Stunning Waterfalls Near Daylesford Worth The Hike

Marvel at these cascading falls.

There’s much more to Daylesford and its surrounds than spas and mineral springs; the area is also home to some of country Victoria’s most stunning waterfalls. From man-made spectacles to nature’s own display of power, have your camera ready to capture the beauty of these cascades.

Note: Check the Parks Victoria website for updates before visiting, as conditions can change quickly.

In Short

If you only visit one waterfall near Daylesford, make it Trentham Falls – the 32-metre cascade is one of the highest single drop waterfalls in Victoria.

Best time to visit waterfalls near Daylesford

To avoid viewing a waterfall when it’s just a trickle, visit in winter and spring, or after heavy rainfall. During this period, the falls are at their most powerful and impressive (just be aware tracks can be slippery, so wear sturdy footwear).

Best waterfalls to visit around Daylesford

Sailors Falls

Widely believed to be named for the sailors who jumped ship seeking gold during the gold rush, Sailors Falls is about a 20-metre drop into a beautiful fern-lined gully (it splits into twin falls when the water is flowing well). You can view the falls from the picnic area (accessible for wheelchairs and strollers), or take the stairs down to a halfway vantage point, then to the base of the falls.

While you’re here, sample the fresh mineral water from the spring adjacent to the waterfall. You can skip the stairs for this, as there’s a tap in the picnic area (it’s pumped through a 135-metre bore, the only one to feature an electric pump). BYO lemons.

Distance from Daylesford: 7-min drive
Where: Ballan-Daylesford Rd, Sailors Falls
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Swimming: No

Trentham Falls

As one of the longest single drop waterfalls in Victoria, at some 32 metres cascading over sheer basalt rocks, Trentham Falls is a must-visit if you’re in the region. It’s located in the Coliban River Scenic Reserve, just outside of Trentham, set amongst native bushland.

The falls are a short walk from the car park; stick to the dedicated viewing platforms here, as the cliffs and base of the falls are unstable. Time your visit after rainfall for a truly spectacular showcase of nature’s force.

Distance from Daylesford: 18-minute drive
Where: Coliban River Scenic Reserve
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: No

Loddon Falls

We love the dramatic setting of Loddon Falls in Glenlyon, where water plunges over a rocky gorge into a swimming hole. When there’s enough water flow, it’s a fantastic spot for a swim, surrounded by the rugged gorge walls.

To get there from the car park, head through the gate and walk 10-15 minutes to the top viewing point; but if you want to reach the base and swimming hole, you’ll need to descend a steep, unformed track, so it’s best to have someone with you. Note that there are no picnic or toilet facilities here.

Distance from Daylesford: 15-minute drive
Where: Sewells Rd, Glenlyon
Parking: Yes, but access by 4WD only in wet weather
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Swimming: Yes

The Blowhole

The Blowhole is actually an artificial diversion tunnel on Sailors Creek – but that doesn’t sound as cool, nor does it accurately represent the sight of water gushing through when the river level is high.

The circular tunnel was dug out in the 1870s by gold miners so they could fossick in the area. It’s a short, accessible walk from the car park to the top of the falls area, or you can take stairs down to the bottom. Come for a picnic or a swim, and when water is low in the tunnel, you can even climb through.

Distance from Daylesford: 9-min drive
Where: Blowhole Walk, Hepburn
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: Yes, dependent on water flow

Colbrook Reservoir

This seasonal waterfall spills over the dam wall when water levels are high, especially after recent rainfall. To view the cascade from the bottom, carefully make your way down to Korweinguboora Creek and walk back upstream to the base of the dam wall.

Colbrook Reservoir is considered one of the most scenic reservoirs in the region and is also worth a visit for its bushwalking, fishing and camping, along with swimming in the summer months (best for more experienced swimmers). You’ll need a 4WD to get here, and there are no facilities, so bring in whatever you need.

Distance from Daylesford: 34-minute drive
Where: Wombat State Forest, Colbrook
Parking: Yes, 4WD only
Difficulty: Moderate
Swimming: Yes

The Cascades

This pretty-as-a-postcard cascade flows over layers of bedrock, creating small rockpools, and the swimming holes are perfect for hot weather if the water isn’t too stagnant. Just be careful climbing the rocks as they can be slippery!

You’ll find this peaceful hidden gem in a small reserve off Cascades Rd, surrounded by bushland. It’s an easy walk from the car park, however it’s on uneven and unsealed ground, so not pram or wheelchair friendly.

Distance from Daylesford: 38-minute drive
Where: Cascades Rd, Metcalfe
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: Yes, dependent on water flow

Stanley Park Falls

This small hidden waterfall is tucked away in the Stanley Park reserve, where you’ll also find picnic areas, a playground, BBQ facilities, toilets and walking tracks (keep an eye out for koalas!).

Fed by Turitable Creek, the cascade flows over rocky ledges into a small, fern-lined gully. Check it out from the platform right by the top of the falls, or take the stony steps down to the gully, then follow the walking track to the base of the falls. With all of the park’s facilities, this is a top spot to set up picnic for the afternoon.

Distance from Daylesford: 48-minute drive
Where: Stanley Park, 15 Salisbury Rd, Mount Macedon
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Swimming: No

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

Stunning waterfalls near Daylesford you need to visit