If you’re worn-out going to the same beach for the past years with the same view, so you should not miss travelling to Otways Beach off the Great Ocean Road on the south-eastern coast of Australia! If you love nature, adventure, and all the things that give you a rush of adrenalin, or just want to enjoy tranquillity, this place is entirely made for you. So, what are the things that make this spot very unique?
Otways Beach is a beautiful place to look for a great adventure. This place has a beach perfect for camping, fishing, wildlife spotting, horse riding, and different recreation activities with a view like a paradise. It also has the best scenery of rainforest and an excellent ocean view. You will surely appreciate the beauty of Otways once you get to visit it.
Here is an overview of the campgrounds in The Otways:
- Boggaley Creek Beach
- Smyth’s Creek
- Wongarra Beach
- Sugarloaf Beach
- Wye River Beach
Do you want to camp or visit Otways Beach? Read the entire article and know more!
How Do I Get To Otways Beach?
Otways Beach is located at Great Otway National Park, and there are four ways to get there from Melbourne by train, cab, bus or car. Usually, people bring their cars along with their caravans when camping, so there are two routes available to get there from Melbourne:
Via M1 and C119 (210 kilometres, 2-hour and 47-minute driving)
- Get on M1 in Southbank from Queen St, Queens Bridge St and Power St.
- Continue on M1 to Birregurra.
- Take C119 to the Great Ocean Rd/B100 in Cape Otway.
Via C119 (255 kilometres, 3-hour and 29-minute driving)
- Take Queen St to Flinders St/State Route 30
- Take M1, Western Ring Road/M80 and National Highway M8 to Troups Rd N in Rockbank
- Take Greigs Rd, Exford Rd and Nerowie Rd to Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd/C704 in Parwan
- Turn right onto Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd/C704, then Turn left onto Glenmore Rd
- Follow Geelong-Ballan Rd/C141 and Slate Quarry Rd to Staughton St in Meredith
- Follow Meredith-Shelford Rd to Bannockburn-Shelford Rd/C143 in Shelford
- Take Inverleigh-Shelford Rd/C144 to Barwon Park Rd in Inverleigh
- Continue on Barwon Park Rd to Winchelsea
- Take C119 to Great Ocean Rd/B100 in Cape Otway
What Should I Know About Otways Beach?
Otways Beach is situated near the Great Otways National Park secluded with stunning tall trees and green ferns. It became a holiday destination of people from Melbourne in Victoria after the First World War. In the late 1800s, the coast was settled, but was officially opened in 1932 and became one of the most visited Australian national parks since then.
It is home to wild Koalas because the place is suitable for koala vegetation, so its population increases each year. There are a lot of walking tracks and activities available in Otways that will satisfy your thirst for adventure. There are cliffs, waterfalls, narrow valleys, and one of the most fantastic views while camping in the Otways is the night sky so that you can do stargazing.
You can explore its beautiful landscape, spot some flora and faunas as well. The place is packed with nature, heritage and has so much more to offer. They also have Otway Fly Treetop Walk that is 600 metres long with 30 metres high and an awesome Zip Line that is a unique way to explore the forest.
How Are The Campgrounds At Otways Beach?
Here are some of the campgrounds that you should stay in when you visit the area:
Boggaley Creek Beach
Boggaley Creek Beach is mainly covered with sandstones, which produces rock platforms on the shore, but on the other side of the beach has its sandy part that is perfect for chilling. There are many fishing spots located on this beach, but you must always be careful, and swimming on this beach is not permitted. You can also bring your camper trailers and find your spot near the beach.
Smyth’s Creek
Smyth’s Creek is a 60-metre long beach that’s composed of sand and rocks that spread around the coast. The waves are average 1.5-metres that makes it unsafe for bathing. The beach is also a right spot for fishing and has a good parking lot where you can park your caravans.
Wongarra Beach
Wongarra Beach is one of the most remarkable coastlines in the region and has a great forest view. It is the right mix of forest and ocean, which makes it the perfect place for campers.
Sugarloaf Beach
Sugarloaf Beach is a small yet gorgeous sandy beach that is shaped like a sugar loaf. This place is not well facilitated, but this is the perfect place for a thrilling camp and enjoy.
Wye River Beach
Wye River Beach has a wide shore and is perfect for a family vacation or beach camping. It is dog-friendly, and this beach is a surfer’s spot, there are also rock pools and individual portions to unwind. It also provides excellent space for children to enjoy the dunes and play. Camping is permitted, but not in the sands. You can park your caravan in the shady part and build your camp.
If you want to know more about the beach campgrounds in the area, you can visit their website.
Where Can I Take Bushwalks in Otways Beach?
Easy Walks
- The Redwoods is a light 500-metre return and just about 15 minutes to complete. This track is surrounded by Californian Redwoods, the world’s tallest tree species and must not to be missed.
- Maits Rest is an easy 1-kilometres circuit walk beside the Great Ocean Road and usually 30 minutes to complete. It is a perfect way to explore the rainforest and has been preserved since the early 1900s.
- Lake Elizabeth Walk is a hidden 1.5-kilometre walk return in the lake and takes 1 hour to complete. A beautiful gem hid in the deep Otways that is heavily wooded flanks and calm waters.
- Stevenson Falls is a short 500-metre walk or a 4.6-kilometre in return and usually takes about 20 minutes to complete. It has a viewing platform that would satisfy your hike and has a large camping area.
- Red Rock is an easy 500-metre return and 15 minutes to complete. The area is the world’s third-largest volcanic plain and estimated to be 8,000 years old.
Moderate Hikes
- Lake Elizabeth Walk is a hidden 4-kilometre circuit walk that takes about 2 hours to finish. This trail is among the most beautiful hikes in Otways with its excellent view and quiet surroundings.
- Hopetoun Falls is a 1-kilometre walk return and approximately 30 minutes to complete. This moderate trail has an excellent viewing platform 20 metres from the parking lot and also has steeper walks as you go through.
- Triplet Falls is a 2-kilometre walk return and takes 1 hour to complete. This walk is close to the infamous Otway Fly Treetop Walk and has spectacular fern surroundings.
- Melba Gully is a moderate 1.2-kilometre walk that takes about 30 minutes to finish. It is among the wettest places in the state and it has a dense rainforest.
- Little Aire Falls is an excellent 5-kilometre walk that takes 2 hours to complete. It also has a viewing platform and a spectacular view of the falls.
- Otway Fly Treetop Walk is a hanging 1.9-kilometre return walk that is typically 1 hour to complete, and is the most beautiful way to explore the trails of Otways with its bird’s eye view on the treetop.
- Carisbrook Falls is a moderate 1-kilometre walk track that takes about 20 minutes to complete. It is only 10 minutes from the parking area and a must-visit place after heavy rain.
Hard Hikes
- Beauchamp Falls is a steep and slippery 3-kilometre hike that is usually 1 hour to complete.
- Great Ocean Walk is a famous walk that usually starts at Apollo Bay with the magnificent view of the coastal trail.
What Are The Other Things I Can Do At Otways?
When visiting the Coast of Otways, you should:
- Try camping
- Have a picnic
- Try the infamous Otway Treetop Walk.
- Explore the walking trails
- Try Rock Climbing
- Wildlife Spotting
- Hit the beach!
- Try the Fly Zip Line Tour
- Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation
What Is the Best Time To Visit Otways Beach?
June, July and August is the best time to visit and explore the wonders of Otways because the rainforest gets colder in these months. But summertime is always the best time to hit the beach and pitch a camp.
What Do Other Tourists Say About Otways Beach?
“A pleasant area to find some lovely scenery. We came through here as part of our two-day Great Ocean Road tour. It was early morning, so there was some fog in some of the valleys, which made for some stunning views.” –Steven W
Related Questions
Is The Otways A Rainforest?
Otways partly consists of the rainforest because it has the highest rainfall in Victoria. The wet environment of Otways plays a significant role in the Australian rainforest community.
How Big Is Otways?
The area of the Great Otways National Park is 1,032 km². It is one of the most beautiful conserved parks in Australia and home to wild Kolas.
Can You Swim At Beauchamp Falls?
Yes, you can enjoy swimming at Beauchamp Falls. It has 15 tent sites that are perfect for family camping. It has well-maintained drop toilets, and a campfire is only permitted in bins for safety precautions.
Where The Forest Meets The Sea Great Ocean Road?
In the Otways, it is where the magical rainforest meets the magnificent wild southern ocean. Like a fantasy when you visit and wander The Otways for it is here, you can find the tallest species of trees, the Californian Redwood.
