Erskine Falls

Erskine Falls drops about 30 metres on the Erskine River into a deep, tree-fern-lined gully in Great Otway National Park, about 11 km inland from Lorne. It’s a worthwhile forest detour even if you stick to the short upper lookout walk. Allow about 15 minutes for 300 metres there and back. Parking is at the path start. There’s no food stop at the falls, so bring water and a snack; toilet availability is unclear, so don’t count on one without checking.

The upper platform gives you the easy view. The lower lookout brings you closer to the pool but takes a steep stair climb; the full route was about 700 metres return and 30 minutes, with roughly 240 steps. That climb back up is the demanding part. Wet steps and rock can be slippery, and you’ll want steady footing for the lower route. Check the current track status before planning on it.

From above, watch the water spill over dark ledges into the pool, with tree ferns crowding the sides. The lower viewpoint historically offered the closer waterfall composition. From the upper platform, frame the cascade with the fern canopy and rock walls; it shows how tightly the waterfall sits in the gully.

The Erskine River name appears in a letter from 1849 and is traced to James Augustus Erskine, a Melbourne administrator. Lorne residents W.A. Mountjoy, F.M. Straw and H. Jebb are credited with discovering the falls around 1876. The falls became part of Lorne’s late-19th-century visitor tradition.

Look for tall eucalypts above the gully and tree ferns, mossy ledges and smaller rainforest plants near the water. Gang-gang and yellow-tailed black cockatoos, robins, fantails and fairy-wrens have all been recorded along the river walk; sightings aren’t guaranteed, but it’s worth listening as you go. The short upper lookout is the best choice for a quick stop; take the lower stairs only if the route is open and the climb suits you.