Johanna Seaside Cottages

Explore our property, settled by our ancestors in 1888. Follow the meandering Johanna River which surrounds the property, looking out for platypus. Cross the river into our unspoiled bushland which is abundant with wildlife.  Follow the winding path through fern gullies and creeks and discover the old hut with its bark roof nestled in a quiet gully. Walk for miles along the beautiful and rugged Johanna Beach. Walking enthusiasts may choose to walk to Rotten Point, passing by the remains of the ‘Joanna’ ship which lay deep beneath the sands, wrecked in 1843.  

Visit Melba Gully. Known as the "Jewel of the Otways" it is a delightful walk through dense rainforest of Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and tree ferns with an understorey of low ferns and mosses.  The cascade rocks and springs start the falls of the Johanna River.  You will be overwhelmed at the 300-year-old Messmate tree, aptly named ‘The Big Tree’. Then head onto the amazing ‘Otway Fly’ near Beech Forest – a tree top canopy walk above the lush, green forest. It is the longest and highest treetop walk in the world. A café is located at the Otway Fly. Return to Melba Gully at night and see the thousands of Glow Worms light up the banks, undoubtedly topping off a wonderful day. You will need a torch - there is one in your cottage.

Walk the Spectacular WaterfallsNearby Turtons Track, an old gravel track, evokes images of the early days when almost the entire area was covered in forests of gigantic mountain ash. A short detour along this route leads to three spectacular waterfalls, Triplet, Hopetoun and Beachamp Falls. Triplet Falls and Heritage Trail is one of the most charming waterfalls in the Otways. Its broad, triple divided cascades tumble through a rainforest of national significance.

Breathe in the ambience of the cove and discover the round rock formations locally known as cannon balls. These were formed many millions of years ago when calcium carbonate dissolved in water in the sediments, crystallising out as they compacted gluing together the surrounding sediments in almost perfect spheres. 90 million years ago this part of Australia began to sink and the sea came flooding in separating Antarctica and Australia.  Then 30 million years ago sections of the land began to rise up, forming the Otway Ranges and the Strezleki Ranges and it is only now that this coast is weathering, exposing such geological formations.

Get ready for a breathtaking walk into the distant past, back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth 110 million years ago.
The walk begins at the eastern end of the Johanna beach not far from where the intercolonial trading vessel  “Joanna” was wrecked in 1843. After you have made your way back up the track head on towards Castle Cove where the view of the ocean just keeps getting better. If you look towards the sea it is hard to imagine that 110 million years ago what you would have been seeing is not an ocean but a broad river valley, almost as wide as the distance to the horizon. Over the horizon you can just see the tops of the high rift mountains that form the edge of Antarctica. It is in this green fertile valley that the dinosaurs lived along with many other animals that have now either become extinct or evolved to creatures we are familiar with, like the birds that you can hear all around you.

Castle Cove is a spectacular area where the effects of the relentless waves are evident, continually pounding away at the rocks to form this cove area. It is here that many a brave surfer takes to the water to try and catch that perfect wave.

On the walk back you may choose to follow The Great Ocean Road or return on the track. Either way keep a look out for those very cute, but at night extremely noisy, Koala’s. I’m sure that after a couple of days when the pain has eased in every part of your body remembering back to all those glorious views and seeing a glimpse of your first koala in the wild that you were glad you did it!  Anyone need a massage?