About the region

The Great Otway National Park is located 200km southwest of Melbourne and forms the playground for our Great Ocean Walks. Here's an introduction to one of our favourite parts of the world.

Climate in the Otways

Victoria enjoys a temperate climate and reliable rainfall with four distinct seasons.  Here is a guide to the hottest and coolest.

Summer:  the average maximum temperature in south-west Victoria across January and February is 25 degrees celsius.  Overnight temperatures vary from 8 - 15 degrees celsius.

Winter:  June to August are the coldest months in Victoria, with an average maximum temperatures of between 8 and 13 degrees celsius. 

As with all coastal walking, the weather can be unpredictable at all times of the year.  Being cooler makes the walking no less enjoyable.  In fact, we find that some of the wildest days lend themselves to walking this rugged coastline - it gives the opportunity to appreciate how a stretch became known as the "Shipwreck Coast". 

The use of a weather proof jacket is included for all our guests, and we require walkers to bring thermal underwear along at all times of the year, just in case!

About the Otways

Set against a dense rainforest backdrop the Otway National Park takes in some of Victoria's most spectacular unspoiled landscapes.  Rich with wildlife and human history, the Park protects over 60 threatened species and makes a high contribution to the conservation of aniamsl and eco systems in Victoria. 

The Otways were formed 150 million years ago when the great southern landmass known as Gondwana began to break up.  Then, the most abundant vegetation types were ferns, mosses and liverworts. 

The Katabanut (local indigenous people) lived within the coastal and forest areas using the landscape to their advantage.  They hunted the coastal woodlands with fire, dingos and spears.  Their spiritual and physical connections are still celebrated through descendants.  Shell middens, oven mounds and artefact scatters are indicators of an earlier presence. 

The steep slopes and tall forests of the Otways were a barrier to European settlement, but settlers moved in from around 1870.  Much land was cleared, but extensive forest areas were left untouched.

Fire brings the bush back to life

Bushfires are part of the land management program implemented today by Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.  Fire releases nutrients to the soil and creates rich seedbeds for newly dropped seed.  The first rains after fire bring the landscape alive, and a cycle of regrowth and maturation begins.

Cape Otway Lightstation

Originally named Cape Albany Otway, this protruding cliff edge is Victoria's most southerly tip.  Perched on the end is the Cape Otway Lightstation, built in 1848 as a warning beacon for ships entering Bass Strait.  A tour of the historic Lightstation precinct is included on our both our walks in the Otways, while our Great Ocean Sojourn includes a gourmet dinner of local produce and seafood in the lightstation grounds, with the light house flood lit as the sun sets.

Read more about our partner, the Cape Otway Lightstation online.

A diversity of habitats

Much of the land was cleared by early settlers, but extensive forest still remains.  The vegetation structures in the Otway National Park provide a diversity that contributes to the uniqueness of the area. Climate, landform abd soils, combined with clearing, logging and manipulation of fire, has resulted in a range of vegetation communities.  The Park is an important reserve for this mosaic of vegetation types containing the western most occurrences of several plant species.

Cool temperate rainforest & Wet sclerophyll forest

Our cool temperate rainforest bear floralistic resemblence with the forests of Tasmania.  The diversity of vegetation provides many habitats for a wide variety of animal species to thrive on.  There are three sub communities found in the Park:  Myrtle Beech/Blackwood, Austral Filmy fern and Leathery Shield fern.

There are five sub communities of wet sclerophyll forest including the Mountain Ash, Messmate, Manna Gum, Mountain Grey Gum and Blue Gum which are all found between Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill. 

Wildlife watching

These diverse communities are home to many species of fauna.  Thirty six species of native mammals including one marine species (Australian Fur Seal) are known to occur in the Park.  Swamp wallabies, Koalas, Ring Tailed Possums and Grey Kangaroos are all common.  A further 13 marine mammal species have been recorded along the coast or in adjacent waters.  At night the sound of the Yellow bellied glider can sometimes be heard in forest between Shelly Beach and Blanket Bay.  Our Otway walks all include a guided night walk that may provide the opportunity to see the gliders in flight. 

Five unique threatened mammals occur in the Park, including the Spot-Tailed Quoll, Smoky mouse, Swamp Antechinus, Broad-toothed Rate and Common Bent-wing Bat.  

The bird species the Hooded Plover is also under particular threat, as it breeds along the Park's beaches and is vulnerable to disturbances by dogs, walkers and horse riders.

Ten species of skinks occur but the diversity of other reptiles is low.  The Leathery Turtle, a threatened species in Victoria, is a rare visitor to the Park's coastlines.  Nine species of amphibians have been recorded, but most are largely confined to the coastal strip.

- Habitat and wildlife information courtesy of Parks Victoria

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