Colac Vic. 25/26 August 2026

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A couple more hours of roughish Pacify Highway travel, and a clever little short cut that was in much better condition the the A1, and we arrived in Colac. Our van park is small and located on the shore of Lake Colac. Next door to us on one side if the Botanic gardens and on the other a wetland / bird sanctuary. There is a proper path right along the shore of the lake, I never made it to the end!

The weather has cleared up a bit and not only did it stay dry but the sun came out for most of the second day.


Lake Colac Vic.

Seeing as it's not actually raining, a first for us in this part of the world, we went back down to Gellibrand where we stopped last time we were here. Amazing what a difference to your perspective sunny weather and 12 years of forgetfulness can make. We had a delightful coffee in the cafe / Post Office before proceeding another 25km or so south to the Otway Fly.


Neither of us could remember anything about our last visit to the Fly, only that it was raining and blowing a gale and that at the entrance we turned around and walked back to the car. We certainly didn’t remember that 300 metre walk that feels like 500 to get to the entrance from the carpark.


Otway Fly Vic


We went in this time, filled in a 27 page liability disclaimer on line, paid our fees and were shown through the door to the start of the Fly area. Well at least the start of the 900 odd metre walk down some 50 metres to get to the actual Fly itself.


The attendant had said it was better than the Illawarra Fly, but we were dubious, especially after that long steep descent. But we were surprised and delighted to find that the Otway Fly is at least as good as, of not better than the Illawarra. You arent looking out over the escarpment though, you are surrounded by trees, not necessarily the tops either. These are the tallest, straightest, smoothest skinned gum trees you’ll ever see. The Ferns down below are magnificent and the moss everywhere is spectacular. 


Pictures fail to capture the full beauty of it, but here’s some of what we have:


Otway Fly Vic


Otway Fly Vic

Somewhat discouragingly, from the exit end of the Fly, you keep walking down even further into the valley but finally start climbing up a graded road back to the Fly Entry point. Luckily they thoughtfully provide a buggy service back to the top of the valley and the Visitors Centre for those that need it, which would be us x2!


You do see the oddest things though, how is this for some weird fungi?


Otway Fly Vic

That walk back to the car hadn’t got any shorter while we away but soon enough we were away again and decided that the coffee at Gellibrand was good enough for a second visit and maybe some lunch as well.

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