Great Otway National Park

Great Otway National Park is a charming national park located in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia.

It covers a massive area of 103,185 hectares and offers diverse landscapes and habitats for visitors to explore.

In the past, commercial logging caused land degradation and stripped the park of its old-growth forest. Historic bushfires have also shaped the park's ecology and added to its biodiversity. The park was declared in 2004, following the merging of several reserves.

The park is a popular destination for tourists, with camping areas and various access routes. It encompasses both coastline and hinterland, offering beautiful beaches and lush forests with walking trails. Visitors can also see koalas, visit the Cape Otway Lighthouse, and witness migrating whales, dolphins, and glow worms.

The Otway Ranges have a cool and wet climate, with frequent precipitation. Snowfall is infrequent below 800 meters, but higher peaks can experience heavy snowfalls.

The park is home to a unique and diverse range of fungal species, benefiting the park's ecology. Many fungi species, including lichens, can be found in the park's habitats and microhabitats. The Southern Otways Landcare Network and Fungimap citizen science group are actively involved in surveying and documenting the park's fungi species.