Trip Overview

It is surely about time an accommodated trip was made to one of Victoria’s most beautiful regions; the Otways. Sensational hiking, the most beautiful coast line in Australia, wonderful bars and restaurants and of course, your friends, both old and new.

You can join for one walk, two or three and make a long weekend of it. We’ve planned day walks for Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th and, if you are able to take the day off on Monday 21st, you can stay for the day walk on Monday.

Accommodation

This trip is a little different to most YHA Bushwalking trips, in that you need to book and pay for your own accommodation.

You can book accommodation wherever you like. Lorne has some budget caravan parks, backpacker hostels and a wide selection of motels, hotels and AirBnB’s. We can put you in touch with others if you wish to share, but YHA Bushwalking won’t organize this. Regardless, if you indicate you would like to share, it is rather bad form if you pull out and don’t pay your fellow hikers for your share of the booking; so please check your schedule carefully.

Itinerary and Walk Descriptions

Friday, 18 October 2024: Arrive in Lorne

Saturday, 19 October: Erskine Falls

23 kilometres // 8 hours // Hard

This Erskine Falls Circuit hike takes in the well-known Erskine Falls in addition to a few other falls in the area. It is a fairly long hike but very enjoyable and well worth doing. The scenic value is high.

We’ll take in Erskine Falls, Phantom Falls, Cora Lyn Cascades, Erskine Falls, Straw and Splitter Falls.

There are river crossings – expect to get wet feet! Best to bring sandals for the crossings, unless you wish to brave them with bare feet or just charge across in your boots.

Sunday, 20 October: Airey’s Inlet to Lorne

16 kilometres // 5 hours // Medium

This walk will commence from Airey’s Inlet. Expect to spend some time in Airey’s Inlet while your leader partakes in a morning coffee and a pastry (for which, if you are so inclined, you may come to watch).

Some sections are apparently a bit dodgy during high tide. I will check the tide forecasts. Someone will need to drive the drivers back to pick up their cars at the end of the day.

The walk follows the beaches beach and rock shelf and sees a variety of environments from longs sandy stretches to rock pools and spots you need to do some rock hopping. A wide variety of wildlife can be seen along the trail with many seabirds living in the area. Highlights of the walk: – Cathedral Rocks – Memorial Arch.

This is a through walk, so we’ll need to organise car shuffles.

Monday, 21 July: Kalimna Falls and Cumberland River or Tiger Trail

Option 1 – Kalimna Falls

9 kilometres // 3 hours // Hard

Starting from Sheoke Picnic Area, it covers two of the must-do sights in the area. It is apparently well marked and easy to complete.

Option 2 –Tiger Rail Trail

We can complete the nice and easy Tiger Rail Trail, roughly a 50 minute drive from Lorne. It is 4.5 kilometres, but we have to return the way we go, which makes it a round trip of 9 kilometres along an old railway line. This would require some driving, so you’d pick it up on the way home.

Transport

Transport to and from Lorne is by car or public transport. Please indicate your transport requirements and preferences on the booking request form when you book in.

If you don’t have a car, we can’t guarantee to provide you with a lift – this will depend on available drivers and their locations. However, Lorne is relatively well serviced by public transport; please make your own enquiries if this option appeals.

Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please discuss the preferred method of payment with your driver.

Booking

Booking is required for this trip. Please indicate what similar walks you have done recently (i.e. in the past few months) to give the leader confidence that you are capable of doing this one. Refer to Walking Grades which, in conjunction with the walk description, will help you assess whether you have the required walking fitness and experience to do this walk.

The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the trip, or not, via email.  The leader will provide details of where and when to meet.

By booking into this event you acknowledge that you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct.

Booking Fee:
Members: free.     Non-members: $12.

Payment:
To avoid handling cash, non-members are required to pre-pay their booking fee.
You can pay by Paypal. If you are not a Paypal member, you can use Paypal to pay by credit or debit card.

Cancellation:
If you need to cancel, please advise the leader as soon as possible, so that someone else has the opportunity.
There will be no refunds, so please do not book unless you are fully committed to walking.

What to Bring

• All the equipment, clothing, food and water you will need for the walks and overnight stays (refer Trip details above).

• To help manage the Covid risk, the following may be useful: Hand Sanitiser, Face Mask(s), RAT test(s).

Refer to our Gear Checklist page for more details, or discuss with the leader.  If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.

Safety and Ambulance Insurance

We strongly recommend that you have Ambulance cover. If conditions are hazardous, the walk may be cancelled. If any doubts at all, check your emails the night before and the morning of the event. For more details refer to: Joining a walk and your safety

If you are Covid-19 positive, have any Covid-19 symptoms or are a contact of someone with Covid-19, please follow the instructions in the Coronavirus Victoria website.

Still have questions?

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Weekend and extended walks.

Members who wish to submit photos for social media or Yeti should refer to Member Resources.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.