The Great Ocean road is 243km long and their is many Beautiful waterfalls along the way. I have put together a list of the best waterfalls to visit when your on your next road trip down this way. Check out this guide for more places to visit on the Great Ocean Road.
Erskine Falls
Erskine falls are 30m tall and are located in the Otway ranges and is the most popular waterfall in Lorne. Getting to the Falls is a 15 minute drive up Erskine falls Road. Once at the carpark it’s just 80m to the lookout looking out to Erskine Falls. You can also walk down the 230 stone steps to the base of the Falls. From here you can take the Erskine River Walk (7.5km one way). This Track isn’t clearly signed you just see an opening and follow the creek down for about 5 minutes before you arrive at straw falls . You can then Continue along the river and walk past Straw Falls along the walk you will also pass Splitter Falls and huge rock slabs that form cascades. The walk is challenging and at times involves some tricky rock hopping and river crossings. It finishes in Lorne at the Kia Ora Caravan Park. The other short Hike from Erskine falls carpark is the Lemonade Creek walk to Erskine Falls (4.4km one way).
Phantom Falls
Just 5 minute drive from Lorne is Phantom falls. Park at the Allenvale road Carpark, The hike to the Falls is a 3.6km return bush walk. The waterfall is 15 meters tall and is located on the St George River. From the Allenvale Car Park you cross Allenvale Rd and onto the signed track. The track then follows the St George River and over a bridge before going through some private property, which made this somewhat of an unusual hike.
Lower and Upper Kalimna falls
Drive to Sheoak Picnic area down Allenvale road about a 15 minute drive from Lorne. Lower Kalimna Falls is known to be the prettiest waterfall in the area of Lorne. The walk to the falls is a 9.5km 3 hour return trip and is Grade 3 hike. The walk to the falls is a 9.5km 3 hour return trip and is Grade 3 hike. The Trail begins on the right hand side, opposite from the picnic area.
Stevenson’s Falls
You can either drive to the day visitors carpark which will be a 500 meter return walk to the waterfall or alternatively you can walk from Stevenson’s Falls Campground which will be a 4.6km return walk to the waterfall. It is a beautiful walk through the rainforest to a 15 meter waterfall.
Little Aire and Triplet Falls
The walk to Triplet Falls is 1.8km return circuit is a short but very pretty walk. Allow 1 hour for Triplet Falls and 3 hours for the loop to both waterfalls. The walk starts at the carpark and can be walked in either direction, but it is recommended to take the path to the left at the beginning. The walk will take you through some really beautiful ancient forests with some very large Mountain Ash trees. You will see the lower cascades shortly before the main falls. After taking time to view the falls return to the carpark.
Alternatively you can walk to Little Aire Falls it is a 6km return walk. The walk to the falls is fairly challenging due to the many steps as well as a lot of steeper sections. The track is well maintained and clear, although the trail can be muddy after significant rain, I would recommend wearing hiking shoes. Once you reach the waterfall you will be standing on a suspended viewing platform with a see-through grate base looking down and out to Little Aire Falls.
Hopetoun Falls
The walk is approximately 1km return, allow up to 1 hour for the walk to the bottom of the falls. Alternatively you can view the waterfall from about 30 meters from the carpark from a platform where you can see the falls from above. The walk down to the base is very steep and has approximately 200 steps. Down the bottom there are some boardwalk sections before arriving at the viewing platform.
