Why You Should Visit the Great Otway National Park

A wonderland of fern-laden valleys, cascading waterfalls, and incredible animals!

To truly experience Victoria’s lush wildlife, visiting the Great Otway National Park is a must-do activity. Ranked amongst Australia’s most diverse natural landscapes, the Otway’s is jam-packed with ancient plant life, unique animals, and some of the best natural wonders around. Still not convinced? Take a look at all this National Park has to offer with our guide, and make sure to set some time for it during your visit to the Great Ocean Road.

Its Location

The park lies along one of Australia’s greatest coastlines, the Great Ocean Road. Dubbed Australia best scenic road trip, the road features limestone cliffs, stunning beaches, and charming seaside towns. The dense rainforest of the Otway’s is nestled mid-way of the road’s journey, and is as much of an experience as the destination. Many travellers spend a day, a weekend, or even a week along Victoria’s coastal region, stopping into Great Ocean Road’s fantastic attraction during their journey, with the Otway’s being one of the most popular!

What to see there

• Waterfalls

  Hidden about the lush ferns are a magnificent range of cascading waterfalls. Although the Great Ocean Road has some of the best beaches in the world, if you are after a cooling freshwater alternative, the Otway’s waterfalls are no contest. Noteworthy spots include Triplet Falls, Hopetoun Falls, Beauchamp Falls, Stevenson Falls and Sabine Falls, with even a simple swimming hole of Parker Hill well worth the visit.

• Plantlife

  The entire region is covered with extraordinary plant life, creating a lush green blanket of life that spread out across the coast. In the north of the Otway’s, the park features tall forests, ferny gullies, and mesmerising lakes. Down towards the south, the rainforest meets the ocean, boarding the beaches to create stunning sheltered sandy shores. The Redwood forest is one of the park’s greatest plant regions, planted back in the 1930s as a logging experiment. The logging never took place, resulting in these magnificent trees have reached up 60 metres in height.

• Animals

  The natural habitat for several native Australian specifies a visit to the park is guaranteed to get you at least one wildlife encounter. The animals can be found high above in the tree canopies, or rustling through the rainforest’s bushes, from beloved koalas, kookaburras, wombats, and more, there truly is no shortage of creatures. Simple trek throughout the rainforest quietly while waiting to see an Aussie native roaming about the region!

How to See the Rainforest

• Otway Fly Treetop Walk

  This unique outdoor experience lets you stroll on top of the rainforest’s dense canopy. The walkways stretch up 47 metres, letting visitors see the natural splendour all around them from an incredible vantage point.

• Walking Tracks

  What better way to see the natural wonders of this rainforest than by getting lost within! Hop on one of the many walking tracks scattered about and discover the unique landscape draped in natural beauty.

• Picnic Spots

  Refuel from a day of sightseeing amidst the stunning scenery at one of the many picnic spots around.

Related article: What unique animals can you see along the Great Ocean Road?

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