This extended Otways bushwalk can be done in a day from Melbourne, which is what I did – being a long weekend there was no affordable accommodation anywhere near Lorne! The loop I’m doing in the Great Otway National Park (also, possibly known as the Lorne Waterfalls Circuit**) combines several trails, which can be done as individual bushwalks – or extended into an even longer walk.
** The walk as described here has been called the Lorne Waterfalls Circuit – but so has a longer version of this walk that passes an additional three waterfalls. The shorter Phantom Falls via The Canyon loop (which is part of this extended loop) is also called the Lorne Waterfalls Circuit.
Phantom Falls via The Canyon
The first leg of the Lorne waterfalls circuit starts from the Allenvale Mill carpark, and goes to Phantom Falls – this can also be done as a separate 8.7km loop.
The signposted trail initially crosses an apple orchard which is part of the Allenvale Cottages proprty, before crossing the St George River via a small bridge.
It’s pleasant walking along the track, which follows the St George River upstream under towering eucalypt trees.
I’m soon at Phantom Falls, a relatively popular destination and swimming spot. The trail goes to a vantage point at the top of the falls…
…with a steep track from the lookout leading down a set of steps to the base of the falls.
The waterfall is far more impressive from the base, as it drops about 15m into a deep pool.
From Phantom Falls, I head towards The Canyon – and a couple more waterfalls. For the first kilometre the route is on a wide firetrail.
It then turns onto a narrow bushwalking track, which is one of the most picturesque sections of the entire loop. (It’s not just me that says that… The Bushwalking Blog also says “The Canyon (aka. Lorne Waterfalls Circuit) is one of the nicest spots I’ve ever visited in the Great Otway National Park”)
I’m soon in The Canyon, a slightly grandiose term to describe where the trail squeezes through a slot between large boulders and passes under eight-metres high cliffs.
While The Canyon itself is hardly spectacular, the fern-lined trail traverses a lush and very picturesque section of rainforest.
A short detour to the second waterfall follows a tributary of St George River, through more sense rainforest.
Henderson Falls is soon in view, the water cascading over multiple tiers in a tranquil, grotto-like setting. And there’s no-one else around, unlike the much busier Phantom Falls.
I re-trace my steps a short distance before continuing along the loop, soon reaching a viewing platform over Won Wondah Falls. The term “viewing platform” is a slight misnomer – not so much the platform, which does exist, but the view, which doesn’t. As the Chasing Waterfalls blog puts it: “If you can’t find any great images of a waterfall, chances are it’s because there’s no access to their base, or the viewing platform is obstructed. In the case of Won Wondah Falls, both of these applied.”
From Won Wondah Falls, it’s only about 800m to Allenvale Road (and if you’re doing the shorter 8.7km Phantom Falls and Canyon loop, another 1.5km to the Allenvale Mill carpark along the unsealed Allenvale Road).
Kalimna Falls Loop
Instead of returning to my starting poing, I continue to the car-accessible Sheoak Picnic Ground. This is the starting point for a number of bushwalks – including the 9.4km Lower and Upper Kalimna Falls Loop which I’m doing next.
The bushwalking track follows Sheoak Creek, ascending gently towards the first of the two waterfalls.
It’s pleasant walking through a mix of semi-rainforest and towering eucalypt trees.
It’s about 2.9km from the Sheoak Picnic Area to Lower Kalimna Falls, which is reached by a very short detour off the main loop.
While the waterfall itself is not particularly impressive, it is unique in that you can walk behind the falls.
From Lower Kalimna Falls, it’s only about 0.5km to the junction with a trail that goes up to the Upper Kalimna Falls.
This section of the trail is not in the best condition, and is a bit slow-going with lots of fallen trees and obstructions until you reach the short boardwalk just before the waterfall.
Upper Kalimna Falls is regarded by many people as the less impressive of the two waterfalls, but I disagree… while not offering the novelty of walking behind the falls, it’s about on par with the Lower Kalimna Falls – with the added benefit that it’s less-visited.
After re-tracing my steps back to the main trail, I continue about 0.7km to the Garvey Track.
The Garvey Track follows the route of an old timber tramway used for transporting timber to Lorne Pier from the 1890s-1920s, so it’s very easy walking with gentle gradients.
The early mills were driven by waterpower but eventually they were mostly steam driven. John Sharp & Sons was the last company to use one of the old tramlines to extract timber from their SheOak River mill near the Lower Kalimna Falls and their lease expired in 1935. A roadway connected the A.C.A mill to the Deans Marsh Rd. Timber lorries transported sawn timber to either Deans Marsh Railway Station or directly to construction sites at Lorne. By the 1930’s it was illegal for road transport to operate in direct competition with the government owned railways, so millers were forced to deliver their timber to railway stations for long distance transportation.
Lorne Historical Society
The Garvey Track descends to the Sheoak Picnic Area, which completes the Kalimna Falls Loop; from here I still need get back to my car at the Allenvale Road carpark…
Nature Loop
Rather then continuing down the Garvey Track, I follow part of theshort but scenic Nature Loop from the Sheoak Picnic Area.
The Nature Trail passes through tall arching tree ferns (both Soft and Rough Tree Ferns) and towering Manna Gums.
The track meanders through ferny glades, tall Manna Gums and a dense understorey of native vegetation. The track was constructed in 1993 with the help of students and staff at the then named Ballarat College of Advanced Education. Interpretative signs along the track give simple explanations regarding the flora, fauna and general environment.
Friends of Eastern Otways
It crosses Sheoak Creek on timber bridge, before re-joining the Garvey Track just before Allenvale Road.
The last 1.5km of my extended Otways waterfall walk is along Allenvale Road, back to my car at the Allenvale Mill Carpark.
Although the loop does involve a bit of firetrail and road-walking, it’s been a most enjoyable bushwalk; you could do these as two separate loops (both around 9km in length), and with a car shuffle you could also avoid the last bit of walking along Allenvale Road.
Getting to the Lorne Waterfalls Circuit
You could start the Lorne Waterfalls Circuit in the middle of the “figure 8” loop, at the Sheoak Picnic Area; I started at the Allenvale Mill Carpark, which is along Allenvale Road about 2.5km (5min drive) from Lorne and the Great Ocean Road. It’s a 140km (2 hour drive) from Melbourne, but on non-holiday weekend there are lots of nearby accommodation options.
More information
- Parks Victoria – Sheoak Picnic Area to Phantom Falls / Kalimna Falls Walk
- Lorne Historical Society – Lorne Timber Industry
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