Melba Gully (Parks Victoria) — Attraction in Lavers Hill

“Welcome to Melba Gully” Part of text on sign board: “In 1921 Mrs Jessie Fry established tea rooms on this site, which she named after Australia's famous singer Dame Nellie Melba (1861-1931). Through the 1930s and 1940s the tea rooms were a popular stop for bus tourists, but business came to an end in 1948 when a bus length limit was imposed on Otway roads. The property later came into the hands of the Madsen family, who offered it to the Victorian Conservation Trust in 1975.

Victoria has a rich and diverse Aboriginal cultural heritage. Indigenous Australians have been intrinsically connected to Country through their rich and diverse culture - including in this area now known as Great Otway National Park - for tens of thousands of years.

Cultural places, objects and practices are of great significance and provide an ongoing link for Indigenous people with their culture and their past.

Caring for Country is the fabric of Indigenous social, spiritual, economic and physical wellbeing and is the basis of Indigenous Australians cultural lore.

This forms an important part of the heritage of all Australians and Parks Victoria recognises these connections and acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities of these areas.”

“Great Dames of the Forest” Text on sign board: “Take your time along this 35 minute loop walk. The track follows an easy gradient but becomes steep past Anne's Cascade. It can be wet underfoot; sturdy walking shoes will add to your comfort and safety. Melba Gully named after Australia's famous opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba in 1921, features rainforest rich with life and history. For tens of thousands of years, local Aboriginal people collectively known as Maar, have held an ongoing spiritual connection with this area that continues.to provide important cultural and historic links. Please keep to the paths and steps that will guide you the wire guides and also free to protect this spectacular part of the Great National Park”

“Anne's Cascade” Text on sign board: “You have arrived at the soothing waters of Anne's Cascades named after Anne Madsen whose family generously offered Melba Gully to the Victorian Conservation Trust in 1975. The waterways of the Otways provide habitat for a range of wildlife who rely on its fresh waters for food, shelter and breeding. Large and small furred or finned local animals include the Otway stonefly, freshwater crayfish, the Powerful Owl platypus, and a variety of insects. Keep a keen eye out for platypus. According to the Maar people, sighting this curious creature in the wild is a symbol of good luck. Healthy...

Melba Gully is wonderful place to visit at night to see the glow worms. Yes, it will be dark, but usually you will find other people there as well, so no need to feel nervous about the conditions at Melba Gully. The walk is really quite short. You could get it done in 25 minutes as return trip. You will see glow worms in great quantity after a few hundred meters in. Do not feel disheartened if you don’t see them in the first half of the walk. The best part of the show is the section leading up to Anne’s Cascades which is quite a fair way in. No need to turn back too early! Have faith in the spectacle awaiting you. Shine the torch in the ground, otherwise you may risk not seeing some of the ethereal blue glow. It’s quite hard to photograph the glow worms so there are no photos here, but it is really quite a sight to...

We arrived around 11pm, this was our experience: the glowing worms are great! They were on the rock faces and were very pretty and unique very dark and spooky! No light at all, and I was with one other person but we would definitely recommend going as a group short walk up to Anne's cascade but turned back as it was so dark, which took 20 mins total. But there is also a circuit walk 35 mins If you're staying around the area with a group of friends, would definitely be worth a visit but wouldn't recommend driving a long distance solely for this experience or...