Triplet Falls

Great Otway National Park / Beech Forest, Victoria, Australia

About Triplet Falls

For Subscribers Only. See Membership Options.

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Triplet Falls far exceeded our expectations, which was saying something considering how the drought badly affected most of the waterfalls we visited in southeastern Australia in November 2006.

In fact, Julie and I became conditioned to think that just about all the waterfalls west of Melbourne would be dry or trickling. Thus, we tended to lowered our expectations going into each waterfall in this region.

Triplet_Falls_013_11152006 - Triplet Falls
Triplet Falls

However, as you can see from the photo above, the falls flowed quite well.

Indeed, this waterfall lived up to its name as we could clearly see three segments running side-by-side amidst the lush and dense native growth.

Even on a subsequent trip in November 2017, Young Creek actually had a little less water despite the area not being as affected by drought compared to that first visit!

In any case, of the three columns of water, only the far right one yielded the most unobstructed views as the other two were somewhat covered by the foliage.

Triplet_Falls_17_070_11172017 - Triplet Falls in lower flow during our November 2017 visit - one of the few instances when our November 2006 visit had higher flow!
Triplet Falls in lower flow during our November 2017 visit – one of the few instances when our November 2006 visit had higher flow!

We also needed a wide angle lens to try to capture all three falls in one shot.

Theories behind the unexpected flow of Triplet Falls

Regarding the flow of Triplet Falls, we were in the midst of some wild Antarctic weather on our first visit in 2006.

It was even raining during that first visit, which might have explained why it had better flow than it did on our second visit 11 years later.

With the Otways having a reputation of being one of the rainier spots in Victoria, I believe that Young Creek and the Triplet Falls would tend to have pretty reliable flow.

Otway_Fly_048_11172017 - Weeaproinah was the wettest region of Victoria, which harbored the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk
Weeaproinah was the wettest region of Victoria, which harbored the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk

Perhaps the only difference in the appearance boiled down to how many segments we’d be seeing.

Further enhancing its reliability, Young Creek was said to have been sourced by Weeaproinah, which was the wettest region of Victoria and most known for the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk.

Triplet Falls Trail Description – clockwise loop to the waterfall lookout

In order to visit Triplet Falls, we had to go on a 2km clockwise loop walk.

According to the signage, the walk was said to take about an hour to complete, which was pretty spot on based on the duration of each of our visits.

Triplet_Falls_17_016_11172017 - Julie on the rainforest loop walk to Triplet Falls, which began with a descent into an old growth forest
Julie on the rainforest loop walk to Triplet Falls, which began with a descent into an old growth forest

The track started off with a steep descent down several steps leading us well into the depths of the old growth forest.

Tall trees and ferns (usually a good indicator that we were in a high rainfall area) flanked the well-developed footpath.

After about 400-500m into the hike, most of the descent ended, and we passed by a signed trail junction with the Little Aire Falls Track.

We didn’t pursue the Little Aire Falls in any of our visits to the Triplet Falls.

Triplet_Falls_17_020_11172017 - Julie continuing past the trail junction for the Little Aire Falls
Julie continuing past the trail junction for the Little Aire Falls

That’s primarily because it would have extended the hike by another 90 minutes.

So we continued along the forest floor as the track made its gradual loop before descending a few more series of steps revealing Young Creek.

At about 1km into the hike, we encountered a misleading sign indicating a lookout with a view of the Triplet Falls, but this was actually 200m before the actual lookout itself.

Indeed, at around 1.2km from the start of the hike, we finally arrived at the actual lookout for the Triplet Falls.

Triplet_Falls_17_078_11172017 - Julie at the lookout for Triplet Falls
Julie at the lookout for Triplet Falls

It was from this lookout that we were able to get the views you see pictured at the top of this page.

Triplet Falls Trail Description – climbing beyond the main waterfall lookout

Beyond the lookout for Triplet Falls, the track then ascended a steep series of steps as it meandered alongside the sloping watercourse of Young Creek.

At about 300m beyond the falls lookout (or 1.5km from the start of the loop), we encountered relics of an early 1900s operation known as the Knotts No.1 sawmill.

It appeared that the forest reclaimed the area we couldn’t see much of the former operation besides the old relics.

Triplet_Falls_17_085_11172017 - The climb back up to the car park beyond the Triplet Falls Lookout
The climb back up to the car park beyond the Triplet Falls Lookout

However, it was said that the sawmill here operated for more than 20 years.

Beyond the relics, the track continued along metal bridges and tracks designed to minimize the impact of foot traffic on the fragile soil.

Eventually after the remaining 500m, we regained the original start of the track to complete the loop walk.

Old Growth versus Logging

So given the history of deforestation that occurred in a place as pristine as the Otways, it was hard to believe that Triplet Falls was the site of vandalism in 2003.

Triplet_Falls_17_100_11172017 - Relics from the Knotts No.1 Sawmill Operation that took place in the early 1900s
Relics from the Knotts No.1 Sawmill Operation that took place in the early 1900s

That was when loggers chainsawed a chunk of the native forest and forced the closure of the track.

It was rumoured that the incident may have been a result of the ongoing battle between those in favor of preserving and expanding the native forests versus those who want to continue logging to sustain or produce income.

Fortunately for us, the walk was re-opened by the time we arrived on our first visit in November 2006.

In fact, in either of our experiences here, we couldn’t see any evidence of the chainsaw attack that caused the closure in the first place.

Triplet_Falls_002_11152006 - The Triplet Falls Track was open during our visit in November 2006 and it didn't seem to show any evidence of the vandalism that took place that had closed the trail
The Triplet Falls Track was open during our visit in November 2006 and it didn’t seem to show any evidence of the vandalism that took place that had closed the trail

Nevertheless, such conflicts between profit and the health of our ecosystems point to an inherent dysfunction in our economic policies and signals.

It’s the very mechanism that creates perverse financial incentives to pursue short term profits at the expense of long term sustainability.

In this instance, by not properly pricing in the impacts or resulting clean-up of said economic activities, people are often at odds with themselves and each other (let alone the externalized societal costs of the impacted area).

The impossible choice at the heart of such conflicts involve choosing between money or jobs versus forsaking profit opportunities based on principles.

Triplet_Falls_17_094_11172017 - Thriving natural forests are necessary to sustain life, but when they're gone in the name of perverse economic incentives, then they're gone for good
Thriving natural forests are necessary to sustain life, but when they’re gone in the name of perverse economic incentives, then they’re gone for good

In essence, it was putting one’s worth in sustaining a modern living whilst destroying the land that sustains them against leaving things be only to have someone else seize such opportunities at that person’s expense instead.

Authorities

Triplet Falls resides in the Great Otway National Park near Apollo Bay, Victoria. It is administered by Parks Victoria. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: otway, otways, colac, great ocean road, lavers hill, warrnambool, port campbell, victoria, australia, waterfall, beech forest, apollo bay, young creek, otway fly



Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

No users have replied to the content on this page


Share your thoughts about what you've read on this page

You must be logged in to submit content. Refresh this page after you have logged in.

Visitor Reviews of this Waterfall:

If you have a waterfall story or write-up that you'd like to share, feel free to click the button below and fill out the form...

No users have submitted a write-up/review of this waterfall


Have you been to a waterfall? Submit a write-up/review and share your experiences or impressions

Review A Waterfall

Nearest Waterfalls



How To Build A Profitable Travel Blog In 4 Steps

Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.