Mount Defiance - Jamieson Creek Circuit is a 22km, grade 3 hike located in Great Otway National Park, Victoria. The hike should take around 5-6 hours to complete.
Hike overview
The Mount Defiance - Jamieson Creek walk is a 22 km circuit trail near Lorne, Victoria, that utilises 4WD tracks of varying condition, width, use (seasonly closed to vehicles), a well formed unsealed road and the Great Ocean Road.
Starting at the Cumberland River Camping Ground carpark on the Great Ocean Road, the walk circumnavigates the Jamieson Creek Catchment. The 4WD Cumberland Track commences behind the Camping ground office and after an initial steep climb is a steady climb along the ridge line for 9 km to Curtis Track. The Cumberland River catchment is on the right side.
The track narrows on progress up the ridge line. Nice views of Castle Rock across the Cumberland River valley early on in the hike. The tracks becomes muddy near Curtis Track. Turn left into Curtis Track. Curtis Track was very muddy with big ponds of water. Turn left from Curtis Track into Wye Road which is a well formed unsealed road. Forest scenery is beautiful in this area.
Continue down Wye Road and turn left into the sign posted 4WD Jamieson Track. Spectacular views of the Great Ocean Road as you progress down Jamieson Track to the Jamieson Camping ground. Continue to the Great Ocean Road and either walk the last 4km section along the Great Ocean Road and enjoy the coastal views or if the tide is suitable along the beach (lots of rock scrambling). The other option would be to arrange a car shuffle to avoid this last section.
A challenging walk due to distance, muddy sections and some steep climbs but well worth it for the magnificent scenery, both forest and coast.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 478 m
Min elevation: 6 m
Total climbing: 1044 m
Total descent: -1044 m
Tips
- Navigation is easy as you basically keep turning left.
- No river or creek crossings.
- Upper end of Cumberland Track and Curtis Track muddy during the wetter times of the year.
Trail location
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Sorry, unable to load the Maps API.
Getting there
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.
Access conditions
- 2WD Access
- Public Transport
- Bitumen Road
- Large Car Park
- Accessible Parking
- Picnic Table
- Camping Area
About the region
The 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 trails nearby
Explore Safe
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Let someone know
Adventure with peace of mind: Fill out your trip intentions form. Before you hit the trail, fill out an online form to privately send important details about your hike to your family or friends. If you don’t return on time, they can easily alert emergency services, preventing worry and ensuring a swift response. Hike with peace of mind and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Be smart, be safe: Register your plans here.
Gear to consider
My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
Suggest an edit
Does this hikes information need updating? Sometimes the route, trail features or access conditions change.
Acknowledgement of Country
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.