July 2020 - Cape Otway / Otways

25th -26th July 2020

$150 for 1 night 

2 adults, 2 children 

Standard 2 Bedroom cabin 

 

We went down to the Otways for a little getaway for 1 night. Bimbi Park is a bush caravan park in Cape Otway offering a variety of accommodation types, mini golf, a playground, rope swings, bike hire & Horse rides. It was very quiet while we were there due to the Covid19 pandemic.

Our first stop along the way was at Little Aire Falls

Little Aire Falls track takes you through Mountain Ash and rainforests ending at a cantilevered viewing platform with spectacular views over the falls. There are some creek crossings on bridges passing through beautiful fern gullies before reaching the suspended viewing platform. It is a steep climb back up to the carpark. The walk starts from the Triplet Falls carpark located on Phillips Track. The walk to 5km return and is moderate with quite a few steps and uphill.

 

Then we went and checked into our accommodation and explored the Park, it is a cute little caravan park with and the kids had a great time looking around, playing and collecting firewood. That night we had a BBQ for dinner and toasted marshmallows on the fire

On Sunday we went to the Cape Otway Lightstation 

Cape Otway Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia and considered the most significant. This leading attraction on the Great Ocean Road is a must for all visitors. Built in 1848, the lighthouse known as the ‘Beacon of Hope,’ sits 90 metres above the pristine ocean of Bass Strait. Hundreds of lives were lost along this shipwreck coast – a sad but fascinating history which led to the building of the Lightstation on the cliffs edge.

Cost - adult $19.50 / child $7.50 / family 2a & 2c $49.50

General Admission includes:

A self-guided experience to explore the following, with our history guides at the Lighthouse and at the Aboriginal Talking Hut to share our stories:

• Enjoy daily History Talks at 11am & 2pm 
• Native Plant Talks at 12noon and 3pm 
• 1848 Cape Otway Lighthouse
• 1850’s Keepers Quarters and Workshop 
• 1859 Telegraph Station 
• The Talking Hut 
• WWII Radar Bunker
• Whale Interpretation Site
• Lightkeeper’s Cafe 10am – 4pm
• Souvenir Shop
  

This was actually a far better experience than I imagined and well worth the visit 

After grabbing some lunch at Yatzies in Lavers Hill we went to 

Melba Gully

Known as the Jewel of the Otways, Melba Gully is one of the wettest places in the state. The gully has prolific plant growth and is a dense rainforest of Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and Tree-ferns, with an understorey of low ferns and mosses. The 35 minute Madsen's Track Nature Walk departs from the picnic area, providing an adventure into a world of ancient, mossy trees and cool fern gullies