Beauchamp Falls is one of the most spectacular of the waterfalls close to the Great Ocean Road. The shape of the falls is absolutely beautiful and it’s surrounded by giant fern covered cliff walls which give it a dramatic feel.
The walk to get there takes you through pristine rainforest and if you are feeling daring you can take a plunge in the cool water at the base of the falls.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Beauchamp Falls.
The walk to Beauchamp Falls
The stats
Distance: 3km return
Elevation: 145m
Difficulty: Easy but not flat
The walk to get to Beauchamp Falls is all on a well maintained track, with handrails on any sections that might be slippery.
Most of the way back up to the car park from the falls is uphill, but it doesn’t take long (we took an hour to walk to and from the falls) and it is very much worth it. The shade from the forest canopy makes it a lot easier than it would be if it were exposed to the sun.
Starting the trail: into the rainforest
From the moment you step into the forest, the trail is beautiful. It’s a gorgeous walk in its own right even if it didn’t lead to a jaw-dropping waterfall.
You’ll descend on a well maintained dirt track fully surrounded by the forest, keeping the path wonderfully shady.
The towering beech trees and magnificent tree ferns give the forest an almost enchanted feel and it’s a real delight right from the first step.
After 800m the path stops descending and flattens completely for 400m. You’ll wander beside the trickling creek and over picturesque bridges and boardwalks.
Descending to the falls
Once you leave the flat path behind, the last section to the falls is the steepest of the track.
It’s a mix of steps and sloped trail, and anywhere where it’s steep and potentially slippery, there are handrails for stability.
You can feel the forest getting damper and damper and after 200m you’ll reach the lookout over the falls.
Just before the lookout you’ll see the path down to the base of the falls, but we recommend checking out the lookout first.
The viewpoint offers a fabulous view of the falls, pool and the magnificent cliff walls. Even when other waterfalls in the area had relatively little water, Beauchamp was pumping and it’s an incredible sight to see.
Once you’ve taken in the view from up high it’s very much worth continuing to the base of the falls, which is just 50m away.
The bottom of Beauchamp Falls
The first time we ever visited Beauchamp Falls there was no path to the bottom and you had to go for a bit of a scramble. Since then a proper path has been added which makes it much easier.
Head a minute back from the lookout and you’ll see the steps on your right that lead down to the base of the falls - it only takes a minute. They are often very wet and a tiny bit uneven and slippery, but again there’s a handrail for stability.
Once down, you have a few metres of track left to the true bottom of the falls. It can be very muddy here after rain, so you’ll want hiking boots or shoes you don’t mind getting messy!
Other than that it’s fairly easy; just a few rocks and some mud to negotiate before you reach the falls.
There are lots of rocks just in front of the pool which make for a great place to sit and take in the incredible view.
It really is stunning and even more beautiful when seen from the bottom up.
There can be a lot of spray here and it also gets windy, so watch out for camera gear if you’re visiting when the flow is big.
Swimming at Beauchamp Falls
There is a reasonable size pool at the base of the falls, but there are a number of logs and rocks in it which make the space for swimming smaller than it would otherwise be. For that reason, it’s more of a plunge pool experience than somewhere to have a proper swim.
The pool rarely gets sunlight so the water is cold year round, but it’s definitely invigorating! Entering the water is pretty easy but you do have to watch for the slippery rocks and logs.
Getting to Beauchamp Falls
Beauchamp Falls is located in the Great Otway National Park and is very close to several other waterfalls which we mention in this post.
It’s a 45 minute drive from Apollo Bay and one hour from Port Campbell.
The final part of the road to the falls is a dirt road, but it’s in excellent condition and doesn’t require any clearance.
Facilities at Beauchamp Falls
There is an excellent campsite at the trailhead to the falls. The views are great and it has a lovely vibe. It would also allow you to get down to the falls early or late and avoid most of the crowds that come during the day.
There are toilets and a picnic area.
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