Parking
From Anglesea, follow the Great Ocean Road toward Geelong for about 7.5 km. Turn right onto Point Addis Road, then left into Ironbark Basin Car Park about 500 m later.
Overview
About Ironbark Basin Nature Trail
Why go
- A small valley dam and an old-and-young grasstree stand make a rewarding short loop.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Great Ocean Road map
Full mapElevation66–115 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
7 active Great Ocean Road alerts
- ClosureLorne-area walking trails closed after flood and storm damageSeveral walking trails near Lorne remain closed; do not enter closed tracks. - Phantom Falls Walk is temporarily closed because flood and storm damage affected the trail and structures.Official details
- ClosureWye Road closed after storm and flood damageWye Road is closed until further notice for road maintenance and repairs following storm and flood damage; do not use the road. Check current Great Otway National Park conditions before travelling.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Ocean Road Tour Guide
Your drive to Ironbark Basin Nature Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Ocean Road. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Great Ocean Road audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Ironbark Basin Nature Trail0:00 / 0:23
“You're nearing Ironbark Basin, where the short Nature Trail Circuit takes you into a forested valley. Allow about an hour for the one-and-a-half-kilometre loop, with a short steep descent and climb back out.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Great Ocean Road Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Why Waves Bend
- Point Addis Lookout
- How a Sea Breeze Starts
- Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie
- 181 audio storiesacross Great Ocean Road’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Koala, Kangaroo, Little Penguin, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 109 trails, 99 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Ironbark Basin Nature Trail
The short valley circuitFrom Ironbark Basin Car Park, follow the main track to the signed Nature Trail Circuit.
From Ironbark Basin Car Park, follow the main track to the signed Nature Trail Circuit. This compact loop drops into a forested valley, passes a small dam, then climbs back to the car park. It is about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) and takes around an hour. This is the short signed nature circuit, not the longer Point Addis–Ironbark or Surf Coast walks.
Grasstrees and forestHalfway down the slope, a stand of young and old Austral Grasstrees is a highlight.
Halfway down the slope, a stand of young and old Austral Grasstrees is a highlight. The track winds through regrowth Red Ironbark and Messmate Stringybark, with pomaderris that can flower in spring. A bench near the start of the return climb offers a pause before the uphill stretch; near the top, look back down the valley to see the path winding among the trees.
Take care on the slopesThe circuit has a short steep descent and a short steep climb. Take extra care after rain.
The circuit has a short steep descent and a short steep climb. Take extra care after rain. The route is in Great Otway National Park, where dogs are not permitted.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Great Ocean Road
900 sightingsKoalaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
358 sightingsKangarooMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
49 sightingsLittle PenguinMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
155 sightingsEchidnaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
33 sightingsFur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
59 sightingsRed-necked WallabyMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Ocean Road. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
