Spring wildflowers are spectacular in the heathlands around Anglesea which are the richest and most diverse vegetation community in Victoria. Discover them for yourself as the heathland erupts in springtime in vibrant colour.

Moggs Creek is one of the many beautiful places in the park. Picnic, bushwalk, and explore the surrounds on Ocean View Track and its magnificent vista over the Great Ocean Road, Fairhaven and the ocean. Distillery Creek Picnic Area is another great picnic area with wood barbecues, tables, flushing toilets and linked nature walks and cycle trail. Shared pathways provide many opportunities for walking and cycling in this section of Great Otway National Park.

Try the more challenging walk or cycle offered on the 12km shared trail, Currawong Falls Circuit which starts from the Distillery Creek Picnic Area. The small and delicate Currawong Falls do not flow often and are at their best after heavy rain.

The Ironbark Basin to Anglesea section of the Surf Coast Walk is your chance to immerse yourself in nature. Pass by spectacular cliff tops, wind-swept heathlands and views of Anglesea and learn about the Traditional Owners and their ongoing and active connection to Country as you explore the Koori Cultural Walk and Ironbark Basin Circuit.

Surfers frequent a variety of beaches along this coastline including the world-famous Bells Beach and Addiscot Beach.

Point Addis Marine National Park is located in a spectacularly scenic area with wide sandy beaches. A staggering diversity of marine life live in the park’s coast and outer reefs. In calm weather and at low tide visitors can explore rock pools, dive and snorkel to explore the magnificent underwater world. Snorkelling is good at Jarosite and Ingoldsby Reef. Addiscot Beach is a great location for rock pooling at low tide.

Hammonds Campground is located 12km inland from Aireys Inlet and is the ideal location for wildlife viewing and relaxation.

As beaches and coasts are natural environments, you may encounter hazards. Follow our water safety advice to make sure your day out at Anglesea and Aireys Inlet is a safe and enjoyable one.

Things to do

 
A path leads through tents at Hammond Road Campground Great Otway National Park

Hammonds Campground

Hammonds Campground is located 12km inland from Aireys Inlet in a natural bush setting. Relax at camp and enjoy the company of kangaroos and other native wildlife or explore one of the many walking and bike riding trails in the area.
A view of the beach from the lookout on Moggs Creek Circuit Track.

Moggs Creek

Moggs Creek is one of the many beautiful places in the park to picnic. After enjoying a picnic, stretch your legs on the Moggs Creek Circuit (distance: 1.8km, 30 mins), an interesting walk that follows the creek down through the valley and then climbs to a vantage point over the creeks fern-lined banks before returning to the picnic area.
A family walks up a set of wooden stairs on the Surf Coast Walk.

Surf Coast Walk

The 44km Surf Coast Walk is an adventure that boasts total immersion in nature and the sanctuary of coastal villages within easy reach along the way.

How to get there

Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

Nestled approximately 1.5 hours from Melbourne, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet sit on the eastern edges of Great Otway National Park. If you are travelling from Melbourne, follow the Princes Freeway towards Geelong. At Waurn Ponds, take Anglesea Road which merges into the iconic Great Ocean Road.

A bus service runs between Geelong, Lorne and Apollo Bay, connecting with regional train services train services to Melbourne. Visit the PTV website for more information on buses and trains that connect to this part of Great Otway National Park.
Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

When you're there

Anglesea and Aireys Inlet are nestled on the eastern edges of Great Otway National Park. Among stunning coastal vistas, heathland and tall eucalypt forests brimming with koalas and native birds, there is so much to explore on land and in the water. Download the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet visitor guide for more information about this part of Great Otway National Park.

When to go

Surf, explore rockpools or snorkel at one of the many popular beaches in this Point Addis area of the Great Ocean Road.

Need to know

Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

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.

The Colac Otway Shire and Surf Coast Shire each have an all-terrain wheelchair, called a Trailrider, that is available for park visitors with mobility difficulties. The chairs can be booked with the respective shires.

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.

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.

  • Aire River East Campground (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)

    Aire River East campground Temporary closure

    Aire River east campground is temporarily closed due to wet conditions making the area unsuitable for camping.

  • Great Otway National Park

    Delayneys Track Closed

    Delayneys Track is closed until further notice.

    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 

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

    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. 

    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)

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

    Seasonal road closures 2023

    Seasonal road closures apply to areas within and tracks bordering this park from 15 June 2023. See MapshareVic for locations of the closures. Visit the seasonal road closures page for more information.

  • Sharps Campground (Great Otway National Park)

    Sharps Campground Permanently Closed

    Due to environmental and safety risks, Sharps campground will be permanently closed from Thursday 22nd December 2022.

    For more information please see attached fact sheet.

  • Cora Lynn Campground (Great Otway National Park)

    Cora Lynn Campground Closed

    Due to environmental and safety risks, Cora Lynn campground is permanently closed. 

  • Other issues

    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)

  • Maits Rest Rainforest Walk (Great Otway National Park)

    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.

  • Melba Gully Day Visitor Area (Great Otway National Park)

    Melba Gully - Large bus access

    Melba Gully Walk Track and picnic area is accessible for large coaches. Toilet facilities are available on site

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