Last Visited: 18/04/2009
Length (km): 3 km
Time (hrs/min): 1 hour
Grade: Easy
Return / Circuit / One-Way / Partial Circuit: Return
Region: South-West Victoria
Park: Great Otway National Park
Closest Town: Apollo Bay (34 km)
Maximum Elevation: Unknown
Total Ascent: Unknown
Further Details / Source(s): I found out about this walk on the Visit Victoria website. General information on the area is also available at ParkWeb.
Car Access: From Skenes Creek, head north on the Skenes Creek-Forest Road (I didn’t see a sign indicating this – only one pointing to Colac and Geelong). When you come to the town of Barramunga there will be a sign pointing left to the Stevensons Falls Camping Area (in 300 metres). There is no sign indicating this at the actual turn-off but the road is called Upper Gellibrand Road. Follow this dirt road for approximately 7 km and you will come to the camping area where at a T-intersection, there will be a sign pointing right to the walking track. Follow the road to the right until you reach the end of the camping area and park here, where there is signs pointing to the walking track.
When we approached the carpark we realised that this walk was going to be the complete opposite of the Sabine Falls walk (which we had done earlier in the day). The hills surrounding the camping ground are pine plantations that have been recently harvested. The majority of the area has been replanted so it’s covered with only weeds and young pine tree’s layed out in perfect rows. I found this a fairly depressing place to be and we nearly decided against doing this walk for this reason but we had seen a picture of the waterfall, so we decided it would be worth a visit.
Walk alongside the Gellibrand River for approximately 10 minutes from the carpark (watching out for the blackberries!). A short section of this path is through a nice fern-gully but even here weeds are taking over and other than this small area, the walk is not all that nice. The track will intersect at this point with two gravel roads. Follow the sign pointing to the “Day Visitor Area”. You may choose to walk on the gravel road but there is also a walking track which runs alongside the road.
You will soon find yourself at another picnic area where there is a bridge crossing the Gellibrand River. Cross the river and follow the track for another 10 minutes until you reach the falls. As you draw closer to the falls, the surroundings do become nicer but weeds are still choking much of the vegetation. However, the falls will not dissapoint. They are visible for the last 100 metres of the walk but only appear more amazing as you approach the viewing platform at the end of the track.
This definitely isn’t a walk I would otherwise recommend but the falls make it worthwhile. I’ve read on other websites that in dry-weather periods, the picnic ground (from where the falls are only a 10 minute walk) can be accessed by car. If you want to try this, turn left (rather than right) at the T-intersection when entering the camping ground. However, I haven’t tried this so I can’t provide any guarantee that you will be able to cross the river in your car.
There was some very interesting bird-life along the way but the only real attraction to this spot is the waterfall itself. If you like the looks of my picture (below) and have some time to spare whilst in the area, you should go and have a look!
This gives an idea of the scenery at the beginning of the walk
One of the nicer parts of the track
Have you visited the Stevensons Falls? If you have any stories, updates or corrections, please let us know by commenting below.
Exploring the Great Ocean Road?
You won’t see the best sights from your car. Get the definitive guidebook, featuring the 25 best walks in the area with detailed instructions and maps.
It’s a lot nicer now the trees are being left alone. Still some Mountain Ash there too. Blackberries still a problem along the river but if the water levels are low you can stay clear of them easily. Not a bushwalking mecca but a lovely waterfall. Lake Elizabeth has some nice tracks for walking, closer to the town of Forrest. West Barwon Dam is nice too, big car park with barbeque and Toilet.
Lovely part of the world.
Thanks for letting us know, Gary! That’s awesome to hear. I’ll have to revisit.
Cheers
Neil
Agreed you should revisit, this is a top location, its hard to get better all round factors for “Family Camping” in the otways and its amenities have been upgraded to accomadate the increase because its got better forestry wise not worse, the increase of motorvehicle fumes tho is depressing none the less a growing factor of Many of our best “camping” spots, it is constantly maintained better than allot of places in Australia from my experience its worth a look none the less,
its in no way a hiking track in the remote wilderness either it has a trail to the falls from the camp ground “not a hike at all”, if you want that- allen vale mill behind lorne, provides extensive section of walks that join to each other and provide an experience of most the otways waterfalls and canyons, its not remote by anymeans” but if you get lost follow a river and you find the Great Ocean Rd, infomation Centres are the key here, you may find it hard discoverying half the stuff without the right map and a compass, but if your a wanderer, walk for ten minutes here and your in a different world that encourages you take time to observe some hidden beauties and forget the negatives and see it for what it is in the now,
If your a musician, random singer or like interesting echos, sections of the track provide a perfect acoustic environment as you hit the bottom of the rocky vallies, bringing an instrument of any kind is advised, lots of the tracks have hidden waterfalls with caves behind, quiet interesting to play in a cave with a waterfall infront of you, unique rock pools, that are relativly easy to access with minimal weeds in the way, if your an experienced hiker it should be easy to avoid the weeds that are “sprayed” by the way, i cant eat half as much as 5 years ago while im hiking so the irratication program must be taking effect to some degree,
“””i do advise to not eat anything you dont understand tho””” just dont do it!!!!!
Summer, Autumn generally allows for you to walk up the river bed in most sections if the brush is to much for you to get threw, and its allot cooler,
Keep your ears open and allert for the sound of waterfalls, there are many to impress that arnt spoken about, and quiet easy to find, some being minutes from the track and better than the end result of the main track, please take any rubbish with you as we want to preserve the wild life that keeps whats left of this land alive so the population increase has a partial escape that we are rapidly loosing, look for animal tracks and use them to help Minimise negative effects of foot traffic, quiet often it will lead you to the spot you want anyway
The last 5 years have seen a drastic change in the Camping options in the otways, now is the time! In 10 years these beauties will be full of exhast fumes as is Stevensons falls in summer, tho i advise you try it in all the seasons and diversify your opinion, winter offers some spectacular waterfalls as the river levels rise, and the forest is amplified 10 fold by new bright green growth,
Happy hiking stay safe think before you act… ?
We love this place it’s one of our favourite camping spots this guy doesn’t know what he’s on about. We love trailbike riding and 4wdriving in area and no we aren’t ‘bogans’ that leave a mess everywhere, we are middle aged with children. That does happen at a lot of camp sites anywhere, in busy times which is unfortunate but we always try to clean up others mess. Quiet at night and beautiful spot, don’t listen to the negativity. Cheers
Hi Roger,
Apologies for my generalisation. However, my blog posts are here to review the walks I do from my perspective. My perspective is that I prefer not to go walking where there is lots of rubbish and engine noise. My intended audience are people who like bushwalking, as opposed to people who prefer trailbike riding and 4WDing. I’m sure this is a great spot for people with that preference. Great to hear you clean up after people.
Cheers
Neil
hey, i was just wondering can you catch a bus near this place and is it open now?
Hey Tijana,
Sorry about the delayed response. It’s probably worth giving Lorne Visitor Information a call on (03) 5289 1152 to ask about that. I’m really not sure.
Cheers
Neil
g’day all can someone let me know if its ok to camp with my dog at Stevenson falls thanks joanne
Hi Joanne,
Found this on the Park Note – “Dogs must be on a lead and under direct control at all times at Stevensons Falls Camping Area”
Cheers
Neil
check on the website parks victoria for camping with dogs. I think you can, but just check that first since the rangers are out over the summer season.
Thanks Karen!
I was wondering if stevensons falls is open now?
Hi Mark,
I couldn’t tell you for sure, sorry. You’d be best to call Parks Victoria on 03 8627 4700.
Cheers
Neil
Hi Ash,
Thanks for the comments. Between the three of us, I think we've made it clear that the area has different appeal for different people so that is a definite help to other readers. I never claimed by writing a blog that I was any kind of authority on any subject but I'm merely giving my opinions. I think it's fantastic that the blog is attracting a range of people to share their thoughts.
All the best,
Neil
Hi,
I have been camping at Stevensons every Summer for the past 10 years and until about 4 or so years ago, it was absolutely gorgeous, but then they chopped down a lot of the trees and it lost some appeal. However, I just thought I would clarify for you, as you drive into the camp grounds, there is a bridge off to your left, this is the bridge that will enable you to drive to the pinic area and walk from there. Also, I thought I should also clarify that you are both correct. At certain times of the year (especially around New Years Eve and the Easter holidays) the camping ground becomes very populated (with its fair share of mess-making bogans – Stevenson's is known to certain groups for its huge stock of magic mushrooms, but don't let that ruin it for you, as I said I have been camping there every year for 10 years and never once had any trouble with anyone, or seen anyone else fight/have trouble etc, everybodys happy-go-lucky). If you go a few weeks after New Years, you will find it is often isolated, with only 1 or 2 other campers, and at these times, I can honestly say there is no other place I'd rather be.
Hope this helps,
Cheers Ash 😉
dont listen to any of the negatives this toss has to say, i have camped here 20 times and yes you are amoungst pine plantation, but its the falls itself and the feeling of isolation as there isnt a noise to be heard which makes this place so good to camp, it is family friendly as there is plenty of space, just watch your uncovered food during the night, as the roos will make use of that. he said this is definatly a walk he wouldnt recommend but then says if you got time to go see the falls its worthwhile!!!! ummmm, ok. this is one of my favourite camping places, no shops, no cars, friendly campers and a nice stream running right through the campsite. highly recommended
Ummm 'this toss' thanks you for your comments… Though I hardly see it as constructive to abuse me here under the veil of anonymity.
To clarify, I was saying that the waterfall is worth visiting IF you're just looking for a waterfall to visit BUT if you're looking for a nice bushwalk, this isn't highly recommended. I think anyone who has been bushwalking in the area would agree that there are many nicer places to go for a bushwalk.
I wasn't reviewing the campsite but had I been, I personally wouldn't have given it a great review as I'm not a fan of campsites frequented by bogans with trail bikes and guns. The aforementioned campers also have a tendency to leave their rubbish lying around everywhere and the "nice stream" was full of plastic bags and food scraps when I visited. Not sure what you mean about "no cars" because when I visited, you could drive right in.
I'm actually starting to think you're talking about a different campsite because the more I read your comment, the more un-true things I notice. "There isnt a noise to be heard" might have been true when I was there, if it weren't for the bulldozers in the plantation and the trailbikes buzzing around. What the?