Lake Elizabeth

Lake Elizabeth, hidden deep in the Otways near the township of Forrest, is an inspiring sight with heavily timbered flanks and calm waters punctuated by the trunks of dead trees, drowned when the valley was flooded.

The lake was created more than 50 years ago when record rainfall sent thousands of tonnes of rock and earth tumbling into the East Barwon River, damming the river and forming a lake in a remote forested valley.

Lake walk
Experience the full beauty of the Otways forest, with its towering trees and dense fern glades, on the 2-kilometre loop walk to and around the lake from the car park. The path follows the new course of the river and passes a billabong with a backdrop of giant ferns and onto the western end of Lake Elizabeth to a viewing platform with scenic views up the length of the lake. Information boards along the way explain more about the lake and the plants and animals in and around it.

The lake is home to platypuses and you can join an early morning canoe tour to view these unique creatures.

A picnic area is located just downhill from the car park, with compost toilets and a natural bush camping area close by.

How to get there
Kaanglang Road, Forrest. Follow the signs off the Forrest-Skenes Creek Road to the car park a few kilometres along a dirt road. A challenging 7 kilometre cycle track leads from Forrest, past the Barwon Reservoir to the lake.