About Hopetoun Falls
Hopetoun Falls was certainly one of the more pleasing waterfalls that we visited during our drought-stricken trip to Victoria in November 2006. And it performed equally well during a follow-up trip that took place in November 2017. Like other drought-defying waterfalls in the Otway Rainforest area (such as Beauchamp Falls and Triplet Falls), this waterfall had a healthy flow and the rainforest setting was misty, green, and lush. Being on the heritage listed Aire River, it was little wonder that the healthy drainage coupled with the wet climate resulted in the reliable flow of the falls. As we were touring the Great Ocean Road, we would consistently see this waterfall appear frequently on post cards and calendars, and after having seen it in person, we could understand why this was the case, especially given its pretty satisfying 30m plunge with a classic rectangular shape.
From the little parking bay for Hopetoun Falls (see directions below), we began by taking a very short 30m stroll (wheelchair-accessible I’m sure) to the upper viewing deck. From here, we were able to look down at the waterfall through some foliage blocking a fair bit of the line-of-sight. It wasn’t the greatest of views and it certainly left us wanting to see more.
So we continued on the walking track which required us to descend some stairs until it eventually flattened out alongside the Aire River. After a short stint walking in the upstream direction alongside the river, we ended up at a lookout platform containing a bench and the signature view of the falls. With such peaceful settings and sturdy railings to facilitate attempting long exposure photographs without a tripod, this was a very photo friendly waterfall. After having our fill of the falls, we would go back up the steps to the car park to complete the 1km walk. Overall, on our first visit here, we had spent about 40 minutes away from the car at a very leisurely pace.
On our second visit to the Hoopetoun Falls, one unfortunate visitor managed to break her ankle on a misstep. That resulted in some additional delays so the medics could do their job to help stabilize the ankle and stretcher her out. Perhaps more importantly, that underscored the notion that even on a simple track like this, care must be taken to wear sturdy shoes with traction and to pay attention to one’s surroundings. You never know when Murphy strikes.
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Hopetoun Falls April 30, 2010 3:05 am - Hopetoun Falls: After winter would be the best time to capture this beauty through the camera lens. I liked the volume of water flow during this period. A moderate walk for about 15 mins should take you to the base of the waterfall. ...Read MoreNearest Waterfalls
