Best Lorne walks: Which Great Otway National Park trails?

The best Great Otway National Park walks from Lorne on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road include the Erskine Falls walk. But other Lorne walks include the Kalimna Falls Walk, Erskine River Track and Sheoak Picnic Area Nature Walk.

There are plenty of things to do in Lorne, including the traditional Great Ocean Road photo stop at Teddy’s Lookout and surfing lessons at Lorne Beach. But one of the main reasons to stay in the Great Ocean Road seaside town is the Great Otway National Park. Much of the rainforest behind Lorne, Victoria, is part of the national park, and staying for a few days allows visitors to tackle the best walking trails.

The classic Great Otway National Park walk from Lorne is the Erskine Falls walk. That’s partly because it’s easy to cheat and drive most of the way there up the Erskine Falls road. From the car park, the Erskine Falls walk is a simple 300 metre return stroll to the first lookout. Combine that with a moderate 700 metre return walk to the second lookout at the base of the falls.

Erskine Falls is 30 metres high, and looks impressive even when there’s little flow, due to the ferny rainforest setting.

Great Otway National Park walks: Erskine River Track

At the other end of the Lorne walks simplicity scale is the Erskine River Track. This Lorne walk starts at the base of Erskine Falls and finishes at the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park. It’s 7.5km one way. Call the Lorne Taxi Service on 0409 892 304 to get you to the start. Trying it as a return journey is exceptionally tough work.

The Erskine River Track involves a lot of river crossings over stones and fallen logs. It gets very slippery when wet. The walk follows the Erskine River downstream towards the Rapids and the tidal section of the river mouth. Highlights on the way include the natural amphitheatre known as the Sanctuary.

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.

Best Lorne walks: Kalimna Falls Walk

More Great Ocean Road waterfalls are available on the Kalimna Falls Walk, which takes in the Upper and Lower Kalimna Falls. Watching the falls tumble into the big pool surrounded by the mossy rocks is the highlight here.

Starting at the lower car park at Sheoak, it’s a 8.5km return walk to the viewing platform at the upper Kalimna Falls. This should take around three hours and 30 minutes. However, it’s a fairly easy-going walk as it follows the route of a tramway that was used for transporting timber to Lorne up until the 1920s.

Best Lorne walks: Sheoak Falls walks

It’s not the only Great Otway National Park walk starting at the Sheoak picnic area, either. From the Sheoak Falls Car Park, the moderate, 2.2km return Sheoak Falls and Swallow Cave Walk takes about an hour. Look out for nesting birds in Swallow Cave during spring and autumn, and don’t attempt the stepping stones on the creek crossing if the water level is high.

An easier Lorne walk is the 1.3km circuit from the Sheoak Picnic Area through manna gums and ferns. The Sheoak Picnic Area Nature Walk should take about half an hour if you don’t spend too much time engrossed on the interpretive signs along the way.

More national parks in Victoria

The best walk in the Barmah National Park, near Echuca.

Taking a tour of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, near Mildura.

Camping in the Murray Sunset National Park, Victoria’s largest national park.

Point Nepean National Park on a day trip from Melbourne.

Wildlife in the Grampians National Park.