Updated on October 27, 2026

Chasing Waterfalls along the Great Ocean Road

Spend a day in the area to experience even more of the mountains and coast. This circuit drive from Apollo Bay and return is a super drive on sealed and unsealed roads .It does involve a reasonable amount of narrow, winding, unsealed sections.

The steep hills above the Great Ocean Road hide some of the most beautiful areas of Victoria. Waterfall chasing is an ideal way to spend a few extra days touring. More details of waterfalls in the area can be found here.

To see every waterfall listed below and visit the Otway Fly will require a very long day of adventuring. Depending on the time of year and whether you can get up and on the road early, you can decide for yourself how much to do. It will take approximately 11 hours to complete everything, including 2 hours at the Otway Fly, driving time, and a 1-hour stop for lunch.

Choosing a couple of waterfalls to visit and completing the circuit drive will be a great day out.

Another attraction in the Otways that is particularly good for families is the Otway Park Trees Adventure course.

Food & Petrol

• Fill up your tank in Apollo Bay, as there is no fuel on this route. 
• Pack a picnic or buy food from the cafe at the Otway Fly, The Beechy Pub in Beech Forest. Other than these places along the way, Lavers Hill is the next option.

Directions

Drive 3km East back along the Ocean Road to Wild Dog Road and turn left up the road all the way to the Turtons Track junction and turn left.

Apollo Bay to Turton’s Track Junction – 22km / 30 mins

Turton’s Track Junction to Otway Fly and then Triplet & Little Aire Falls car park – 28km / 40 mins

• If you plan to do the Otway Fly Treetops walk, it takes about 2 hours and there is a good cafe there. We do recommend it.
• Triplet Falls walk – 1-hour / 2.1km loop
• Little Aire Falls – 2 hr / 5.2 km return

Triplet Falls car park to Beauchamp Falls – (retracing some of the routes) 15.2km / 25 mins

• Beauchamp Falls Walk – 1 hour / 3kms return

Beauchamp Falls to Hopetoun Falls – 7.5km / 15 mins

• Hopetoun Falls Walk – Upper viewing platform – 20-metre walk | 30 mins / 1km – about 200 steps down.

Hopetoun Falls to Californian Redwood Forest – 1.3km / 3 mins

• Time here – whatever suits, it is not a big area but pretty and worth having a picnic and relaxing.

Californian Redwoods to Great Ocean Road – via Binns Rd, all unsealed. 13.8km / 30 mins

Binns Road & Great Ocean Road Junction to Apollo Bay – 15kms / 16 mins

OPTIONAL – When you get back to the Great Ocean Road, either return to Apollo Bay or turn right and go about a 5-minute drive to Maits Rest Rainforest Walk or even to Cape Otway if time allows or do these on the way to the 12 Apostles the next day.