Parking
Start at Allenvale Road Carpark beside the Allenvale Mill site, off Allenvale Road in Lorne.
Overview
About Erskine Falls Circuit Walk
Erskine Falls Circuit Walk is the full 23 km loop from Allenvale that returns through Lorne, linking Phantom Falls, Cora Lynn Cascades, Erskine Falls, Straw Falls and Splitter Falls. Plan about eight hours for a hard day: the route combines steep creek banks, more than 20 crossings, a long river track, over 270 steps at Erskine Falls and an uphill street return. Start early, carry enough water and do not attempt the creek crossings when the river is high.
Why go
- Links five named waterfalls in one full-day circuit.
- Returns through Lorne, so the loop needs no car shuttle.
Heads up
- More than 20 creek crossings can mean wet feet.
- A long road climb and steep falls steps add to the effort.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Great Otway map
Full mapElevation30–418 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Great Otway alerts
- ClosureWye Road closed after storm and flood damageWye Road is closed until further notice because recent storm and flood damage requires road maintenance and repair works; plan around the closure.Official details
- ClosureLorne-area walking trails closed after flood damageSome walking trails near Lorne are closed for public safety after the January 2026 flash floods washed away or severely damaged bridges and walkways.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Otway Tour Guide
Your drive to Erskine Falls Circuit Walk, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Otway National Park. 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 Otway audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Allenvale: Forest Walk to Phantom Falls0:00 / 0:23
“Allenvale Mill car park is ahead, where the Phantom Falls walk begins. Allow about ninety minutes return, with a steep, sometimes loose climb above the St George River and steps down to the pool.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Great Otway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Sheoak Picnic Area: A Short Forest Break
- St George River: The River and Ocean Loop
- Teddy's Lookout: Road, River and Ocean
- Lorne Visitor Centre: Walk Advice and Road History
- 252 audio storiesacross Great Otway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Koala, Grey Kangaroo, Echidna, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 83 trails, 79 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 Erskine Falls Circuit Walk
Allenvale to Phantom FallsFrom Allenvale Road Carpark, the route crosses the road and follows a riverside track over a…
From Allenvale Road Carpark, the route crosses the road and follows a riverside track over a footbridge and through an old orchard. Steps descend to Phantom Falls, a cascade framed by a rock face. The track then continues through shaded forest toward Cora Lynn Creek.
Cora Lynn CreekThe creek section winds through tree ferns and tall forest, crossing the water more than 20…
The creek section winds through tree ferns and tall forest, crossing the water more than 20 times before Cora Lynn Cascades. Expect uneven stones, logs and wet footing. A sharp climb leaves the creek; watch for the turn toward Lemonade Creek Track at the next junction.
Lemonade Creek and Erskine FallsThe route follows Lemonade Creek Track through forest to Erskine Falls.
The route follows Lemonade Creek Track through forest to Erskine Falls. The upper lookout gives a view into the gully; more than 270 steps descend to the lower lookout and the waterfall base. The falls are strongest after rain, when the creek crossings also need the most care.
Down the Erskine RiverFrom the falls, continue downstream past Straw Falls and Splitter Falls toward Lorne.
From the falls, continue downstream past Straw Falls and Splitter Falls toward Lorne. This is a long, rugged river walk with repeated crossings over stones and fallen timber; wet rocks can be slippery. The route reaches the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park area before leaving the bush track.
The Lorne returnThe loop finishes with a road walk uphill through town, including Otway Street and Allenvale…
The loop finishes with a road walk uphill through town, including Otway Street and Allenvale Road back to the starting carpark. Count this street section in the 23 km total; the route does not finish at Erskine Falls.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Great Otway
204 sightingsKoalaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
35 sightingsGrey KangarooMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
109 sightingsEchidnaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKookaburraMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
97 sightingsSwamp WallabyMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
20 sightingsBrushtail PossumMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Otway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
