Kennett River Glow-Worm Walk

Overview

This is the Otways’ easiest glow-worm experience: a gentle, after-dark wander along Grey River Road where the embankments light up like a star field. Park at Grey River Picnic Area (about 6 km up Grey River Road from Kennett River) and explore the roadside banks after nightfall. It’s free, low-effort, and quietly magical.

Getting There

From the Great Ocean Road, turn up Grey River Road just past Kennett River and drive 6 km on a graded dirt road to Grey River Picnic Area. It’s typically fine for 2WD, but it’s winding with tight bends and abundant wildlife—go slow. Rough drive times: ~35 minutes from Apollo Bay, ~20 minutes from Wye River.

Where the Glow-Worms Are

• The main display runs for roughly 300 m along the roadside cuttings near and beyond the picnic area, with the left-hand bank usually holding more because it stays cooler and damper.
• A small “grotto” about 120 m back down the road from the car park can show up before full dark.

Walking is on a wide, flat road edge—simple in the dark if you stay alert for the occasional car.

What You’ll See

Glow-worms (the bioluminescent larvae of a gnat) hang sticky threads and glow to lure prey—stand quietly and the lights intensify as your eyes adjust. Around here you might also encounter possums after dark, and by day the area is rich with birds and often kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas along Grey River Road.

How to Do It Right

• Arrive before dusk, park, and get your bearings. Start once it’s truly dark.
• Give your eyes at least 5 minutes to adjust—more is better.
• Keep voices low, don’t touch the banks or threads, and never use flash.
• Photographers: think long exposures without added light.

Best Time to Visit

You can see glow-worms year-round; displays are typically strongest in warm, moist months (roughly December–March) and after rain. Go on a dry evening following wet weather if you can, and plan the walk for after full dark. A nice combo is koala spotting near Kennett River at dusk, then driving up for glow-worms once night falls.

Facilities

Grey River Picnic Area has picnic tables/benches (and wood-fired BBQs). Toilets are not clearly listed here—plan as if there may be none at the picnic area and sort bathroom stops in Kennett River township before heading up. Phone reception can be unreliable.

Safety, Rules and Closures

No dogs (national park rules). Typical Otways hazards apply: snakes, slippery surfaces, falling limbs, occasional flash flooding, and limited reception. Wear sturdy shoes, carry a torch with a red filter, and watch for vehicles and wildlife on the road. Check Parks Victoria before you go for any updates or temporary night closures (e.g., conservation shooting operations ran on some nights between April and June 30, 2025).