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8 must-see waterfalls in Lorne

Credit: Visit Victoria

Jade Raykovski Jade Raykovski
Go chasing waterfalls in Lorne and its surrounding areas.

The high rainfall, verdant rainforests and rocky terrain of the Great Otway National Park have led to an abundance of waterfalls in the region. Lorne is home to some of the best – both well-known and hidden gems – and seeing them is one of the best things to do in the area.

Pack your hiking shoes, a sense of adventure and get ready to experience a level of natural beauty that will knock your socks off at these stunning Lorne waterfalls.

Note: Check the Parks Victoria website for updates before visiting, as conditions can change quickly. Water flow will depend on the season and recent rainfall.

In short

If you’re only stopping by one waterfall in Lorne, make it Erskine Falls. The 30-metre waterfall is the most significant in the area and is framed by a gorgeous rainforest setting.

Upper & Lower Kalimna Falls

Kalimna Falls, Lorne
The enchanting Kalimna Falls is framed by ferns. (Credit: Parks Victoria)

Out of the two waterfalls along the Kalimna Falls Track, the Lower Kalimna Falls are more popular. Although they’re not tall, the cave-like formation behind the falls lets you stand underneath the flow of water, offering a magical perspective from where you can soak up the scenery.

The track to get there starts at Sheoak Falls Picnic Area and follows an old timber tramway (once used for transporting timber to Lorne) through fern gullies and past towering eucalypts. If you have the time, it’s worth continuing to the Upper Falls, where you’ll see the 15-metre waterfall emerge through the trees. The return trip will take about three hours.

Distance from Lorne: 10-minute drive
Parking: Yes, at Sheoak Falls Picnic Area
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: Yes, at Lower Kalimna Falls

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Erskine Falls

Erskine Falls, Lorne from above
The popular Erskine Falls plunges 30 meters into a lush tree-fern gully. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Erskine Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls near Lorne for a reason. Nestled within the Great Otway National Park, along the Erskine River, the 30-metre cascade plunges – or trickles, depending on rainfall – down a rock wall framed by lush greenery. Choose your level: walk about 80 metes, or five minutes, to the upper lookout for a pretty fabulous view of the falls; or take another 200 steps down to the base platform to feel the spray on your face (just make sure you’re prepared for the walk back up!). The path has railing and some benches if you need a break along the way.

In peak season we recommend coming early as the car park is small. There are no picnic tables or toilets (the closest facilities are at the Blanket Leaf picnic area), so once you’ve done the walk there’s no reason to linger – unless you’re feeling adventurous and want to tackle the 7.5 kilometre bushwalk downstream to Lorne beach, which starts at the base of the falls. Carry water, have sturdy footwear, and don’t attempt it if the river is high.

Distance from Lorne: 15-minute drive
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Swimming: No

Straw Falls

Straw Falls is more challenging to get to, and its flow is dependent on recent rainfall – but as it’s close to Erskine Falls, it can be worth the detour. To reach this rocky cascade, you’ll need to follow the Erskine Falls Track from the lower platform at Erskine Falls for about ten minutes (Straw Falls is on a creek that feeds into the river). The narrow path there includes a river crossing, so if it’s too high you’ll have to turn back; and make sure you’re wearing the right footwear, as it can be slippery and muddy. Once you arrive, snap a photo of these lesser-known falls and enjoy the satisfaction of having made it away from the crowds.

Distance from Lorne: 15-minute drive
Parking: Yes, at Erskine Falls
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Swimming: No

Phantom Falls

a couple moment at Phantom Falls, Lorne
The stunning 15-metre Phantom Falls plunges into a deep pool. (Credit: Parks Victoria)

These postcard-pretty falls can be reached by a scenic 3.5-kilometre return hike past an apple orchard, gorgeous bushland and the St George River. To get there, look for the Allenvale Road Carpark on Google Maps. Part of this track crosses private property, so keep an eye out for the wooden signs directing the way (also look out for wildlife – you may spot some kangaroos through the trees!). There is a steep gravel ascent near the end of the track, and steps down to the base, but the effort is worth it when you see the stunning 15-metre waterfall plunging into a deep pool. In warmer weather, consider bringing bathers to take a dip.

Distance from Lorne: 5-minute drive
Parking: Yes, at Allenvale Road Carpark
Difficulty: Moderate
Swimming: Yes

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Henderson Falls

One of our favourite things about this 10-metre cascade is how close you can get to its base and feel the spray bouncing off the moss-coated rocks. We also love the beautiful rainforest walk that’s worth the trip alone, lush with ferns and complete with picturesque wooden bridges. It’s an easy, flat trail from the Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, taking about 1.5 hours return. The track can be quite muddy – wear sturdy shoes and leave the white sneakers at home!

On the way you can take a quick pitstop at Won Wondah Falls, but as you can’t see much from the viewing platform, we don’t rate this as a must-see. Experienced hiker? You might want to check out the Lorne Waterfall Circuit Walk, covering Phantom, Henderson, and Won Wondah Falls, plus The Canyon, an impressive gorge with large boulders.

Distance from Lorne: 10-minute drive
Parking: Yes, at Sheoak Falls Picnic Area
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: No

Cumberland Falls

The phrase “it’s the journey and not the destination" is fitting for Cumberland Falls. While the two cascades flowing into a large pool are picturesque, there is plenty to see and do on the way there, with four river crossings, swimming holes and a rock scramble to finish off. Starting from the Cumberland River Holiday Park, follow the track along the river alongside the dramatic cliff walls of the gorge, and into the forest.

Jebb’s Pool is the first swimming hole you’ll come to, and it’s perfect for a lazy dip on a warm day. All up the scenic 6-kilometre return journey takes about three hours, and is best attempted during dry weather to avoid the slippery rocks.

Distance from Lorne: 10-minute drive
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Swimming: Yes

Sheoak Falls

Sheoak Falls, Lorne
Sheoak Falls drops down a sheer rock face. (Image: Credit Victoria)

If you’re just driving along the Great Ocean Road and looking for a quick pitstop, Sheoak Falls makes a great little break to stretch your legs and still see one of the region’s beautiful waterfalls. It’s a short 15 to 20-minute walk from the small car park through coastal woodland, although there are quite a few steps. Keep your eyes peeled as you might spot an echidna on the way! When you arrive, you’ll be rewarded with a 15-metre fall flowing down a steep rock face surrounded by greenery.

Distance from Lorne: 7-minute drive
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: Yes, but only when water isn’t stagnant.

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Jade Raykovski
Jade Raykovski is a freelance travel writer from Melbourne, Australia whose wanderlust began from immersing herself in the fantasy worlds of her favourite books as a kid. She started off her career as a graphic designer, before making the switch to copywriter, and now – in what you could say is the role she was always destined for – travel writer. Along with Australian Traveller, her bylines include National Geographic, BBC Travel, Escape and NZ Herald. And while she loves writing about home, she'll never pass up the chance to sip a spritz in Italy.
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Inside Geelong’s glow-up from factory town to creative capital

    Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
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    Abandoned mills and forgotten paper plants are finding second lives – and helping redefine a city long underestimated. 

    Just 15 years ago, Federal Mills was a very different place. Once among the most significant industrial sites in Victoria, the historic woollen mill was one of a dozen that operated in Geelong at the industry’s peak in the mid-20th century, helping the city earn its title as ‘wool centre of the world’. But by the 1960s global competition and the rise of synthetic fabrics led to the slow decline of the industry, and Federal Mills finally shuttered its doors in 2001. Within a few years, the abandoned North Geelong grounds had become makeshift pastoral land, with cows and goats grazing among the overgrown grass between the empty red-brick warehouses. It was a forgotten pocket of the city, all but two klicks from the bustle of the CBD.  

    Geelong cellar door wine bar
    Geelong has shed its industrial identity to become an innovative urban hub with reimagined heritage spaces. (Image: Ash Hughes)

    Federal Mills: from forgotten factory to creative precinct 

    Today, the century-old complex stands reborn. The distinctive sawtooth-roof buildings have been sensitively restored. An old silo is splashed with a bright floral mural, landscapers have transformed the grounds, and the precinct is once again alive with activity. More than 1000 people work across 50-plus businesses here. It’s so busy, in fact, that on a sunny Thursday morning in the thick of winter, it’s hard to find a car park. The high ceilings, open-plan design, and large multi-paned windows – revolutionary features for factories of their time – have again become a drawcard.  

    Paddock Bakery andPatisserie
    Paddock Bakery and Patisserie is housed within the historic wool factory. (Image: Gallant Lee)

    At Paddock, one of the precinct’s newer tenants, weaving looms and dye vats have been replaced by a wood-fired brick oven and heavy-duty mixers. Open since April 2024, the bakery looks right at home here; the building’s industrial shell is softened by ivy climbing its steel frames, and sunlight streams through the tall windows. Outside, among the white cedar trees, families at picnic benches linger over dippy eggs and bagels, while white-collar workers pass in and out, single-origin coffee and crème brûlée doughnuts in hand. 

    Geelong: Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design 

    Paddock Bakery
    Paddock Bakery can be found at Federal Mills. (Image: Gallant Lee)

    “A lot of people are now seeing the merit of investing in Geelong,” says Paul Traynor, the head of Hamilton Hospitality Group, which redeveloped Federal Mills. A city once shunned as Sleepy Hollow, and spurned for its industrial, working-class roots and ‘rust belt’ image, Geelong has long since reclaimed its ‘Pivot City’ title, having reinvented itself as an affordable, lifestyle-driven satellite city, and a post-COVID migration hotspot.  

    And the numbers stand testament to the change. In March 2025, and for the first time in its history, Greater Geelong became Australia’s most popular regional town for internal migration, overtaking Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Current forecasts suggest Geelong will continue to outpace many other Australian cities and towns, with jobs growing at double the rate of the population.

    Tourism is booming, too. The 2023-24 financial year was Geelong and The Bellarine region’s busiest on record, with 6.4 million visitors making it one of the fastest-growing destinations in the country. It’s not hard to see why: beyond the city’s prime positioning at the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road, Geelong’s tenacity and cultural ambition stands out.  

    As Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong is swiftly shaking off its industrial past to become a model for urban renewal, innovation, sustainability and creative communities. The signs are everywhere, from the revitalisation of the city’s waterfront, and the landmark design of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and Geelong Arts Centre, to the growing network of local designers, architects and artists, and the burgeoning roster of festivals and events. That’s not even mentioning the adaptive reuse of storied old industrial buildings – from Federal Mills, to Little Creatures’ brewery ‘village’ housed within a 1920s textile mill – or the city’s flourishing food and wine scene.  

    The rise of a food and wine destination  

    boiler house
    Restaurant 1915 is housed within a restored former boiler house. (Image: Harry Pope/Two Palms)

    Traynor credits now-closed local restaurant Igni, which opened in 2016, as the turning point for Geelong’s hospo industry. “[Aaron Turner, Igni’s chef-patron] was probably the first guy, with all due respect, to raise the bar food-wise for Geelong,” he says. “People now treat it really seriously, and there’s clearly a market for it.” While Igni is gone, Turner now helms a string of other notable Geelong venues, including The Hot Chicken Project and Tacos y Liquor, all within the buzzy, street art-speckled laneways of the CBD’s Little Malop Street Precinct. Many others have also popped up in Igni’s wake, including Federal Mills’ own restaurant, 1915. Housed within the cavernous boiler house, 1915’s interior is dramatic: soaring, vaulted ceilings with timber beams, exposed brick, a huge arched window. The share plates echo the space’s bold character, playing with contrast and texture, with dishes such as a compressed watermelon tataki, the sweet, juicy squares tempered by salty strands of fried leeks, and charred, smoky snow peas dusted with saganaki on a nutty bed of romesco. 

    Woolstore
    The Woolstore is a new restaurant and bar housed within a century-old warehouse. (Image: Amy Carlon)

     The Woolstore, one of The Hamilton Group’s most recent hospo projects, opened in February. It occupies a century-old riverside warehouse and exudes a more sultry, fine dining ambience. Much like Federal Mills, the blueprint was to preserve the original brickwork, tallowwood flooring and nods to the building’s former life. That same careful consideration extends to the well-versed, affable waitstaff as well as the kitchen. Head chef Eli Grubb is turning out an eclectic mix of ambitious and indulgent mod Oz dishes that deliver: strikingly tender skewers of chicken tsukune, infused with hints of smoke from the parrilla grill, and glazed with a moreish, sweet gochujang ‘jam’; nduja arancini fragrant with hints of aniseed and the earthy lick of sunny saffron aioli; and golden squares of potato pavé, adorned with tiny turrets of crème fraîche, crisp-fried saltbush leaves, and Avruga caviar, to name but a few stand-out dishes.  

    Woolstore menu
    Woolstore’s menu is designed for sharing.

    Breathing new life into historic spaces  

    On the city’s fringe, hidden down a winding side road with little fanfare, lies a long-dormant site that’s being gently revived. Built from locally quarried bluestone and brick, and dating back to the 1870s, the complex of original tin-roofed mill buildings is lush with greenery and backs onto the Barwon River and Buckley Falls; the audible rush of water provides a soothing soundtrack. Fyansford Paper Mill is one of few complexes of its time to survive intact. It feels steeped in history and spellbindingly rustic.  

    “We were looking for an old industrial place that had some charm and romance to it,” explains Sam Vogel, the owner, director and winemaker at Provenance Wines which moved here in 2018. When he first viewed the building with his former co-owner, it was in such a state of disrepair that the tradie tenant occupying the space had built a shed within it to escape the leaking roof and freezing winter temperatures. “To say it was run down would be an understatement,” he notes. “There was ivy growing through the place; the windows were all smashed. It was a classic Grand Designs project.” 

    Provenance Wines
    Provenance Wines moved to Fyansford Paper Mill in 2018. (Image: Cameron Murray Photography)

    The team has since invested more than a million dollars into their new home. Where paper processing machinery once sat, wine barrels are now stacked. Vaulted cathedral ceilings are strung with festoon lights, and hidden in plain sight lies a shadowy mural by local street artist de rigueur Rone – one of only three permanent works by the artist.

    While the award-winning, cool-climate pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay naturally remain a key draw at Provenance, the winery’s restaurant is a destination in itself. Impressed already by whipsmart service, I devour one of the most cleverly curated and faultlessly executed degustations I’ve had in some time. It’s all prepared in a kitchen that is proudly zero-waste, and committed to providing seasonal, ethical and locally sourced meat and produce under head chef Nate McIver. Think free-range venison served rare with a syrupy red wine jus and a half-moon of neon-orange kosho, shokupan with a deeply savoury duck fat jus (a modern Japanese take on bread and drippings), and a golden potato cake adorned with a colourful confetti of dehydrated nasturtiums and tomato powder, and planted atop a sea urchin emulsion.  

    handcrafted pieces
    Bell’s handcrafted functional pieces on display.

    The complex is home to a coterie of independent businesses, including a gallery, a jeweller, and its latest tenant, ceramicist Elizabeth Bell, drawn here by the building’s “soul”. “There’s so much potential for these buildings to have new life breathed into them,” says Bell, whose studio is housed within the old pump room. “Even people in Geelong don’t know we’re here,” she says. “It’s definitely a destination, but I like that. It has a really calming atmosphere.”  

    A Melbourne transplant, Bell now feels at home in Geelong, which offers something Melbourne didn’t. “If this business was in Melbourne I don’t think it would’ve been as successful,” she notes. “It’s very collaborative in Geelong, and I don’t think you get that as much in Melbourne; you’re a bit more in it for yourself. Here it’s about community over competition.”  

    Elizabeth Bell
    Ceramicist Elizabeth Bell has a store in Fyansford Paper Mill.