Erskine Falls upgrade works

ONE of the most popular attractions in the Great Otway National Park is set to become safer and more enjoyable to visit, with works now under way on a series of upgrades at Erskine Falls.

The visitor car park, walking tracks and the viewing area near the base of the falls are being improved, ensuring stunning views of the 35-metre cascade while also protecting the surrounding vegetation.

Two deteriorating footbridges along Lemonade Creek walking track will also be repaired so visitors can continue to explore the ferny gullies and lush forest in this section of the national park.

These upgrades are part of the Victoria’s Great Outdoors program, a $106.6 million investment into better campgrounds, walking trails, 4WD tracks and visitor facilities across the state.

This program of investment has previously delivered upgrades at nearby Big Hill, Allenvale and Hammonds campgrounds.

Located near Lorne, Erskine Falls is a regional drawcard, with more than half a million people visiting each year.

One of a handful of waterfalls in this section of the Great Otway National Park, the falls thunder through towering trees into a rocky pool of water, especially after winter and spring rains.

The upgrades will ensure visitors can continue to safely visit this special spot and take in its stunning surroundings.

Beyond its waterfalls, the Great Otway National Park is brimming with scenery, wildlife and ways to get into nature, including camping, surfing, hiking and mountain-biking.

The park also plays a key role in bringing tourism to the region.

“These upgrades will help future-proof Erskine Falls, which is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Otway National Park,” Parks Victoria area chief ranger Michelle Anstee said.

“It’s a steep and heavily forested section of the national park – this project will improve how people arrive and experience the falls, while also protecting the immediate environment.”

“To safely deliver these upgrades there’ll be times where we’ll need to restrict access, so please check the Parks Victoria website before planning a visit.”

For more information about the Erskine Falls works, and other park projects, head to parks.vic.gov.au/projects