Hike at a Glance

Quick overview: Experience the 20.5km Cumberland River Trail, a Grade 3 moderate hike nestled in the Otways, Australia. Begin and end your circuit at the Cumberland River Holiday Park, passing the serene Cumberland Falls and exploring Upper and Lower Kalimna Falls along the way. This trail, with its dramatic cliffs, tranquil pools, and historic timber tramway route, offers an unforgettable bushwalking experience. Make sure to bring your swimmers for a dip in Jebb's Pool and prepare for some rock scrambling along the journey.

Length:

20.5km

Duration:

6.5 hrs

Grade:

Style:

Circuit

Max elevation: 269m

Min elevation: -25m

Total Ascent: 2535m

Start: Cumberland River Holiday Park

End: Cumberland River Holiday Park

Great Otway National Park

Victoria

Nearby town: Lorne

From state capital: 149km

Latitude: -38.574856

Longitude: 143.94889

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Hike overview

The Cumberland River Trail hike takes in the well-known Cumberland Falls, Upper and Lower Kalimna falls. The circuit starts and ends at the Cumberland River Holiday Park and can be undertaken in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. This hike takes in three of The Otway's most spectacular waterfalls.

Cumberland River and Cumberland Falls
This is one of the more beautiful river valleys in the Otways, with dramatic cliffs, and peaceful pools in which to cool off on a hot summer day. It is an easy walk to Jebb's Pool but beyond that to Cumberland Falls there are numerous river crossings and some scrambling over rocks.

Upper and Lower Kalimna Falls
The Kalimna Falls walk follows the route of a timber tramway used for transporting timber to the Lorne Pier between the 1890s and 1920s. Very few trees escaped the logging. The Lower Falls are not large, but you can get behind them and look out through the falling water to the large pool surrounded by mossy logs and rocks. The Upper Falls are a series of cascades viewed from a platform.

Track grade

Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.

Practical information

Hiking poles useful for river crossings
There are several low river crossings on the Cumberland River that should not be attempted at high river levels.
Slippery when wet

Walk map and GPX file
Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)

Total distance: 20512 m
Max elevation: 269 m
Min elevation: -25 m
Total climbing: 2535 m
Total descent: -2521 m

GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Thanks to Kyle Schonewille for contributing this hike

Explore safely

Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.

Leave a trip plan

Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.

Planning checklists

Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.

Getting there

Getting to the trailhead: Great Otway National Park.

From Melbourne by car
Follow the Princes Highway (M1) from Melbourne to Geelong, then take the Great Ocean Road (B100) through Torquay to Lorne. Or follow the Princes Highway (M1) from Melbourne to Geelong to Winchelsea (A1). Then take C151 via Deans Marsh to Lorne. The Cumberland River Holiday Park is located 7.8km past the Lorne Visitors Information Centre, west of Lorne, along the Great Ocean Road.

Public Transport to Lorne
V-line train/coach services depart daily from Melbourne to Geelong and along the Great Ocean Road to Lorne and Apollo Bay. V-line coach services connect along the Great Ocean Road from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell and Warrnambool on Friday all year (extra service during December -January). V-line enquiries – phone 136196. The Cumberland River Holiday Park is located 7.8km past the Lorne Visitors Information Centre, west of Lorne, along the Great Ocean Road.

Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.

Get there with Google Maps

Access conditions

2WD Access
Small Car Park
Public Toilets
Picnic Table

Accommodation nearby

Find Accommodation

Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.

Nearby towns: Apollo Bay, Beech Forest, Colac, Forrest, Lavers Hill, Lorne, Skenes Creek, Wye River

About the region

Great Otway National Park stretches from Torquay, along the world-famous Great Ocean Road and up through the Otways hinterland. Discover windswept coastlines and breathtaking waterfalls in tall mountain forests, walk the iconic Great Ocean Walk, immerse yourself in the Otway Lightstation's history, or surf some of the best breaks in Australia. Enjoy the great outdoors and explore the wonders of the Great Otway National Park. Great Otway National Park is in southern Victoria, Australia. It covers rugged coastland, beaches and the mountains of the Otway Ranges. Waterfalls dot the park, including the 3 cascades of Triplet Falls. Boardwalks lead through temperate rainforest at Maits Rest. The 1848 Cape Otway Lightstation perches on cliffs overlooking Bass Strait. Great Ocean Walk leads through the park to the Twelve Apostles rock formations.

Similar walks nearby

Looking for more walks in or near Great Otway National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.

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Reviews
Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)

3 Reviews on “Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)”

Overall rating

Adrian Hinton

This looks amazing! ??

24/03/2022, 05:23

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1. Josh Edwards
  
  Tim Dare we should run this
  
  24/03/2022, 05:23
  
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  1. Leesa Swanson
    
    Tracky Dax yeah I think an overnight camp could be on the cards ?
    
    24/03/2022, 05:23
    
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    1. Leesa Swanson
      
      Tracky Dax yeah I think an overnight camp could be on the cards ?
      
      24/03/2022, 05:23
      
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2. Sarah Illingworth
  
  Yesssss
  
  24/03/2022, 05:23
  
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3. Sarah Illingworth
  
  Yesssss
  
  24/03/2022, 05:23
  
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Simone Goodwin

Rhiannon Morgan Sarah Illingworth Emma Logan this looks like a good one!

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Michelle Shannon

Terry Shannon

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Debbie Reissmann

Peter ??

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Leesa Swanson

Suzie Sharp Tracky Dax Joelene Gordon-Cooke for when the weather warms up a bit? I don’t feel like getting my feet wet in this weather lol

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Jess Boyle

Stede Nyland lucky we didn’t stop here and just wing it

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Natalie Jane Birt

Tania SmithSmithCass Fitzgerald

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Kathleen Lau

Debbie Joyce de Belle

24/03/2022, 05:22

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1. Lauren Allen
  
  Eliza Shannon
  
  24/03/2022, 05:22
  
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  1. Megan Martinuzzo
    
    Jac Quie it’d be awesome to do! I’ll make sure I get to the lookout one day
    
    24/03/2022, 05:22
    
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    1. Megan Martinuzzo
      
      Jac Quie is thjs the one?
      
      24/03/2022, 05:22
      
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      1. Stede Nyland
        
        Jess Boyle was going to tag you earlier. But didnt want a hunger to go down there again. Only so many weeks left haha
        
        24/03/2022, 05:22
        
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      2. Mollie Elms
        
        Kyle Olinga we could do this!!
        
        24/03/2022, 05:22
        
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    2. Muhammad Naim
      
      Jay Daluz one day we do this gradually…
      
      24/03/2022, 05:22
      
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    3. Tammee Mitchell
      
      Josh Mitchell let’s do this one
      
      24/03/2022, 05:22
      
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    4. Krysta Beckenham
      
      Julie Schier when you get back and the weather is nicer
      
      24/03/2022, 05:22
      
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      1. Zoe Cant
        
        Lana Mae
        
        24/03/2022, 05:22
        
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    5. Tanya Blacker
      
      Kat Hutton Trace soft!!! ??
      
      24/03/2022, 05:22
      
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    6. Tanya Blacker
      
      Kat Hutton Trace We should stay down at Lorne one weekend and do this hike. ? ????
      
      24/03/2022, 05:22
      
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  2. Sarah Frew
    
    Josh Frew
    
    24/03/2022, 05:22
    
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2. Renai Crowe
  
  Joanna Jo-anna ZMel
  
  24/03/2022, 05:22
  
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  1. Rebekka Fairweather
    
    Katrina Haley ?
    
    24/03/2022, 05:22
    
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3. Tim Dare
  
  Josh Edwards yes Josh let’s do that it looks great?.
  
  24/03/2022, 05:22
  
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Matt Peter

Aimee Keays

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Robin Robin

Chelsie Sinkins well do this after a few starter hikes

24/03/2022, 05:22

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Acknowledgement of Country

Cumberland river trail walk (20. 5km) trail hiking australia

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

February 25, 2025

Hike at a Glance

Hike overview

Track grade

Practical information

Walk map and GPX file
Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)

Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)

Explore safely

Leave a trip plan

Planning checklists

Getting there

Access conditions

Accommodation nearby

About the region

Similar walks nearby

Mount Defiance – Jamieson Creek Circuit Hike (22km)

Aireys Eastern View Hike (13.1km)

Aireys Inlet Circuit Hike (20km)

Birregurra – Forrest Tiger Rail Trail Walk (7km)

Gallery

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Reviews
Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)

Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)

3 Reviews on “Cumberland River Trail Walk (20.5km)”

Leave a Review. Cancel reply

Acknowledgement of Country

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

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