Lake Elizabeth Campground

Lake Elizabeth Campground is a small, 20-site campground among tall eucalypts beside the Barwon River in Great Otway National Park. The unpowered sites are tent-only and take up to six people each. Cars can't reach the pitches: unload at the 15-minute bay, carry your gear in, then leave the vehicle in the separate lot above and behind the campground, about a two-minute walk away. That setup suits a forest stay, but not anyone who needs to camp beside their vehicle.

Non-flush toilets, shared fireplaces and picnic tables are provided. Book ahead; the campground is about a ten-minute drive from Forrest for supplies. Drinking water isn't confirmed, so bring your own, and download directions before you arrive because reception is poor. Fires are not allowed on Total Fire Ban days.

Lake Elizabeth is about a 1 km walk from camp; give the out-and-back time, not just a quick stop. The lake formed in 1952 when a landslide blocked the East Barwon River. It filled and overflowed, then heavy rain in 1953 washed away the top 26 metres of the dam, leaving the smaller lake you see now. Dead tree trunks still stand in the water. Platypus are sometimes seen in the early morning or at dusk, and glowworms may show beside the track after dark, but neither is guaranteed.