Great Otway National Park

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Great Otway National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)

Nearest town/city:	Apollo Bay
Coordinates:	38°46′24″S, 143°33′27″E
Area:	129 km²
Managing authorities:	Parks Victoria
Official site:	Great Otway National Park

Great Otway National Park is a national park in Victoria (Australia), 162 km southwest of Melbourne. The 103,000 ha park was declared in 2004 when Otway National Park, Angahook-Lorne State Park, Carlisle State Park, Melba Gully State Park, areas of the Otway State forest and a number of Crown Land reserves were combined into one park.

The park contains three camping areas - at Johanna, Aire River and Blanket Bay, and it can be accessed from the east via Apollo Bay, north via Forrest or Beech Forest, and from the west via Princetown. The park runs along the coast in the Otway Ranges, offering good access to beaches and to the Otway forest. There are many walking tracks in the park allowing access to the beaches. The Cape Otway Lighthouse is adjacent to the park, and open to tourists several days a week (visits by arrangement).

The park is also a popular area for interstate and international tourists. Many companies operate tours in the region for tourists.

Great Otway National Park, and in particular around Aire River Camp Ground, is a very reliable location for koala spotting as many koalas have made the area their home.