Beauchamp Falls, Victoria: Prettiest Great Ocean Road waterfall?

Near Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Beauchamp Falls plunges 20 metres off a rock ledge into a highly tempting swimming pool. The walk from the Beauchamp Falls campground takes about an hour.

Beauchamp Falls is one of several waterfalls within the Great Otway National Park, Victoria. It is often overlooked on Great Ocean Road day tours as it is inland from the road itself, and getting to the waterfall takes a fairly long walk.

Where is Beauchamp Falls, Victoria?

Beauchamp Falls is in the Great Otway National Park. The nearest settlement is Beech Forest. To get there, branch off the Great Ocean Road at Skenes Creek near Apollo Bay, then drive up the Skenes Creek Road. Turn west at Tanbryn, then twist and turn towards the Beauchamp Falls Road. You need to aim for the Beauchamp Falls Campground, and park up there.

7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.

Beauchamp Falls walk

The Beauchamp Falls walk is through some towering mountain ash forest and giant ferns. It’s three kilometres there and back to the waterfall lookout. The walk is moderately strenuous, and should take most people with reasonable fitness levels about an hour.

It might not be the easiest Great Ocean Road waterfall to reach, but Beauchamp Falls is arguably the prettiest. The waterfall drops 20 metres, surrounded by temperate rainforest, into a log-strewn pool at the bottom.

Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne

For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.

Swimming at Beauchamp Falls, Victoria

This pool is a key part of why Beauchamp Falls is so appealing, although it’s pretty clear that Parks Victoria don’t really want people going in it. The viewing platform looking out to Beauchamp Falls has railings around it, intended to keep visitors looking on from afar.

The former path along Deppeler Creek is pretty easy to spot and follow, however, and that takes you to the pool. The Beauchamp Falls pool is a reasonable size, but there are plenty of logs and rocks in it, which make swimming tricky. If you’re prepared to brave the temperatures, however, you can treat it as a plunge pool.

Swimming, of course, is at your own risk.

Nearby attractions include Hopetoun Falls, Triplet Falls, platypus hangout Lake Elizabeth and Otway Fly Treetop Adventures.