Great Ocean Road gateway to Victoria's best surf beaches

Great ocean road tightly hugs the coast, the road offers outstanding views of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean and covers some of the most photogenic coastline in the world, because of its striking and dramatic natural rock formations. These formations include Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, London Bridge (renamed to London Arch in recent years after the 'bridge' partially collapsed), and most famously The Twelve Apostles. A visitors centre has recently been built near Peterborough to provide some basic facilities for the thousands of tourists who visit each year. The building of this centre was controversial, as there were concerns among many over whether it would impede access to the formation for tourists who did not wish to pay an entrance fee, cause pollution and excess traffic congestion, and spoil the natural environment. Aireys Inlet a small coastal town on the Great Ocean Road, South-West of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Aireys Inlet is between Anglesea and Lorne, and joined with Fairhaven on the West.

Painkalac Creek, which separates Aireys Inlet from Fairhaven, forms a salt lake or inlet behind the sand dunes before it cuts through to the sea. Due to low water levels in the inlet it is not often that the inlet breaks through.

The Split Point Lighthouse overlooks the inlet. Many scenes from the children's television series Round the Twist were filmed at or around the area of the lighthouse.

Aireys Inlet was devastated by the infamous 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires in which nearly every house was burnt down. However after a brief lull, interest in the area resumed and has been steadily climbing since. Properties, especially those with an ocean-view are becoming increasingly sought after, some going for greater than AU$1 million.

Many surfies holiday in Aireys Inlet to take advantage of the popular Fairhaven beach. As the inclination of the beach can change dramatically between years, the surf is regarded as unpredictable. Swimmers should take note there is a strong rip current.

In the early 19th century, before European settlement, an escaped convict William Buckley lived here in a primitive hut eating fish, shell fish, wild raspberries and sugar ants. Aireys Inlet was known to the Aboriginals of the time as "Managwhawz". (See "The Life And Adventures of William Buckley" Morgan, 1967) Bells Beach is an internationally famous surfing beach in Victoria. "Bells" is 71 km south-west of Melbourne, on the Great Ocean Road near the town of Torquay. Nearby beaches include 'southside', 'Centreside', 'Rincon', 'Winki Pop', 'Lowers' and 'Lower Lowers'. Although known internationally as one of the best breaks in Victoria, 'Winki Pop' often works better under more diverse conditions then the other nearby breaks.

The final scene of the film Point Break was set and supposedly filmed at Bells Beach, but the actual beach is a straight stretch, whereas the beach in the film is a cove with pine trees atop a hill. Otway is a national park in Victoria (Australia), 162 km southwest of Melbourne.Otway National Park

Location Victoria, AustraliaNearest City GeelongLatitude 38° 46' 24" SLongitude 143° 33' 27" EArea 129.00 kmēDate of Establishment 1981Governing Bodies Parks VictoriaIUCN category II

The park contains three camping areas - at Johanna, Aire River and Blanket Bay, and it can be accessed from the north via Forrest or Beech Forest, and from the west via Princetown. The park runs along the coast in the Otway Ranges, offering good access to beaches and to the Otway forest. There are many walking tracks in the park allowing access to the beaches etc. The Cape Otway Lighthouse is adjacent to the park, and open to tourists several days a week (visits by arrangement).

For those who do not wish to camp, accommodation is available at Apollo Bay and several other nearby locations. Otway National Park is perfect for a wide variety of recreational and nature based activities. Some of the most rugged and inaccessible coastline in Victoria lies in the 13,000 ha park, an invitation to the adventurous to explore this 60 kilometre stretch from Apollo Bay to Princetown, reached via the Great Ocean Road.

Things to Do

* At Maits Rest, near Apollo Bay, take the 40 minute self-guided rainforest walk. * Walk through cool temperate rainforest of towering trees beside streams cascading seaward to Bass Strait. * Visit Melba Gully, a cool temperate rainforest pocket near Lavers Hill, and walk the Madsen Track. * See ancient and intricate plant life, lush ferns, mosses and fungi. * Swim, snorkel, surf or fish at secluded beaches and estuaries. * Glimpse Swamp Wallabies, Pygmy Possums, gliders and koalas, and (in winter) Southern Right Whales. * Explore the Great Ocean Walk. Go for a short walk, day walk, or try an extended overnight hike.

Otway National Park[Back] [Print Version]

Park Type: National ParkRegion: WestCoast: Parks along Victoria's coastSpecial Needs Access: Rating 3 (out of 6) more info

Things to Do:

Otway National Park is perfect for a wide variety of recreational and nature based activities. Some of the most rugged and inaccessible coastline in Victoria lies in the 13,000 ha park, an invitation to the adventurous to explore this 60 kilometre stretch from Apollo Bay to Princetown, reached via the Great Ocean Road.

Facilities:

You can camp at Blanket Bay, Aire River and Johanna; all sites have basic toilets. Accommodation in other camping areas, cabins and motels is available at nearby Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill - contact the Great Ocean Road Visitor Visitor Information Centre for details on (03) 5237 6529.

The Light Station at Cape Otway is considered to be the best collection of historic lighthouse buildings in Australia. There are daily tours of the Lighthouse, and accommodation in the historic keeper's quarters can be arranged by contacting the Lighthouse on (03) 5237 9240 or the Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre. Heritage

The Otways were formed 150 million years ago when the great southern land mass known as Gondwana began to break up. Part of the coastline is rich in fossils, including those of a dinosaur that roamed here 105 million years ago. Aboriginal communities hunted the coastal woodlands with fire, dingoes and spears.

Although the steep slopes and tall forest of the Otways were a barrier to European settlement, settlers began to move in. Due to numerous shipwrecks, attention was focused on this part of the coast and in particular Cape Otway. The Cape Otway lighthouse was constructed in 1848.

The dangerous and narrow stretch of water between Cape Otway and King Island claimed many ships and lives. Survivors of the wreck of the Joanna were the first Europeans to set foot in the Cape Otway area in 1843. Lighthouses were constructed in response to public concerns, with Cape Otway completed in August 1848. Two men lost their lives landing supplies at Parker River during its construction. After 1877 supplies were landed from Blanket Bay where 3 men drowned in 1896. The light station includes keepers’ houses and the telegraph station. Cape Otway cemetery contains graves of people who lost their lives in some of the 13 known shipwrecks. Anchors from three of the wrecks are located at the western end of the park, while an anchor and a section of hull from Eric the Red are located at the east end. The waters off Cape Otway also claimed the first American ship of WW2. The City of Rayville struck a German mine in 1940.

Fauna:

The park has abundant wildlife - Swamp Wallabies, Koalas, Ring-tailed Possums and Grey Kangaroos are common, and Tiger Quoll and Yellow-bellied Gliders are present, though rarely seen. Vegetation

Much land was cleared by early settlers, but extensive forest remains. Not far inland, rainforests and mountain ash trees contrast with coastal heathlands and open woodlands. Towering Myrtle Beech trees and their under-storey of dense tree-ferns can be seen on the Maits Rest walk and at Melba Gully.

Looking After the Park

* All native plants and animals are protected. Do not disturb or remove them. * Dogs, cats and firearms are prohibited (Dogs are permitted at Johanna on a lead). * Fires may be lit only in fireplaces provided and not at all on Total Fire Ban days. Wood or fuel stoves and gas lights are not permitted on these days. * Bring all firewood to the park. * Take your rubbish home and, where possible, recycle. * Check your recreational fishing guide before collecting shellfish or rock lobster (Shell fish collecting is not permitted east of Cape Otway). * Always stay on walking tracks. * Clean up at designated Phytopthora hygiene stations.

Precautions

* Before setting off on long walks, leave details with staff at the park office. * Wear strong shoes and appropriate clothing, and take water and food if you are planning a longer walk.

How to Get There

The park is 200 km south-west of Melbourne via Geelong or Colac (527 A10). From the west, approach via Port Campbell along the Great Ocean Road. The Otway and Shipwreck Coast Leisure Map, available from tourist information centres, will make navigation easy.

Accessibility

Special Needs Access Rating: 3 out of 6Maits RestThe walk at Maits Rest is a great introduction to Victoria's tall wet eucalypt forests and rainforests. The forest walk has sections of raised boardwalk, compacted soil and aggregate. Some steep sections lack handrails. There are excellent interpretive signs along the path. Vehicle access to this site is excellent, and the area around the car park is free of obstacles. There are no picnic or toilet facilities. The closest are at Apollo Bay or the Aire River Camping area.

Aire River

The east area of the Aire River campground is an informal grassy area that can also be accessed by caravans. Neither camp area has any designated accessible facilities, but there is more flat ground on the west side than on the east.

Johanna Beach

Campers at Johanna Beach can park adjacent to a campsite, and it is possible to bring a caravan. Access to the toilet is restricted by a narrow path, as is access to the beach. The track to the beach is also very sandy. The camping area is fairly flat overall.

Blanket BayFacilities at Blanket Bay include picnic tables, pit and composting toilets and open fire places. There is a designated unisex toilet, with a gravel approach path. The sandy path with uneven stairs leading to the beach is poorly accessible. Recycling bins are provided - please use them. No water is available so bring your own, or draw it from the Parker River.

Nearby Parks

* Angahook-Lorne State Park * Melba Gully State Park * Port Campbell National Park * Bay of Islands Costal Park

Activities

Camping, Four Wheel Driving, Horse Riding, Prospecting & Fossicking, Snorkelling, Surfing, Swimming, Walking

Check these Titles: