Updated on December 5, 2025
Great Ocean Road Waterfalls
The Great Ocean Road drive is famous for the 12 Apostles, but it offers much more to see and explore. Beautiful waterfalls high in the Great Otway National Park are well worth taking extra time to see when touring the region. These are some of the best waterfalls in Victoria.
Dozens of waterfalls cascade down the steep slopes of the Otway Ranges, many pass through privately owned land, but we are lucky enough to have access to plenty of fabulous waterfalls.
Most of the Otways waterfalls are easily accessible, while others require a bit more effort, involving bushwalking through the spectacular cool-temperate Otways rainforest. Erskine Falls near Lorne and Triplet Falls beyond Apollo Bay are the largest and best known out of over 12 waterfalls to visit.
Stevensons Falls is the only waterfall accessible to all abilities, with a hard surface walking track. Hopetoun Falls can be viewed from the edge of the car parking area if you cannot manage the trek down.
The area around Lorne boasts beautiful waterfalls and over 60 km of interconnected walking tracks, offering ample hiking opportunities to keep visitors here for days or even weeks.
Some of the walks can easily be included in a Great Ocean Road itinerary of 2 days or more.
- Occasionally, a walk may be closed due to track upgrades, fallen trees, or other reasons. Please follow any signage.
- If water levels are high, some tracks can become dangerous. Take care and do not continue any walk if river levels are high.
Visitor Information Centres in Lorne and Apollo Bay can provide maps and current information on conditions or closures.
WATERFALLS NEAR LORNE
Erskine Falls, Lorne
Driving to Erskine Falls
About a 10 km drive from Lorne, Erskine Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls in the area. From the car park, over 222 steps lead down to the viewing areas. The first viewing platform, from above the falls, is pretty, but following the steps down the steep track provides the best vantage point to see the falls.
Get there by following the Erskine Falls Road out of Lorne; signage is clear.
Get Directions to Erskine Falls
Walk to Erskine Falls from Lorne – 7.5 km each way
Dropping about 30 metres, the falls can also be approached by following a beautiful bushwalking track from the township of Lorne. It is 7.5 km each way and passes by two additional waterfalls: Straw Falls and Splitter Falls.
Get Directions to the Start of the Walk to Erskine Falls from Lorne. Read details about the walk here.
The drive from Melbourne to Lorne can be done as a day trip, an overnight stay in Lorne (or longer) is recommended if planning to do this beautiful waterfall walk.
No Dogs Allowed
Cora Lynn Cascades
From the Blanket Leaf Picnic Ground, located off the Erskine Falls Road near Lorne, the walk is 2.2 kms (1.5 hours). It is a reasonably strenuous walk, but it is rewarded with the pretty cascades and the surrounding forest.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to Cora-Lynn Cascades
The Canyon Walk – Phantom, Henderson, and Won Wondah Waterfalls
This is a terrific waterfall walk—one of the best hikes in the Otways—featuring three lovely waterfalls: Phantom, Henderson, and Won Wondah Falls, as well as the incredible ‘Canyon Walk’. The Lorne waterfall circuit walk should definitely be on everyone’s ‘to-do’ list when visiting the region.
The bushwalk can be tackled from either of two car parks, in either direction, though I prefer to go anti-clockwise and enter the fabulous ‘Canyon’ through the boulders. As a plus, when starting from the Allenvale Road car park and walking anti-clockwise, the last leg of the hike is downhill, along Allenvale Road.
- You can start at the Allenvale Road car park (Google Map Link)
- Or start from the Sheoak Picnic area car park (Google Map Link)
Directions – Lorne Waterfall Circuit Walk – 8.5km
From the Allenvale Road car park, cross the road and follow the signage to Phantom Falls, passing over a small bridge, through a farming property and a small orchard, to reach the first view of Phantom Falls. The direction signs are clear and make it easy to find your way.
Phantom Falls are best seen after heavy rains or in the cooler months. During arid weather, they often fizzle out to just a trickle, though this should not deter you from enjoying the hike. It is a bonus that we can access the base of these waterfalls as well as the river crossing at the top, which is ideal for cooling off your feet on a hot day.
The next stop on the walk is encountering ‘The Canyon’! The signpost will be seen before the canyon entrance. Clamber on down through the boulders to enter into another world. It is simply gorgeous. Massive boulders, covered in deep green moss, giant tree ferns and gum trees perched high up on the top.
On to Henderson Falls
Passing through the canyon, stay on the path until you reach a signpost, just after an easy river crossing, which directs walkers along a short side track to view the stunning Henderson Falls, framed beautifully by tree ferns. It is less than 10 minutes to Henderson Falls, returning the same way to continue.
… and finally Won Wondah Falls
Won Wondah Falls can be seen from a viewing platform; unlike Phantom and Henderson Falls, visitors cannot access the base of these falls. But they are interesting to see through the undergrowth. After seeing Phantom and Henderson Falls, the small Won Wondah Falls are not quite so jaw-dropping but pretty enough all the same.
Follow on to reach the road again and return to Allenvale carpark, about 1.5 km down Allenvale Road, watching for koalas!
8.5 km loop / 3 hours walking approximately
No Dogs Allowed
Get Google Map Directions to Allenvale Road Carpark
Get Google Map Directions to Sheoak Picnic Ground
Kalimna Falls
The pretty Kalimna waterfalls have two sections, lower and upper, and they can be accessed from the Sheoak picnic area (different to the Sheoak Falls car park). It is a relatively easy 3km hike on well-marked tracks, although it can become a bit muddy in winter.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to the Sheok Picnic Area and the Waterfall walks around Lorne.
Cumberland Falls
A 6 km walk to Cumberland Falls, which takes approximately 2.5 hours, is well signposted and very popular. The Cumberland Gorge offers several scenic lookout points that can be hiked to, as well as a walk to the falls.
From the campground, follow the walking trail, first coming to Jebbs Pool, which is a great spot to cool off on a hot summer’s day.
Opposite the holiday park is a good beach, making this one of the most popular camping parks in the area. Cabins are also on offer to book.
Access to the falls walk is via the car park at the Cumberland River Holiday Park, 7 km west of Lorne. Parking is in the visitor area.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to the start of Cumberland Falls Walk plus other bushwalking tracks and the Cumberland Holiday Park.
Sheoak Falls & Swallow Cave
From the car park off the Great Ocean Road (a few km from Lorne), the walk to Sheoak Falls is only 2.2 km return and best viewed after rain and in the winter months. Swallows can often be seen nesting in nearby ‘Swallow Cave’ during Springtime.
The falls flow down the rocks and may not be the most spectacular in the Otways, but they are still worthy of a visit, especially as the car parking is so easily accessible.
Views to the ocean are beautiful, and the walk can be extended to ‘Castle Rock’ – 7km / 2 hours return.
No Dogs Allowed
Carisbrook Falls
Carisbrook Falls tumble down the rock face, and it is a good walk to the falls beneath lovely Sheoak trees. It is a 20-minute walk, reasonably steep in parts and accessed from the Great Ocean Road, 12 km east of Apollo Bay.
Nearby Kennett river is the perfect place to spot Koalas in the wild.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to Carisbrook Falls
WATERFALLS NEAR APOLLO BAY
The waterfalls located in the Apollo Bay area are not within easy walking distance, as they are all located well beyond the town, high up in the Otways. A day drive, or even two days, is recommended to take in the beautiful waterfalls as well as the Redwood Forest. Two days will be needed if you plan to visit all the waterfalls, and it is worth doing, as each waterfall has its own exceptional beauty, and the walks in are all stunning.
Consider camping, as the basic free camps in the area are fabulous. Alternatively, stay in a B&B in one of the tiny townships, such as Forrest, where you’ll find a microbrewery, bike trails, great food, and unique accommodations.
For anyone based in Apollo Bay and keen to do the waterfall circuit drive, we have planned a full-day itinerary that can be completed in a single day, albeit a long one!
Beauchamp Falls
The walk to the falls is reasonably straightforward, taking about 1.5 hours / 2.5 km return. The track is beautiful with deep moss covering many of the trees. There is a free camping area at the falls car park, with space for several tents or campervans to stay overnight. Read more about the free campgrounds.
The area is Dog-friendly, even the walk to the falls. It is not recommended to walk dogs all the way, though, as some sections of the track have open steps that dogs can’t walk on easily.
Get Directions to Beauchamp Falls
Hopetoun Falls
The drive along Binns Road to the Hopetoun Falls is unsealed but fine for 2WD vehicles. The track to the falls is only 20 metres to a viewing platform and 1 km to the lower viewing area.
Get Directions to Hopetoun Falls
Californian Redwood Forest
This serene spot is definitely worth visiting, as it is not far from Hopetoun Falls. Planted in 1936, the ‘Sequoia Sempervirens’ is quite an unexpected sight.
Binns Road runs from the Beech Forest-Lavers Hill Road all the way down to the Great Ocean Road, not far from Apollo Bay. Both Beauchamp and Hopetoun Falls, as well as the Redwood Forest, are on Binns Road.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to the Redwood Forest
Triplet Falls
Definitely one of the prettiest falls in the Otways, with a gorgeous walking track that has been upgraded and is suitable for use at any time of the year.
Passing through a mountain ash and myrtle beech forest is superb, with a 2 km return / 1 hour duration. It can be combined with a side track walk to Little Aire Falls, which leads off the central Triplet Falls walking track (allow approximately 3 hours to see both waterfalls).
The walk requires a reasonable level of fitness and involves some steep sections with steps. Take your time, relax and enjoy sitting at the viewing platforms.
When the waterfalls are initially viewed from the first platform, it may be a letdown, as the view is not particularly clear, somewhat obscured by the surrounding forest. However, two more platforms offer fabulous views of Triplet Falls, best seen after heavy rains but beautiful at any time.
There is no access to the base of the waterfalls.
Continuing up the steps and through more beautiful old tree ferns, a few relics from the past logging days can be seen, and signage explains the work that took place in this area.
Access is via Phillips Track off the Beech Forest Lavers Hill Road, passing the Otway Fly Treetops Walk on the way.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to Triplet Falls Car park.
Little Aire Falls
Little Aire Falls walking track passes through Mountain Ash and cool-temperate rainforests before coming to a fabulous cantilevered platform with stunning views over the waterfalls.
Although it is not an overly strenuous walk, it does involve an uphill trek on the return. Including Little Aire Falls when visiting the well-known Triplet Falls is worth taking the time to do. In all, allow approximately 3 hours to complete the walk to both waterfalls.
The walk to Little Aire Falls takes about 40 minutes, starting from the Triplet Falls car park. Following the signposted Triplet Falls walk, about 10 minutes down the track, there is a sign pointing to Little Aire Falls, 2.3km. From this point, it takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the cantilevered platform, offering stunning views over the waterfalls. Although there is no access to the base of the falls, the view across to them is lovely and well worth the effort.
Parking – Triplet Falls car park on Phillips Track, off the Beech Forest-Lavers Hill Road. Excellent signage makes it easy to follow the trails.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to Triplet Falls/Little Aire Falls Carpark
Marriners Falls, Apollo Bay – Closed.
Such a shame these falls are now closed, as it was quite an adventure to get to them years ago. Whether they will reopen, we do not know.
Sabine Waterfall – Highest in the Otways
The highest waterfall in the Otways, the Sabine Falls, is a bushwalk that takes 2 hours return from a picnic area off Sunnyside Road. They are not the best-known falls and do not attract as many visitors as some waterfalls, but they are worth adding to a ‘waterfalls bucket list’.
The walk is quite strenuous with some steep sections.
Access is from Sunnyside Road, which leads off the Ocean Road or via Forrest-Apollo Bay Road.
No Dogs Allowed
Get Directions to Sabine Waterfalls
Stevenson’s Falls
Stevenson’s Falls is a popular hike in the Otways and one of the best waterfalls, especially after heavy rains. From the car park, it is only a 500-meter walk to the falls. or from the nearby campground, the hike is 4.6 kms / 1.5 hours.
The walking track was recently upgraded and is now an all-abilities trail for viewing the waterfalls.
(Not to be confused with the famous Stevenson’s Falls near Marysville in the Yarra Valley.)
Access is from the Colac-Skenes Creek Road near Barramunga.
Dogs are Allowed
Get Directions to Stevenson’s Falls & the Campground
Stevenson’s Falls Free Campground
There is a free campground near the falls with basic facilities and approximately 44 unpowered campsites. It is available on a first-come, first-served basis and can get crowded at peak times.
More details on all the free and low-cost campgrounds…
Dogs are permitted in this campground.
The video above was taken before the upgrades to the walking track and campground. The pathway is now suitable for all abilities.