The best walks and hikes in Great Otway National Park

Surf Coast Walk is a long coastal trail stretching roughly 44 kilometres from Torquay to Aireys Inlet, connecting beaches, clifftops, and coastal heathland along the Great Ocean Road. This well-marked path passes Bells Beach and Point Addis Marine National Park, with expansive ocean views and access to a series of smaller bays and lookouts. It's ideal for walking in sections, or as a multi-day route, mixing natural scenery with plenty of cultural and geological points of interest along the way, all shaped by the beautiful Southern Ocean.

Point Addis Marine National Park covers 4,600 hectares, including a 10-kilometre rugged section of coastline between Torquay and Anglesea, known for its ochre-coloured cliffs, sandy beaches, and beautiful panoramic ocean views. The area protects diverse marine habitats and is also a popular spot for surfing, walking, and wildlife observation, with coastal trails tracing the clifftops above the Southern Ocean. Several access points lead down to beaches surrounded by picturesque geology, where changing tides reveal rock platforms that add to the park’s stunning coastal landscape.

Bells Beach is a famous surf beach on the Great Ocean Road near Torquay, known for its powerful swells and sweeping cliffs overlooking the Southern Ocean. It's one of Australia’s most celebrated surfing spots and hosts the long-running Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach each year, attracting top international surfers. To access the beach, there is a set of steps descending from the clifftop, with fantastic views over a wide arc of coastline shaped by consistent surf and coastal erosion.

Cape Otway Lightstation, built in 1848, is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia, perched atop rugged cliffs where the Bass Strait meets the Southern Ocean along the Great Ocean Road. The surrounding heritage precinct includes the lighthouse, keeper’s cottages, and a telegraph station, as well as walking trails and plenty of native wildlife that call this area home.

Crayfish Bay is a secluded cove with a narrow sandy beach surrounded by rocky platforms and lush coastal vegetation. Accessed via a short, steep track from the Great Ocean Walk, the bay is an ideal quiet spot to take in coastal views, explore rock pools, and enjoy a sense of remoteness.

Great Ocean Walk is a long-distance coastal trail stretching approximately 110 kilometres from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. The route weaves through a mix of cliff tops, remote beaches, coastal forests, and heathland, with constantly changing views across the Southern Ocean. It combines well-marked paths with sections of sand and uneven terrain, offering plenty to see along the way, including sea stacks, river estuaries, and abundant wildlife. This segment between Blanket Bay and Cape Otway climbs away from the coast into taller forest, passing through shaded gullies and sections of dense vegetation that feel more enclosed and remote. As you approach the cape, the landscape opens to beautiful ocean views, especially near the historic Cape Otway Lightstation.

Phantom Falls is one of the most impressive on the circuit, where the St George River drops around 15 metres over a rocky cliff. The side track leads down to the base where the waterfall plunges into a deep pool surrounded by ferns and forest. The secluded setting and clear water make it a memorable stop along the walk.

The Canyon entrance marks the spot where the walking track begins descending toward the gorge carved by the St George River. From here, you can look into the steep valley where the creek cuts through the forest below. It is a fantastic place to slow down and explore before continuing down toward the rocky canyon.