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.

Wildflowers in the Grampians

With the coming of October and the warm spring weather the Grampians transform into an amazing wonderland of beautiful native wildflowers. The beauty and diversity of wildflowers found amongst the stunning sandstone Grampians attracts many locals and visitors alike. 

To celebrate, every year on the first weekend of October, Halls Gap hosts the Grampians Wildflower Walkabout in the Flora Botanic Gardens where guests are treated to guided walks; introducing them to the various species in the area and sharing knowledge of how the indigenous people used a variety of them.

This is not the only way to experience the wildflowers as the flowers can be seen throughout the National Park. Our 2 and 3 day tours will take you through some astounding scenery where you will see the vast fields of flowers and get a chance to take pictures up close. You can enjoy the flowers whilst also enjoying the breathtaking scenery of the ancient Grampians at locations such as Boroka Lookout, Reids Lookout and the Balconies.

2 day Grampians tour

3 day Great Ocean Road Grampians tour

4 day Melbourne to Adelaide tour

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

Conservation Park on Mornington Peninsula

Moonlit Sanctuary is a conservation park on the Mornington Peninsula and was established by Michael Johnson who was inspired by the British Naturalist Gerald Durrell.  Michael's concept was to develop a park where people could expierence the animals that roam Australia's bushland.

From humble beginnings the Park has now grown into a very popular tourist attraction on 25 acres with wetlands, bushland and more than 30 animal enclosures.

Tawny Frog Mouth

Wetlands early development

You can wander around the park and feed some of the animals and listen to a range of keeper talks. You can also book in for a range of animal experiences.

We take tours to visit the Park on the way to see Phillip Island Penguins and combining the two makes it an amazing day of wildlife experiences. We usually include a koala and dingo experience on our tours.

The koala experience is probably the most popular

The dingo experience is also great fun

The Park has a wide range of Australian animals including our favourite the Tasmanian Devil.

The Park has a cafe and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also book a night tour, sponsor an animal or be a keeper for a day.

Book a private tour with us

Stunning sunsets and much more at Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie and the surrounding area are full of natural wonders including beaches, lakes, rivers and Natural Parks.

A stunning sunset over the river at Port Macquarie

390 kilometres north of Sydney, the town is located where the Hastings River meets the ocean. Besides the River and other waterways Port Macquarie has a range of beautiful beaches and average temperatures ranging from 7 to 27 degrees. These all ensure its a popular holiday area for fishing, surfing, beach and nature lovers alike. 

 We visited in August and enjoyed mild days of 22 degrees allowing us to fish in the River, explore the rainforest and visit a number of beaches including Town Beach, Flynns Beach, Shelly Beach and Lighthouse Beach. 

Here's a snapshot of some of the activities to enjoy if you visit the area.

Sea Acres Rainforest Centre


Located a short distance south of Port Macquarie the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is certainly worth a visit.

With a 1.3 kilometre boardwalk meandering through the rainforest the Centre is suitable for people of all ages.  Its also possible to spot wildlife along the boardwalk. We were luck to observe a bush turkey building its nesting mound and a small and large lace monitor. Birds can be heard in the surrounding rainforest and the sound of the whip bird  was a pleasing and regular occurrence. 

Lace Monitor

There is an amazing Aboriginal exhibit downstairs at the Centre called the "Spirit of the land exhibition". Hearing and seeing the 2 Birpai Aboriginal stories told via sand drawings was totally fascinating and well worth the gold coin entry fee. 

A cafe and souvenir shop is also located at the Centre.

Lighthouse Beach

A short drive south of Port Macquarie Lighthouse Beach is a 9 kilometre stretch of beach with Watonga Rocks sitting on the sand part way along the beach.

Lighthouse Beach from the Lighthouse

The beach is popular with surfers and at the southern end camel safaris and 4wd's share the sand.

Tacking Point Lighthouse 

The beach is named after Tacking Point Lighthouse  which is the 3rd oldest lighthouse in Australia,  built in 1879, after more than 20 ship wrecks occurred in the area. 

A number of viewing platforms have been built in the area around the lighthouse as its a great place to watch for whales as they travel along the coastline. Spotters for the whale watching boat tours are often seen at the lighthouse directing the boats to areas where whales are frolicking in the waters near the point.

A whale frolicking off Lighthouse Beach

Chinese Junk Cruises

For an interesting experience try a sunset cruise along the Hastings River in an authentic Junk.

There's also a lunchtime fish and chips cruise where I'm told dolphins are often spotted.


Ellensborough Falls

If you love waterfalls and don't mind driving a longer distance Ellensborough Falls is located in Manning Valley at Elands approx 85 kilometres west of Port Macquarie. 

The falls are one of the longest single drop waterfalls in the southern hemisphere and are easily viewed from the car park area. 

There is a short walk to the head of the falls or you can walk down more than 600 steps to view the falls from the bottom. 

A kiosk is located in the car park area but only open on Fridays, weekends and NSW school holidays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Other useful information

Port Macquarie beach guide

Beach safety in Australia

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.