Great Otway National Park, National park in Victoria, Australia
Great Otway National Park is a protected area in Victoria, Australia, covering over 103,000 hectares (400 square miles) of temperate rainforest, eucalyptus woodlands, sandy beaches, and rocky coastal sections along the Southern Ocean. The park stretches from the coast inland, where creeks run through forested gullies and walking trails wind through thick canopy to small waterfalls and lookout points.
The area became a formal national park in 2005 when several existing reserves merged into one connected conservation zone. Before European settlement, the Gadubanud and Gulidjan people had lived in and used this landscape for thousands of years.
Locals come here to hike along less-visited coastal sections or watch for koalas and tree ferns in the temperate rainforests. Many visitors stop at smaller waterfalls like Triplet Falls, where short forest walks connect with viewing platforms.
The park offers several camping grounds, including Johanna, Aire River, and Blanket Bay, accessible from towns like Apollo Bay, Forrest, and Princetown. Walking trails range from short strolls under the rainforest canopy to longer coastal hikes along steep cliffs and beaches.
A specific glow worm species, Arachnocampa otwayensis, lives only here and creates natural light displays at night along stream banks and forest paths. These tiny larvae hang sticky threads from rocks and embankments, attracting insects with their bluish glow.
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