Carisbrook Falls

Great Ocean Road / near Apollo Bay / near Kennett River / Wongarra, Victoria, Australia

Rating: 2     Difficulty: 1.5
Carisbrook Falls

TABLE OF CONTENTS



[Back to top]

INTRODUCTION

Carisbrook Falls was probably one of the few waterfalls that we could quite seriously say was literally on the Great Ocean Road. Most of the rest of the waterfalls required some bit of a drive further inland to access, but this waterfall was only a short hike away from the famous road itself (see directions below). Yet despite its close proximity to the Southern Ocean, the short 300m uphill walk (600m return) that we went on took us into a lush but sun-exposed ravine where we were able to get a distant look at this impressive 50m waterfall. It only took Julie and I about 15 minutes round trip to complete the excursion though I'd imagine it could be 30 minutes return (as the signs indicated) at a much more leisurely pace.

Despite the quantity of vegetation, the short uphill track passed through terrain that was noticeably drier and more windswept than what we were used to deeper in the Otways. In fact, the smell of the neighboring vegetation kind of reminded me of the prickly sage and chaparral vegetation more prevalent in many of the waterfall hikes around Southern California. I suspect that the reason for this would be its proximity to the ocean which would be more subject to salt from the sea spray as well as dessicating winds.

The track pretty much hugged the slopes of the ravine carved out by the Carisbrook Creek. This persisted all the way to the end of the track, where we felt this was one of those look-but-don't-touch waterfalls given that there seemed to be no reasonable access to get closer to the falls. Instead, we were merely content to get our views from the overlook, whose flow seemed to vary from the average output you see in the photo above and the somewhat low flow we experienced on our first visit back in November 2006 (which was in the midst of a nearly decade-long drought). It was also hard to truly appreciate the size of the falls from such a distance, which didn't seem to do this falls justice as we noticed there were some additional hidden tiers of the falls in the densely vegetated ravine below.

Regardless of the state of the Carisbrook Creek, I tend to think of this excursion as an opportunity to stretch out and take a break from the very scenic drive along Great Ocean Road. The stretch between Apollo Bay and Lorne was especially scenic and memorable as it not only included the Carisbrook Falls, but it also included the famed Kennett River area not much further to the east. At Kennett River, we happened to spot a koala high up on one of the gum trees there.




[Back to top]

PHOTO JOURNAL

In each of our visits to Carisbrook Falls, we were based in the beach town of Apollo Bay, which was one of the popular yet quaint towns along the Great Ocean RoadIn each of our visits to Carisbrook Falls, we were based in the beach town of Apollo Bay, which was one of the popular yet quaint towns along the Great Ocean Road
Roughly 7km east of Carisbrook Falls along the Great Ocean Road was Kennett River, which was one of the few places where it was possible to spot a koala hanging high up on one of the gum trees thereRoughly 7km east of Carisbrook Falls along the Great Ocean Road was Kennett River, which was one of the few places where it was possible to spot a koala hanging high up on one of the gum trees there
About 108km west of Carisbrook Falls (12km east of Port Campbell) along the Great Ocean Road was the Twelve Apostles, which we thought was the signature attraction of the Great Ocean RoadAbout 108km west of Carisbrook Falls (12km east of Port Campbell) along the Great Ocean Road was the Twelve Apostles, which we thought was the signature attraction of the Great Ocean Road
The city of Melbourne was a pretty happening metropolis where it seemed like there was quite a blend of old and new with many festivals going on. This is the CBD viewed from the Shrine of RemembranceThe city of Melbourne was a pretty happening metropolis where it seemed like there was quite a blend of old and new with many festivals going on. This is the CBD viewed from the Shrine of Remembrance
The koala sign right by the easy-to-miss turnoff for Carisbrook Falls along the Great Ocean RoadThe koala sign right by the easy-to-miss turnoff for Carisbrook Falls along the Great Ocean Road

The car park at the start of the short track to Carisbrook FallsThe car park at the start of the short track to Carisbrook Falls

There appeared to be some private property by the start of the short track to Carisbrook FallsThere appeared to be some private property by the start of the short track to the falls

The track quickly ascended along a slope hugging the ravine carved out by Carisbrook CreekThe track quickly ascended along a slope hugging the ravine carved out by Carisbrook Creek

We noticed this green little bird checking us out while we were on our way to Carisbrook FallsWe noticed this green little bird checking us out while we were on our way to the falls

Ascending above the vegetation near the car park revealing the ravine below with some railings to help assure the unsure hikerAscending above the vegetation near the car park revealing the ravine below with some railings to help assure the unsure hiker

Continuing along the short ascent to the end of the track for Carisbrook FallsContinuing along the short ascent to the end of the track for the falls

Approaching the overlook at the end of the track with Carisbrook Falls in viewApproaching the overlook at the end of the track with the falls in view

The end of the Carisbrook Falls Track in November 2017The end of the falls track in November 2017

Made it up to the overlook as Julie checks out the view of Carisbrook Falls back in November 2006Made it up to the overlook as Julie checks out the view of the falls back in November 2006

Contextual look at the Carisbrook Falls and neighboring cliff hinting at the geology involved with the formation of the fallsContextual look at the Carisbrook Falls and neighboring cliff hinting at the geology involved with the formation of the falls

This was what Carisbrook Falls looked like in November 2006This was what Carisbrook Falls looked like in November 2006

Julie walking back on the Carisbrook Falls Track towards the car parkJulie walking back on the falls track towards the car park

Back at the car park for Carisbrook FallsBack at the car park for the falls

Returning to the car park in November 2006, which seemed a little different copared to our recent visit in November 2017 (shown in the preceding photo)Returning to the car park in November 2006, which seemed a little different compared to our most recent visit in November 2017 (shown in the preceding photo)


[Back to top]

VIDEOS OF THE FALLS


Left to right sweep showing the falls as well as the gorge it's in, then zooming in for a more detailed look at the falls


[Back to top]

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

The car park for Carisbrook Falls is along the Great Ocean Road about 16km east of the main drag through Apollo Bay (about 4km east of Wongarra) along the Great Ocean Road. Look for the car park on the left side of the road, which was well-signed. If you're headed east, there was also a koala sign nearby the turnoff, which can be used as an additional landmark so you don't miss this turn.

Going in the other direction, the car park would be on the right side of the Great Ocean Road about 7km (under 15 minutes drive) west of Kennett River, 29km (under 45 minutes) west of Lorne, which itself was about 142km (under 2 hours drive) southwest of Melbourne or 68km (over an hour drive) southwest of Geelong.




[Back to top]

ITINERARIES

For more information about our itineraries involving this waterfall, check out the following links.




[Back to top]

MAP OF THE FALLS



Click here for the full World of Waterfalls map





[Back to top]

TRIP REPORTS

For more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.




[Back to top]

TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES




[Back to top]

NEARBY WATERFALLS




[Back to top]

RELATED PAGES



Have You Been To This Waterfall?

Share your experience!

Click here to see visitor comments for this waterfall

Click here to see visitor comments for other waterfalls that we've visited in this region

Click here to go to the Comments Main Page

You can use the form below, but if you find our host's interface too troublesome to use (especially if you're trying to upload photos), then just send a text submission anyways using the form, but also let us know that you'd like to attach photos. If you've provided an email address via the form, then we can reply back acknowledging your request, and you can then reply to that email with your photo attachments. We're very sorry about this, but there's not much we can do about SBI's terrible interface.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Photo from Carisbrook Falls base 
It is possible to get to the base of the waterfall . Near the start of the path to the platform, there is a path to the left which ends at the creek, …

Click here to write your own.



[Back to top]

[Go to the Victoria Waterfalls Page]

[Go to the Australia Page]


[Return from Carisbrook Falls to the World of Waterfalls Home Page]