It was an inauspicious start to our walk as the morning was wet and rainy and we had to navigate a route to Triplet Falls around road closures for long-distance bike races in the very area we were heading. Perhaps deterred by the weather and the difficulties getting there, only 8 members met at the Aireys Inlet Hall to go on the walk.
After a long drive we had a well-earned morning tea at Gellibrand in drier conditions.
Morning tea at Gellibrand
Once arriving at the car park for the Falls we chose to walk the circuit in a clockwise direction and so visited Little Aire Falls first.
Group at start of walk
Maybe because of the earlier rain, the fungi appeared thick and numerous, and also brought out some unique Otway Black Snails.
Fungi
Otway Snail
We were awed by the number of large, old Myrtle Beeches as well as some remnant Mountain Ash along the trail.
Trees on track
Buttress of Mountain Ash
Little Aire Falls were very picturesque and a great viewing while we had lunch.
Little Aire Falls
After lunch we continued back up the many steps and made our way to Triplet Falls.
Plenty of steps along the way
Triplet Falls are a picturesque and extensive set of cascades on Youngs Creek that richly deserve their name.
Triplet Falls with group
It was a bit of an anticlimax as we headed back to the car park to return to civilisation, but with the bonus that road closures were no longer in effect and we could take a more direct route home.
Report by Patrick Flanagan.
Photographs by Margaret MacDonald