Melba Gully: See glowworms on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria

Melba Gully near Lavers Hill, Victoria, offers rainforest scenery along the Madsen’s Track Nature Walk by day. At night, it is the best place to see glowworms on the Great Ocean Road.

What is Melba Gully?

Melba Gully is a gully in the Great Otway National Park, Victoria. It is a notoriously wet part of the state, and offers an impressive short walk through the rainforest. Come at night, however, and you can see a rare natural phenomenon – Melba Gully is the best place to see glowworms on the Great Ocean Road.

Where is Melba Gully?

Melba Gully is just off the Great Ocean Road in western Victoria. It’s by the inland section of Australia’s most famous coastal drive, in the Great Otway National Park. Melba Gully is a 3.7km drive south-west of the town of Lavers Hill. Take the Melba Gully Road off the Great Ocean Road shortly after leaving Lavers Hill if driving the route from east to west, as most people do.

You’ll most likely arrive at Melba Gully while driving the Apollo Bay to Port Campbell section of the Great Ocean Road.

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.

Madsen’s Track Nature Walk

If you arrive during the day, the main thing to do is the Madsen’s Track Nature Walk. This easy 1.5km walk leaves from the Melba Gully picnic area and takes around 35 minutes.

On the way, you’ll pass through a lush rainforest scene of grand tree ferns, mossy tree trunks and tall myrtle beeches.

It’s a scene that screams nature, and unbothered by mankind.

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.

Glowworms at Melba Gully

Walk the track at night, however, and you’ll likely see something entirely different. Thousands of glowworms live at Melba Gully, and they start twinkling after the sun goes down. The effect is like a starry sky at ground level.

To get to Melba Gully from Apollo Bay, it’s a 52km drive that takes around 47 minutes.

Other attractions on the Apollo Bay to Port Campbell section of the Great Ocean Road include the Wildlife Wonders conservation sanctuary, the Maits Rest Rainforest Walk and the Gibson Steps near the 12 Apostles.