Put These Lorne Waterfalls On Your Travel Agenda

1. Henderson Falls

Framed by ferns, this small waterfall is just 1.5 kilometres from the Sheoak Picnic Area yet doesn’t get nearly as many visitors as some of the other waterfalls in Lorne. What it lacks in scale, it makes up for with access. Stand at the base, close your eyes and soak up the cool, refreshing air coming off the falls.

2. Sheoak Falls

people sitting on the side of Sheoak Falls, Lorne

Sheoak Falls drops down a sheer rock face. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The relatively short 15-minute walk from the car park makes this one a good waterfall option for people with kids who can’t tackle some of the longer, more rugged trails in the area. Not far off the Great Ocean Road, stop at this waterfall to break up your drive or get a blast of nature and fresh air before continuing your road trip. If you’re visiting at dusk, be sure to pay attention as you might just see the signature aura emanating from glow worms known to populate the caves and rocks around here.

3. Erskine Falls

Erskine Falls plunges 30 meters into a lush tree-fern gully. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This 30-metre cascade just 15 minutes out of Lorne is a real crowd-pleaser because you can view the falls without feeling the burn from a massive hike. A short walk from the Erskine Falls carpark, the upper viewing platform will reveal lovely views of the falls and surrounding bushland. Head down the stairs that lead to the lower viewing platform to experience the instant calm that comes from seeing this magical waterfall fringed by greenery at ground level.

If you’re a confident, fit and experienced bushwalker, you can tackle the 7.5-kilometre Erskine River Track which begins at the Erskine Falls car park and finishes at the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park. However, you’ll need to be comfortable with crossing rivers by rock hopping to do this walk thou. Check the river levels before giving it a go as this hike isn’t advisable when the river levels are high.

4 & 5. Kalimna Falls (Upper and Lower)

This enchanting falls is framed by ferns. (Image: Parks Victoria)

A popular Great Otway National Park trail, the Kalimna Falls Walk is a two-for-one waterfall deal with the track revealing top views of both the upper and lower Kalimna Falls in just a few hours of walking. Park at the Sheoak Picnic Area and set off on foot towards the lower Kalimna Falls first. In years gone by, a tramway used by timber workers ran along this path. Instead of being used to move timber logs to Lorne Pier, the path is now the domain of bushwalkers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. You’ll pass ferns gullies, mossy logs and towering gums on the way to the lower falls which cascade over the ledge of a large cave, creating a spectacular effect you’ll definitely want to snap on your phone. Cool off by dipping your toes in the water, then continue by following the signs to the upper Kalimna Falls from the nearest junction. Check out this simple waterfall that is perfectly framed by the forest ferns and canopy, then loop back to the Sheoak Picnic Area where you started.

6. Phantom Falls

a man reaching out for the hand of the woman sitting on a rock backdropped with the Phantom Falls, Lorne

Discover this dramatic waterfall surrounded by forest. (Image: Parks Victoria)

Accessed via a 90-minute return walk from the Allenvale Mill Campground, Phantom Falls is a great waterfall walk to tackle if you’re short on time but still want to carve out a part of your trip to commune with nature. You’ll pass picturesque farmland, a peaceful river and serene bushland on relatively flat terrain before hitting the incline which will challenge your legs and lungs a bit more. Be sure you’re wearing sturdy walking shoes – sandals and unsupportive footwear just won’t cut it here. Once you reach the waterfall you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of a bush-fringed waterfall cascading over a dark rock face into a pool below. Be sure to head down the steep stairs to see it from below too.

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout — Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes — Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.

6 must-see waterfalls in Lorne

Away from the beach crowds, these Lorne waterfalls fringed by forest-green bushland will make you want to hit the road asap.