Cape Otway and Apollo Bay

A man lays in his tent mattress looking out towards the ocean, his partner is walking towards the tent.

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Cape Otway and Apollo Bay

Great Otway National Park

Breathtaking coastlines, dramatic cliff faces, deep valleys of tall forest and fern-clad gullies, and spectacular waterfalls all feature here in Apollo Bay and Cape Otway. From glow worms to rockpool rambles and fishing, you will be delighted with things to see and do in this incredibly beautiful south western part of Great Otway National Park.

Cape Otway Lightstation is a wonderful place to visit with many reminders and stories of Australia’s maritime history. Take a tour during business hours and explore Australia's oldest working lighthouse, operating between 1848 and 1994. Entry fees apply.

The Great Ocean Walk is one of Australia's iconic walks. Linking Apollo Bay with the Twelve Apostles it weaves through tall forests, coastal heathlands beside rocky shores and along windswept clifftops. Hike up to eight days or choose a day walk.

A feature of the spectacular waterfalls found in this part of the Great Otway National Park is their short walk access. Be sure to visit Triplet Falls, Beauchamp Falls, Sabine Falls, Hopetoun Falls and Anne's Cascades at Melba Gully.

The Aire River and Gellibrand River’s upper waters are popular with anglers seeking River Blackfish, Brown Trout and Black Bream near Princetown.

Get the most out of your day and plan for a picnic at Shelly Beach Picnic Area (loop walk through tall forest leading down to rocky shoreline), Blanket Bay (rockpools and beach at low tide), Aire River (camping riverside on a quiet estuary protected from the ocean), Johanna Beach Day Visitor and Camping Area (wild coastal beach), Melba Gully Picnic Area (rainforest walk and glow worms), or Sabine Falls.

A host of camping areas are available and plenty of off-park camping and accommodation opportunities in the Cape Otway area. Aire River Camping features two campgrounds located on opposite banks. This area is a haven for wildlife including wetland birds and a host of fish species. A great place to go bird watching, fishing, swimming and canoeing.

Alternatively, dog-friendly Johanna Beach Campground offers access to prime ocean swells while the smaller Parker Hill Campground is set on a forested hill high above the beach and inlet. Blanket Bay Campground is heavily used in holiday periods. It has a boat ramp, day visitor area, short walk and rockpools to explore.

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

Things to do

 
A couple in their thirties play with their dog at Johanna Beach Campground next to their tent and campervan.

Johanna Beach Campground

Nestled between coastal sand dunes, a lush, grassy hinterland and a prime surf beach, the dog-on-lead friendly Johanna Beach Campground has everything you need for an unforgettable seaside camping experience. Take in the salty ocean vistas, go surfing, fishing or hike a section of the Great Ocean Walk.
A young woman walks on rocks across the water in front of Triplet Falls.

Triplet Falls

Triplet Falls is one of the iconic visitor sites in the Great Otway National Park. Nestled amongst the ancient forests of Mountain Ash and Myrtle Beech, you will discover three distinct and impressive cascades flowing through shady rainforests and glades of mossy tree ferns.
A couple follow a walking path through luscious rain-forest ferns.

Melba Gully

Melba Gully has prolific plant growth and is a dense rainforest of Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and Tree-ferns, with an understorey of low ferns and mosses. Perhaps the most unusual inhabitants of the area are the glow worms, which can be seen at night along the walking tracks.
A car camping set up at Aire River East Campground in the Great Otway National Park

Aire River East Campground

This campground is situated within the Great Otway National Park located on the banks of the Aire River Estuary. This area is home to a magnitude of native and migratory bird species as well as an abundance of fish species making it a great place to go bird watching, fishing, swimming and canoeing
A family camps on the shores of Aire River in the Great Otway National Park

Aire River West Campground

This campground is situated within the Great Otway National Park located on the banks of the Aire River Estuary. This area is home to a magnitude of native and migratory bird species as well as an abundance of fish species making it a great place to go bird watching, fishing, swimming and canoeing.
Setting up tents at Blanket Bay Campground in the Great Otway National Park

Blanket Bay Campground

This campground is situated within the Great Otway National Park just a short stroll from the beach which is accessible via walking tracks. Picturesque views are obtainable only meters from this campsite looking out over the beach and surrounding landscapes.
A woman walks along the boardwalk at Maits Rest in the Great Otway National Park.

Maits Rest

There is an easy self-guided circuit walk through ancient, cool temperate rainforest at Maits Rest. Maits Rest is renowned for its natural beauty and a must see destination.A wooden boardwalk has been built over the tree-fern gullies and moss covered roots, providing a unique view of the forest.
A shelter and tent set up between the trees at Parker Hill Campground at Great Otway National Park

Parker Hill Campground

The campground is situated within the Great Otway National Park on top of a hill overlooking a secluded cove that is accessible via walking track. Great views are obtainable only meters away looking out over the cove and surrounding landscape.

How to get there

Cape Otway and Apollo Bay

Great Otway National Park is south-west of Melbourne via Geelong or Colac. From the east, approach Apollo Bay and Cape Otway along the Great Ocean Road (B100) by taking either Anglesea Road or Surf Coast Highway from Geelong.

From Colac, approach through Lavers Hill (inland route C155).

From the west, pick up the Great Ocean Road by approaching via Port Campbell (inland route C164).

A daily bus service between Geelong, Lorne and Apollo Bay connects with train services to Melbourne.

Cape Otway and Apollo Bay

When you're there

Stay on the path while looking for the different mosses, fungi, lichens and ferns found growing on the forest floor. They play an important role in maintaining the rainforest - recycling leaf and bark back into soil nutrients.

Download the Cape Otway and Apollo Bay visitor guide for more information about this part of Great Otway National Park.

Need to know

Cape Otway and Apollo Bay

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)

    Great Ocean Walk - walking event

    • A permitted walking event from Cape Otway in the Great Otway National Park to the Twelve Apostles in the Port Campbell National park will be taking place on the Great Ocean Walk on Saturday 28 & Sunday the 29 October 2023.
    • The group of approximately 100 walkers will be walking in small groups of 10 starting from around 9am at the Cape Otway Light station.
    • The group has booked and is staying overnight at the Johanna beach campground, on Saturday 28 October.
    • No Great Ocean Walk campgrounds are being used, including at the Johanna Great Ocean Walk camp site.
    • The group will be shuttled from Johanna Beach to Moonlight Head to finish their walk on Sunday concluding at the Twelve Apostles in the Port Campbell National Park approximately 3pm.
    • The event is weather dependant.
    • For more information or concerns please call 131963.




  • 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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