Hopetoun Falls

Hopetoun Falls is a 30-metre waterfall on the Aire River in Great Otway National Park near Beech Forest, Victoria, within the Colac Otway Shire. Surrounded by cool temperate rainforest with myrtle beech and tree ferns, it is one of the Otways' most photographed waterfalls. Visitors access the falls via a short walking track with upper and lower viewing platforms offering close views of the cascade and forest gorge.

Visitors can expect a short rainforest walk from a car park to two viewing platforms overlooking Hopetoun Falls. The upper platform is a short 20-metre walk with a filtered view, while the lower platform is reached via approximately 200 steps descending into the gorge for a direct front-on view of the 30-metre cascade. The setting is dense cool temperate rainforest with tree ferns, myrtle beech and moss-covered surrounds, with the sound of the Aire River. Facilities are limited to car park, toilets and picnic area at the trailhead.

Named after John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, who served as Governor of Victoria from 1889 to 1895 and became Australia's first Governor-General in 1901. The falls have been a recognised tourist attraction since the early 1900s when access tracks were developed through the Otway Ranges timber and rainforest area.

Located within Great Otway National Park on the traditional Country of the Eastern Maar and Gadubanud peoples. The surrounding cool temperate rainforest landscape is of cultural and environmental significance and is managed for conservation, heritage protection and nature-based recreation.