Otway Coast facts for kids
The Otway Coast is a beautiful part of the Great Ocean Road in south-eastern Australia. It's located between the towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay in Victoria. This area is famous for its amazing beaches and the Great Otway National Park. Small towns like Separation Creek, Wye River, Kennett River, Wongara, and Sugarloaf are found along this special coastline.
History of the Otway Coast
The Otway Coast became a popular place for holidays after World War I. Soldiers who returned from the war helped build a stunning road along the cliffs. This road is known as the Great Ocean Road.
The towns along the Otway Coast were first settled in the late 1800s. However, they only became popular beach resorts when the Great Ocean Road opened in 1932. These towns are smaller and less developed than other places along the coast.
On December 25, 2015, a large bushfire affected the area. It destroyed 18 homes in Separation Creek. At Wye River, 98 homes were lost. Luckily, no lives were lost in either town during this event.
Koalas of the Otway Coast
The Otway Coast is home to one of Australia's most successful wild koala populations. Their numbers grow every year. This is because there is plenty of suitable food and habitat for them.
Koalas here enjoy eating leaves from trees like manna gum and blue gum. These trees provide the perfect diet for them. The healthy environment helps the koalas thrive and increase their numbers.
Great Otway National Park
A large part of the Otway Coast is covered by the Great Otway National Park. This park offers many walking tracks and beautiful waterfalls. It's a fantastic place to explore nature.
The park features magnificent trees found in ancient rainforests. It also has drier forests on the inland slopes. You can find very diverse heathlands and woodlands too. The coastline here is spectacularly rugged and beautiful. During winter, the park's waterfalls are especially striking and powerful.
