Waterfalls in the Otways

Whilst the Great Otways National Park is commonly known for its vast stretches of rugged coastline and amazing surf beaches  it is also the home of an ancient temperate rainforest. The Otways are a wondrous place to visit with countless waterfalls that always flow due to the unusually high year-round rainfall of the region.

Triplet Falls

Arguably the greatest of these waterfalls is Triplet Falls, where you can see the 3 cascades from multiple viewing platforms. The falls are reached by taking a 1.8km circuit starting from the carpark. The walk, whilst not hard, does contain a number of steep sections of steps and will take around an hour to complete. It is recommended to take the path on the left as this provides a lovely walk through the ancient forest of towering Mountain Ash trees before you will reach the lower cascades viewing platform followed by the main falls.

Sabine Falls

Second on the list would have to be the ever impressive Sabine falls which holds the title of the tallest waterfall in the park, coming in at a massive 130 meters tall. The trek out to the falls takes around 2+ hrs return and is of a moderate difficulty, it includes some fairly steep sections and 2 creek crossings. The walk heads off from the carpark towards the historic Henry's Sawmill site #1 where you can see some great relics from the 1920s and then continues on from here, it is well signed at this point. The rest of the track whilst steep and mostly made up of stone cut steps is fairly easy to follow as there are no turn offs so you shouldn't get lost along the way. The walk whilst hard is well worth it to trek through the amazing cool temperate rainforest and has the possibility to spot the endangered Otway Black Snail. All up even though it is one of the longer walks it is definitely well worth it and should be on your list if you're heading to the area.

Erskine Falls

Next on the list and probably the most popular in the National Park is Erskine Falls. These falls are extremely close to Lorne making them so easily accessible.  The main reason why these falls are popular with visitors is due to its large 30 metre drop, providing an amazing cascade to the rock pool below even when there is just a trickle of water. The falls can be seen from a viewing platform just a short 5 minute walk from the carpark. To truly admire the falls it is recommended to head down the path and walk down to the bottom of the falls. The walk will take around 20 minutes return and whilst it is quite short, the steep nature of the terrain and around 240 steps make it quite strenuous walk. Along the way you can admire the beautiful tree ferns and tall trees that surround the falls.

Coming in forth on the list is the commonly overlooked Beauchamp Falls, whilst slightly smaller than Erskine Falls at around 20 metres tall it is still well worth a visit if you are in the area. It is accessible via a somewhat strenuous 3 km walk which treks through a lush forest of Mountain Ash, Blackwood, Myrtle Beech and ferns. The walk should take around 1-1.5 hours to complete and has steps in places that can be quite slippery if it has been raining.

Hopetoun Falls

To round out the list we have Hopetoun Falls, another breathtaking 30 metre tall waterfall. There is a wheelchair accessible viewing platform 30 metres from the carpark, however for those able to it is suggested that visitors head down the 200 odd steps to see the waterfall up close.  The trip down to the falls is around 1 km long and should take roughly an hour to complete.

Whilst we’ve highlighted a number of waterfalls  the National Park is home to a variety of fantastic walks through beautiful temperate rainforest and there are  more hidden waterfalls than those featured here.

Southern Ocean sculpts Australian Coastline

The Southern Ocean is the southern most waters of the world’s Oceans with deep waters mainly at depths of 4,000 to 5,000 metres.  The Ocean is notorious for having some of the strongest winds and largest waves on the planet. It is also home to the largest current in the world ocean, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

Waves crash into the Southern coastline

  

Australia’s southern coast is at the northern end of the Southern Ocean and the coastline is subjected to high energy waves which constantly batter and shape the area into stunning formations. 

The battering waves create small fissures in the rock and over time cracks form or caves are formed  that extend inland. The land is eroded due to the contant wind, rain and waves and structures like the 12 Apostles, Bay of Islands, the Grotto and Loch Ard Gorge are separated from the mainland.

1.  Wave crashes through a crackline in the coastline

The Grotto

Razorback

Join us for a tour of the Great Ocean Road

Stunning views from Eureka Skydeck

The Eureka Skydeck in Melbourne is a popular attraction for locals and visitors alike. 

View west along the Yarra River

The Skydeck towers 88 floors above Melbourne and provides stunning 360 degree views of the Melbourne skyline and surrounding suburbs. On clear days you can see surrounding mountains.

The Shrine of Remembrance 

Located on St Kilda Road, close to the city the Shrine of Remembrance is the National War Memorial dedicated to all those who served in armed conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

View East along the Yarra River 

This view shows the Art Centre Spire and Melbourne's sporting precinct including the Tennis Centre and MCG.

A closer look at the famous MCG where cricket and football are played

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

The Sidney Myer Music Bowl, located in Kings Domain Gardens, is a venue that hosts music events including Carols by Candlelight and the Melbourne Sympathy Orchestra's free summertime concert series.

Government House

Home to the Governor or Victoria, Government House is located between King's Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens. 

Federation Square

Federation Square is an open space where major cultural and world class events are held. There is also a range of restaurants, bars and stores and a large tourist Information Centre.

Besides the stunning views there is a cafe, sovereign shop and The Edge where you are inside a glass cube that extends out from the 88th floor Skydeck and is suspended 300 metres above the ground. The Edge costs an additional $12 for adults and $8 for children.

Within easy walking distance of the CBD the Skydeck is located at Riverside Quay Southbank. Basically between the Southbank restaurants and Crown Casino.

The attraction is open every day.  Pricing is reasonable with adult tickets starting at $19.50, children $11 and family packages also available.

Come tour Melbourne with Longhorn YOUnique Tours

Close encounters with wildlife at Ballarat Wildlife Park

Set on 15 hectares the Ballarat Wildlife Park is a great place to visit and encounter Australian wildlife.

 With more than 80 kangaroos roaming the park the opportunity for a close encounter is excellent.

The kangaroo is probably one of Australia's most recognised wildlife and is also another marsupial that's popular with tourists.  There are over 60 species of kangaroos and their close relatives which include wallabies, wallaroos, tree-kangaroos and forest wallabies. The larger red kangaroo is found in arid regions and the eastern and western grey Kangaroos are found in great numbers across much of southern part of Australia.

The kangaroos were very friendly and totally unafraid of people as they wandered nearby.

The Park has a number of koalas and an opportunity to have your photo taken with a koala is a popular activity with visitors.  The koala is a tree-dwelling, herbivorous marsupial with thick fur making it one of the most popular Australian animals with visitors. They eat fibrous Eucalyptus leaves which are low in nutrition so they can sleep for up to 18 hours a day.

There is an interactive koala activity is on daily at 2.00 p.m.

There are a number of exhibits with Tasmanian Devils. These endangered animals (due to facial tumours) are one of our favourites. The Tassie Devil is the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. They have a thick-set, squat build and their markings are unique.

An interactive exhibit with Tasmanian Devils and Spotted Quolls is scheduled each day at 3.30 p.m.

This wombat wandered out of its comfortable burrow so we could capture a great shot.   The wombat is the largest burrowing mammal in Australia. They look cute and cuddly and are very solidly built. The wombat is nocturnal coming out at night to graze. In winter months you can also see them grazing during the day.

There's an interactive wombat display at 2.30 daily. 

The Park also has a reptile house with a range of lizards, snakes and other reptiles on display. An interactive reptile presentation is held at 1.30 each day. 

The Park is open every day except Christmas Day and tickets reasonably priced.

You can book a private tour with Longhorn YOUnqiue Tours to Ballarat which includes the wildlife park. 

Otway Fly Treetop Adventure

Set amongst the beautiful Otways rainforest the Otways Fly Tree Top Adventure  provides a great opportunity to see the rainforest from a different angle.

The walk takes about an hour over its 2 kilometre length and features a thrilling cantilever section where you feel totally above the beautiful forest below. 

Views from the highest point - the 47 metre high tower are also amazing.

You start the walk from the Visitor Centre and Cafe and wander, at your own pace, down hill to the start of the treetop walk. Its then a gradual climb as you wander along the walkway where you'll find interpretive signs that provide interesting information on the range of trees and flora nearby.

A free shuttle service is available making the trip from or to the Visitor Centre easier.

Cost is a very reasonable $25 adults, $15 children, $70 family and $21.50 for seniors.

We include the Tree Top Adventure in our 2 day private tour of the  Great Ocean Road Tour or our 3 day private tour of the Great Ocean Road and Grampians Tour.

If you have plenty of time and are ready for adventure you can do the Zipline Tour which takes 3.5 hours and includes flying on a series of cable spans from one platform to another.

Coombe Estate - famous for more than just its connection to Dame Nellie Melba!

Coombe which opened in mid 2004 is a new winery located on the Melba Estate at Coldstream in the Yarra Valley. The property was previously home to Australia's greatest opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and has been hidden behind a huge cypress hedge. .  

Cellar door area / tack room

Dame Nellie is known as one of the most famous singers in the world in the early 20th century. Born in 1861 in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne, Dame Nellie moved to Paris and became a Prima donna of the opera famous in  Australia, England, Europe and the US. She travelled the world during her career and the small museum/ art gallery at Coombe contains some memorabilia including her Louis Vuitton trunks.

The Estate has been significantly refurbished by Dame Nellie's great grandsons the Honourable Mark Vestey and Lord Samuel Vestey. They've done a fantastic job converting old buildings into modern facilities whilst still retaining a sense of charm and history. The cellar door area was previously the tack room, the gift shop the stables and the restaurant the motor home where Dame Nellie kept her cars including a Rolls Royce.

View into the restaurant

The restaurant uses a range of local produce from the property and features dishes like Peach Melba and  Melba. 

Outside the restaurant / motor home

Restaurant's rear glass conservatory

The Estate has 7 acres of gardens and you can take a garden tour for $25. Tours are conducted at 10 and 2 each day from Monday to Saturday. Morning or afternoon tea with amazing scones, jam and cream is included. Bookings are essential.

The homestead is maintained for family use but the Garden Tours circle the exterior. Information on the garden design is supplemented by stories of Dame Nellie and how she relaxed and entertained friends and dignitaries at the Estate.

Apparently Charlie Chaplin even stayed at the Estate and swam in the pool. The view from the pool to nearby mountains was amazing.

Its certainly worthwhile visiting Coombe to taste the wines, to eat in the restaurant or even just to take a tour of the gardens and enjoy morning/afternoon tea. 

Our 1 day Yarra Valley Tour can be modified to include a visit to Coombe.

You can book a private tour with Longhorn YOUnique Tours to incorporate a visit to this winery. 

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands Coastal Park is a narrow strip approx 32 kilometres long and located between Peterborough, at the western end of the Great Ocean Road, and stretches to Warrnambool further west.  

The town of Warrnambool was settled by the Europeans in the 1840s and Port Campbell in the 1870s. With European settlement came the ships that supplied the area and the treacherous coast caused many shipwrecks.

Amongst these the schooner 'Young Australia' in 1877 was driven ashore at Curdies Inlet after receiving damage to its fore-top mast at Cape Nelson during inclement weather. No lives were lost. 

In 1908 the 'Falls of Halladale', a 4 mastered iron barque built in Scotland, was wedged between two reefs at Halladale Point when the captain's judgment was impaired by heavy fog.

The Coastal Park, like nearby Port Campbell National Park, has sheer limestone cliffs and offshore islands. This fascinating coastline developed millions of year's ago when tiny marine animal skeletons built up beneath the sea and formed the soft limestone which was then eroded by the wild seas and winds of the Southern Ocean sculpting the limestone into the shapes we see today. Its a popular area for photography particularly at sunset and far less crowded than the 12 Apostles area.

The wild Southern Ocean also provided a wealth of resources for Kirrae Whurrong people, the traditional owners of the area. Evidence of their habitation of the area over thousands of years such as blackened shells (shell middens), scraping tools and other small artefacts, remain as indicators of a healthy and diverse diet.The Kirrae Whurrong continue to live in this area celebrating their traditional physical and spiritual connections. 

Lookout areas are located at the Bay of Martyrs, the Bay of Islands, Three Mile Beach and Childers Cove.

You can book a 1, 2, 3 or 4  day private tour with Longhorn YOUnique Tours which will include visiting these National Parks 

Wineries of the Mornington Peninsula

Having toured in the Yarra Valley regularly over the last 5 years we decided to venture into the Mornington Peninsula - another fabulous wine region in Victoria. The objective was to explore mixing this wonderful region with our special penguin tour on Phillip Island. 

We turned off the highway at the Arthurs Seat exit and drove through the clouds to stop at Murray's Lookout. It was a misty morning so we didn't experience the panoramic views but we still got the feeling that we were standing on top of the world.

From the summit of Arthurs Seat its a short walk to visit the monument dedicated to Matthew Flinders, the  English navigator and cartographer, who was the first to circumnavigate Australia. He stood on this spot in 1802 and no doubt the view he experienced as he gazed across Port Phillip Bay was very different to the one we saw today.

We next headed to Port Phillip Estate and as we drove into the parking area we were struck by the stunning architectural design of their building which reminded us of TarraWarra Estate in the Yarra Valley. We later found they were both designed by the same architects.

Port Phillip Estate

The staff here were fantastic, making us feel at home as soon as we arrived. They provided comprehensive insights into their wines and enthusiastically recommended other wineries in the region.

Cellar door at Port Phillip Estate

There's a casual cafe in the cellar door area or the dining room which Gourmet Traveller described as one of Australia's top 100 dining experiences. You'll need to check opening times as they're not open every day of the week.

The views from the outdoor area were breathtaking.

Next we visited Red Hill Estate where again we were treated more like good friends than first time visitors. 

Consistently rated as a 5 Star Winery by the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion the wines here are a testament to why.  Co located with the winery is Max's Restaurant where you can enjoy a high quality dining experience showcasing local produce and wines. 

The panoramic views of Western Port Bay from Red Hill Estate are reputed to be the best in the region. On a clear day you can even see Phillip Island where our new tour will end at the famous penguin parade.

Next we visit Tucks Ridge which has produced a number of James Hallidays' top rated Pinot Noir and Chardonnays in recent years.

Tucks Ridge Cafe is open every day and Saturday night and offers a relaxed dining experience and some great lunch time specials.

We headed to Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove  for lunch as the Piazza Cafe is open on the weekend. We enjoyed gourmet pizzas sitting in the glorious sunshine amongst the terraced herb garden. The food was great and reasonably priced.

Besides the Piazza Cafe there is a a Restaurant which has won 11 chefs hats from the Age Good Food guide since 2002.  

Montalto sells a range of wines from $15 to $65 a bottle. The winery also has more than 20 permanent sculptures and awards an annual art prize. 

Having heard so much about Ten Minutes by Tractor we had to visit to check out whether the reality was as good as the hype. We were not disappointed.

The name comes from 3 vineyards which are all 10 minutes apart by tractor! They have single vineyard wines and  regional 10x wines and the restaurant has 2 stars in the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. It has an innovative menu using local produce and is very popular so bookings are a must.

Our last stop was T'Gallant which was extremely busy and had live music on the balcony. Everyone was enjoying the food, wine and entertainment but we reluctantly had to leave to head for home.

If you haven't been to the Mornington Peninsula we suggest you head there and enjoy the wineries and some of the local produce that's on offer.

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