Melba Gully

Melba Gully is a cool temperate rainforest gully within the Great Otway National Park in Victoria's Otways, near Lavers Hill in the Colac Otway Shire. Known as the Jewel of the Otways, it protects ancient myrtle beech, blackwood and tree ferns. It is notable for its dense rainforest canopy, fern gullies, and a renowned glow worm colony visible after dark along Madsen's Track.

Visitors can expect a sheltered rainforest gully with a short loop walking track (Madsen's Track Nature Walk) through myrtle beech and tree ferns, boardwalks and steps, a small day-use picnic area with toilets and information shelter, and dense forest canopy. At dusk and after dark, glow worms can be seen along the track banks. The site is a day-use area for short nature walks, photography and birdwatching within Great Otway National Park.

Formerly reserved as Melba Gully State Park to protect one of Victoria's few remaining cool temperate rainforest remnants, later incorporated into the Great Otway National Park in 2004. Named after Dame Nellie Melba, the gully preserves old-growth myrtle beech forest that survived extensive clearing and logging in the Otways region.

Located on Gadubanud Country within the Eastern Maar traditional lands. The rainforest holds cultural and natural heritage value as a rare example of cool temperate rainforest in Victoria and is managed for conservation, education and nature-based tourism.