Currawong Falls are out behind Aireys Inlet in the Great Otway National Park, just off the Great Ocean Road and more of a trickle of water down some rocks than a waterfall.
There usually isn’t much of a waterfall or a memorable climax on this trail, yet the thick, dry Eucalyptus forest packed with Bracken Fern, Wattles and loads of other Australian natives make this walk super enjoyable and after an easy 10.5 km loop, you’ll feel relaxed as ever.
The walking terrain remains pretty similar throughout the trail although the flora changes a few times with different large patches of natives grouped together, thriving in their ideal environment. Several kilometres of the track are in a gully near by a creek with a long stretch of the trail being on top of the hills where the view out into the Otway’s is soothing and stunning. It’s a great, family friendly day hike and only few minutes drive from Aireys Inlet, off the main tourist route.
Currawong Falls Circuit Walk trail details
Difficulty
It’s an easy walk with no big challenges. There are some rocky, somewhat steep and narrow bits to the track in a few different areas, so although you can take a mountain bike, it’s probably too difficult for people with accessibility issues.
The walk is family friendly and only requires a low level of fitness. It’d be clever to bring some water along as it’s over 10kms.
Length
The whole loop is 10.5 kms, although you can take a fire trail/park vehicle management track if you want to make it longer.
Elevation
There isn’t a lot of elevation in this trail. If you’re walking in an anti-clockwise direction, the trail gradually elevates until your on top of some small hills, but that’s about it. There aren’t any steep sections. It’s a nice, easy and enjoyable stroll through the forest.
Facilities
There’s a picnic area, car park and toilets at Distillery Creek Carpark. This is where you can start and finish the loop past Currawong Falls.
Closest place to buy food & drinks
Aireys Inlet is just minutes away by car. Here, you’ll find loads of places for food, drinks and accommodation. Otherwise, you’re just near Australia’s most popular tourist drive, the Great Ocean Road, so there are dozens of options in most directions
It seems the most popular to walk this loop in a clock-wise direction. We recommend taking an anti-clockwise direction through a gully before you make it to the waterfall. Then most of the rest of the trail is on top of the hills and it makes a really beautiful finish the hike.
Only after a couple of kilometres into the walk from the Distillery Creek carpark & picnic area, there’s a dried up creek and waterfall to your right, as you make it to the first zig-zag of the track (about to go slightly up hill). It turns out that this isn’t the waterfall, but it’s only a few minutes walk from Currawong Falls.
Although the trail might not attract the masses of tourists as there’s not a significant waterfall or lookout, those who love nature, the smell of Eucalyptus and the great Australian bush should find the Currawong Falls Circuit Walk to be an enjoyable and relatively short day hike.
How to get to Currawong Falls
There are a few car parks that you can pull into and start the walk from, but it’s best to head straight to Distillery Creek carpark and start the walk from there.
The car park is only a few minutes drive out the back of Aireys Inlet and about half way around the walking loop to Currawong Falls.
If you’re coming from Geelong or Melbourne, the quickest way is to head straight for Anglesea, as opposed to going through Torquay. Just as you’re entering Aireys Inlet, turn right on Beach Road, follow it to the end and take another right. Distillery Creek car park is just a few minutes drive from there.
Is the Currawong Falls Circuit Walk dog friendly?
It’s hard to say, but let’s go with ‘no’. Try the Lake Elizabeth Loop in the Otways or the Surf Coast Walk from Torquay to Fairhaven Beach instead.
Here’s when we hiked from Bells Beach to Point Addis on the Surf Coast Walk
& then we came back for the last part of the Surf Coast Walk to hike from Point Addis to Fairhaven.
Here’s a video of when we hiked around the Currawong Falls Loop. You’ll notice that we have our dog along with us on the walk.
The day that we hiked this trail, we woke up to the pouring rain, a Sheep Graziers Warning and a wild wind alert for exactly where we had planned to go hiking. With a quick bit of research for an alternative dog friendly trail and after a recommendation from a lady that we ran into while hiking along the Surf Coast Walk, we were under the impression that this was a dog friendly trail, although after posting this video on a local Otways community page, we have been informed otherwise.
Although we found information online about this being a dog friendly walk, the locals believe that it’s incorrect.
Loads of Australian native and wild animals get killed by dogs and cats, so we’ve got to be responsible and keep our pets on leads and only head to trails where they’re allowed.
None-the-less, please ignore our little dog this time and we hope that you enjoy the video.