Great Ocean Walk - Day 4 - Cape Otway to Aire River Walk (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)

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Great Ocean Walk - Day 4 - Cape Otway to Aire River Walk (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)

Wind your way through a wind-sculptured landscape of sand dunes, coastal scrub and calcified cliffs, taking in views of the wild Southern Ocean vistas before heading towards the tranquil Aire River. Take a break at Station Beach en-route or take a detour to the mesmerising spring-fed Rainbow Falls.

How to get there

Great Ocean Walk - Day 4 - Cape Otway to Aire River Walk (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)

Great Ocean Walk - Day 4 - Cape Otway to Aire River Walk (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)

Facilities

Lookout

Need to know

Great Ocean Walk - Day 4 - Cape Otway to Aire River Walk (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)

Safety in nature

You can benefit both mind and body when you get outdoors to explore and experience Victoria's natural places. Before you go, take a look at our safety tips and check our changed conditions and closures information for a great visit.

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. Parks Victoria provides a range of a equipment, including all-terrain and beach wheelchairs, facilities, accommodation and accessibility information and programs to help you plan and enjoy your visit to Victoria's parks.

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.

Warnings & Restrictions

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed

Restrictions

  • No camping
  • No bicycles

Warnings

  • Other warnings
    • Unpatrolled area
    • Trees may fall take care
    • Vehicles
    • Limbs may fall take care
  • Terrain hazards
    • Uneven ground
    • Slippery surface
    • Slippery rocks
  • Water hazards
    • Strong currents
    • Rough Surf
  • Animals and pests
    • Beware European wasps

Be Prepared

Stay safe and get the most out of your park visit by preparing for natural hazards and other outdoor risks in Victoria’s parks. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those in your care. Find out more.

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 Temporary closure

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

Delayneys Track Closed

Delayneys Track is closed until further notice.

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. 

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 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 Closed

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

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)

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)

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 - Large bus access

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

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 

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