Hopetoun Falls, Great Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia
10 March 2019
Hopetoun Falls, Great Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia
Hopetoun Falls in the Great Otway National Park is almost as pretty as Beauchamp Falls. Last time out we visited Beauchamp Falls. It is only 4 kays from Hopetoun Falls. The California Redwood Forest is only a few kays away too. If you’re really keen you could visit all three in a day. The Great Otway National Park is about 2 hours drive from Melbourne so it is an easy day trip.
Hopetoun Falls has a plunge of about 40 metres so it is quite spectacular. There are two viewing platforms. An upper and a lower. The upper platform is just about in the car park. I’m pretty sure you could drive up to it. Don’t do that. The best view however is from the lower platform and is probably a 15 or 20 minute walk down to the river.
Most people don’t seem to view the waterfall from the lower platform though. They clamber over the rocks and fallen trees for better views of the falls. We did some clambering ourselves. The whole river gorge and rain forest is lush and green and… green. Verdant even. Greenness abounds. Ferns, trees, moss, if green is your colour you’re in luck.
Apparently in some dry summers the flow of the Aire River over the falls can trickle to a trickle but on the day we visited the flow was spectacular enough for some decent long exposure photos. The river flow is fairly reliable though so you’d be unlucky to be stuck with the sight of a trickle over a cliff.
Hopetoun Falls is another waterfall with reasonably easy access. There are a bunch of steps down to river and some clambering over rocks will be required if you leave the board walk, but it will be easy for kids. Those with limited mobility will struggle and should probably limit themselves to the view from the upper viewing platform.
Hopetoun Falls is only a couple of minutes from Beech Forest and about 20 km from Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road. The whole region is spoilt for natural beauty. Next time we’ll visit the Redwood Forest but before then, spoiler alert, we’re going to Japan.
Check out Parks Victoria’s Hopetoun Falls website for the latest information on closures and conditions.
Check out our Youtube video below:
Many of the pictures on this page are by Michelle. Essentially the good ones. Michelle retains full copyright and they can not be reproduced without permission. For licensing and using the photos contact Michelle at Michelle Newnan Photography
