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The Great Otway National Park is located in the state of Victoria and it is situated approximately 16O km southwest of Melbourne and covers an area of 671 square kilometers. It is a stunning National Park along the coastline of the Great Ocean Road that offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy.
There are many things to do in the Great Otway National Park, including hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Visitors can also explore the Park’s beautiful rainforest, rugged coastline, and winding rivers. Whether you’re looking to explore the park by foot, bike, or car, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the best things to do in The Great Otway National Park.
How To Get To The Great Otway National Park?
The easiest way to get to the Great Otway National Park is by following the Great Ocean Road (B100) from Melbourne to Lorne and Apollo Bay. However, you can also reach the park by an inland road from the town of Colac.
You can also visit The Great Otway by taking the bus from Melbourne to Warrnambool with stops in Lorne and Apollo Bay.
The Best Time To Visit The Great Otway National Park
The Great Otway National Park is open all year round, but the best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a quiet escape, I recommend visiting during the off-season (May-August). However, if you’re looking for more activities and events, the park is busiest from December-February.
Where to stay In The Great Otway National Park
Depending on how long you are planning to stay in The Great Otway National Park, there are a lot of beautiful places to stay. I recommend staying close to the towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay as these are the gateways to many popular sights. However, if you like more of an adventure and you have the right equipment, you can stay in the amazing campgrounds of the National Park.
If you are looking for something more comfortable or you don’t know where to stay in the Great Otway National Park, these are my recommendations.
Tip: Visit the website of Parks of Victoria to book the campground of the National Park.
If you’re looking for a place to stay right on the water, Seafarers Getaway is the perfect spot. It offers amazing ocean views and is just a few minutes walk from Apollo Bay’s main beach.
The surrounding area is perfect to relax and unwind from the busy life. It’s also close to the town centre and has easy access to the Great Otway National Park.
BIG4 Wye River Holiday Park is located right next to the Great Otway National Park, making it the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to explore the Park.
There are plenty of activities available on-site, including a playground, jumping pillow, and pool. The Park also offers cabin and caravan accommodation and camping sites. You’ll also find a convenience store, restaurant, and bar on-site for your convenience.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in the heart of Lorne, the Bay View Motel is a great option. It’s located just a few minutes walk from the main beach and offers beautiful coastline views.
There are plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby and beautiful walking trail along the coast. The motel offers a variety of room types, including studios, one-bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom apartments.
Tip: Behind the Seafarer Gateway is a secret waterfall on private land that you can see it if you come from the town towards the hotel, Read more about the secret waterfall in my article about the most beautiful waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park
Drive Along The Great Ocean Road:
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic drives in Australia and should e on everyones bucket list! It extends for 243 kilometers and passes through some of Victoria’s most picturesque towns before ending near Warrnambool.
Driving the entire length of the road takes about 4 to 6 hours, but it’s worth every minute to take your time and stop at all the lookout points along the way. So, plan your trip to make sure you can see as much as possible!
Grab A Coffee At The Lighthouse Tea Rooms In Airlie Inlet
The Lighthouse Tea Room is the perfect place to start your day early in the morning and supporting small businesses is what I like the most during my trips. Grab a coffee or tea and enjoy the sunrise from the lookout at the Lighthouse.
The surrounding area is beautiful with some great walks to unwind in the morning or to let your dog out. The Lighthouse Tea Room also serves amazing sandwiches, toasts, and snacks, so it’s even a good place to have your lunch.
Visit The Split Point Lighthouse
The Split Point Lighthouse is a historic site that dates back to the 1890s. It is one of the most iconic buildings in Victoria. The interesting history and location of the lighthouse make it a popular attraction for visitors today.
If you are planning a road trip along the Great Ocean Road make sure you add the Split Point Lighthouse to your itinerary as you’ll be rewarded with epic views and some of the best sunrise views along the Great Ocean Road.
Snap A Photo At The Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most amazing drives in the world with a lot of amazing sights along the way. The Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch is definitely one of them! The Memorial is built in to honour all Australians who worked and died while fighting in WWI.
It forms part of an informal memorial trail along the Great Ocean Road, including several other statues and war memorials. The Arch is also a very popular spot for photographers and makes for a great place to snap a photo while on your road trip.
Tip: Be very careful and makes sure the road is clear if you want to take a photo on the road.
Go To Teddy’s Lookout
Teddy’s Lookout is a beautiful look out point that offers amazing views of the coastline. This lookout point is named after Theodore Teddy, one of the first European settlers in the area.
There is a small parking lot at the Lookout, which can get busy during peak times. However, it’s definitely worth to visit this viewpoint during sunrise or sunset but also at night, to snap some photos of passing cars with a long exposure, like I did.
Enjoy the most impressive walking trails
The walking trails in the Great Otway are some of the most beautiful ones that I’ve seen! Wandering between giant trees and lush green ferns with the sound of birds and insects in the background is just amazing!
There are so many walking trails in the park but the 3,5km walk to the Phantom Falls was one of my favourites in the Great Otway.
Try To Spot A Kookaburra Bird
Kookaburras are one of the most iconic birds of Australia, and you’ll spot them all over the Great Otway National Park. These large kingfisher birds are easily identifiable by their big beaks and piercing eyes and very recognisable by their unique sound.
Kookaburra birds sounds like a laughing monkey or very evil laugh, which is actually funny to hear. They can usually be seen around picnic areas or parking lots where they try to find some food.
Stay At Jamieson Creek Campground
The Jamieson Creek camping area is one of the best bush campsites in the Great Otway National Park. This campground is very popular among visitors, partially because there is an amazing lookout to watch the sunrise and sunset but also the great basic facilities.
There are about twenty sites available for caravans & camper vans with shared fire pits, toilets, a bbq area and enough trees for some shade. However there are also a two camp areas designated for only tents.
The price is about AU$ 15,00 per site up to six people and can be booked on the website of the National Park of Victoria.
Watch The Sunrise
One of the best ways to experience the Great Otway National Park is by watching the sunrise. Many viewpoints along the road offer panoramic views of this gorgeous coastline and make for a great spot to watch the sunrise over the water.
It’s even better when you spend a few nights camping in one of the campsites. There are plenty of spots that will leave you and your friends speechless if you’re lucky enough to see them!
My favourite spots along the way were the Splithouse Lighthouse and Jamieson Creek Campground for watching sunrise and sunset
Visit The Most Beautiful Waterfalls
The Great Otway National Park features some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Victoria. My favourites were Phantom Falls and Hopetoun Falls, which are both easily accessible after a beautiful short hike.
For me it feels like a reward after a long hike to reach a stunning waterfall surrounded by the sound of nature. However, there are plenty of other waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park to explore if you have the time, which I highly recommend.
Read Also: 8 Amazing Waterfalls In The Great Otway National Park
There you have it, some of the most amazing things to do in the Great Otway National Park! This Park offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a scenic drive, a nature hike, or simply a place to relax by the ocean.
So, if you’re looking for a great way to experience the Great Otway National Park, be sure to add at least one of these activities to your list! You won’t regret it. So be sure to put this Park on your list of must-visits during your next trip to Australia!
Explore the best things to do in the Great Otway National Park with my favorite travel apps
To plan my adventures, I use these FREE websites and apps as they provide the best information, the best deals, and they are user-friendly.
- Trip – Flight deals
- Booking.com – Hotels and accommodation
- TourRadar – Group trips
- TripAdvisor – Reviews and activities
- HostelWorld – Hostels
- GetYourGuide – Activities and excursions
- RentalCars – Carrental
PICTURES AND EDITING
All the pictures on this page are made and owned by me or credited to their original artist with permission. If you are interested in some pictures to use for your magazine, website, blog, or any other purpose, just send me an email and we’ll figure it out.
Do you like the edits? My Presets will be online soon so you can edit your pictures in just one click!
The camera gear I used for this trip
I never go out without my camera and many people ask me which gear I use. So to make it quite easy, I listed all the gear I used for this trip below.
Most of the time, I travel with the Sony A7III and the Sony 24-105mm/f4 as my primary lens but depending on the location, I change to another setup. However, I love the Tamron 17-28 to shoot in the big cities.
