South Western Victoria is a diverse and fascinating region, with landscapes varying from the Otway Ranges and Great Ocean Road along the rugged Ship Wreck coast to the volcanic Lakes and Craters region extending onto the plains of western Victoria.

The region is centred on the vibrant rural city of Colac (pop. 11,000) located 74km west of Geelong and only 148km from Melbourne and also conveniently accessible to the major centres of Ballarat and Warrnambool. Colac is the primary service centre for agriculture, industry and tourism in the region, and also services many smaller townships in the region.

The predominant industries in the area include numerous forms of agriculture (dairying, beef, sheep, cropping, horticulture, agro forestry and organic farming) together with timber processing, food processing and wholesale, construction and retail. There is also a strong public service sector in the town. In addition tourism plays a major part in the region and continues to grow with so many wonderful natural and man made features predominant throughout the area. These features include national icons such as the Twelve Apostles located adjacent to the world famous Great Ocean Road, and the increasingly popular new tree top walk, the “Otway Fly”.

The Colac Otway region is blessed with wonderful health care, recreational and retail services and excellent educational facilities including kindergartens, primary and secondary schooling. The region offers an outstanding quality of life, enjoyed by both fulltime and part time residents who take full advantage of the many benefits the region has to offer.

The Otways: Top 10 Attractions

1. Great Ocean Rd & 12 Apostles. The road is spectacular as it hugs the coast
between Lorne and Apollo Bay.  It then heads inland through magnificent rainforest to the famous 12 Apostles.

2. Great Ocean Walk
Victoria’s most iconic walk stretches over 100 km from Apollo Bay to the
12 Apostles. Experience deserted beaches, magnificent cliffs & dense forests with native flora and fauna. It’s easy to do day walks or stay  overnight at designated camping spots provided by Parks Victoria.

3. Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures.

Walk through the treetops on the 25 metre high elevated tree top walk. This magical sky walk takes you through a magnificent stand of cool temperate rainforest featuring Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and Mountain Ash. A spiral stairway takes you even higer with zip lining also available.

4. Cape Otway  Lightstation – 30 Mins from Apollo Bay.

Visit the oldest Lightstation on mainland Australia, in operation since 1848, saving the lives of sailors in this treacherous part of the Southern ocean and Bass Strait. You can climb to the top and get a view over spectacular
ocean to see passing whales and ships.   Visit Cape Otway Lightstation

5. Koalas at Lighthouse Road, Cape Otway.  Koalas in the wild is a MUST see.

6. Turtons Track: Forest & Waterfall Drive.

This stunning 109km (2 & 1/2 hours excluding stops) loop drive takes in Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, Lavers Hill, and Beech Forest. Possible stops include the Cape Otway Lightstation, Great Otway National Park, Otway Fly Treetop Walk, waterfalls, rainforest walks and galleries.

7. Lake Elizabeth – Forrest.   Enjoy the beauty of the rainforest.  An easy walk or to explore further take a tour on a canoe at dawn or dusk  to visit the platypus in its own habitat. A place to see the famous and illusive 100 million year old egg laying mammal.   Lake Elizabeth

8. Rainforest Walks at Maits Rest and Melba Gully. Maits Rest is a spectacular popular short walk through mossy rainforest tree ferns and massive myrtle beech trees 15
minutes from Apollo Bay. There is a board walk that protects plants and
provides an accessible track all year round. Drive another 20 minutes past
Apollo Bay to get to Melba Gully, a small surviving remnant of dense rainforest
in the Great Otway National Park just past Cape Otway. If you can visit in the
evening Melba Gully rewards you with the light show of a large colony of glow
worms dancing along the walking track. Visit Maits Rest                    Visit Melba Gully

9. Forrest Mountain Bike Trails & The Old Beechy Rail Trail.  Designed around the village of Forrest, these mountain bike trails showcase the natural beauty of the Otway Ranges, passing through tall eucalypt forests, dry heathy scrub and dense fern gullies. The Trails have been built with real mountain bikers in mind and offer experiences for beginners and the most hardcore dirt fanatics, choose a trail that suits you   Forrest Mountain Bike Trails   or visit www.rideforrest.com.au

The Old Beechy Rail Trail stretches 45kms from Beech Froest
to Colac, taking you through a variety of scenic landscape including
rainforest, creeks and the rich farmland of the Gellibrand valley.

10. Volcanic  Plains Drive – 1 Hour touring loop from Colac
North of Colac you can take a dramatic drive through the red turbulent
volcanic region of some of Western Victoria’s fascinating landscape. You’ll see
huge crater lakes, extinct volcanic cones and fascinating formations left in
the wake of an era of immense upheavals.  Red Rock Volcanic Scenic Drive