Finding Glow Worms in the Otways

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Visit Melba Gully at night to see hundreds of tiny pinpricks of light gleaming and twinkling in the dark forest creating a magical effect. During the 9-month larval stage, the glow worms live in damp, dark places throughout the Otways, such as the soil banks and overhanging ledges along the walking tracks in Melba Gully.

As you quietly tip-toe through the dark forest, you’ll see them hanging like green and blue fairy lights. But stay quiet, or else their light will go out! Bring a torch but avoid shining it directly at the glow worms, as they ‘turn out the lights’ when disturbed.

Melba Gully is one of the wettest places in Victoria. Madsens Track Nature Walk, which starts at the picnic ground and loops back through dense rainforest of Myrtle Beech, Blackwoods, Hard and Soft Tree Ferns, Epiphytic Ferns and mosses. The circuit takes 35 minutes to complete and gets very steep towards the end, but you can turn back at any time.

During the day there is a constant chatter of birds and you might see a shy swamp wallaby, spot-tailed quoll or platypus. At night, you’ll hear nocturnal animals like possums at play and, of course, see the glow worms. There’s a picnic area with gas barbecue and toilets (camping not permitted).

Did you know that Glow Worms are bioluminescent (aka glow in the dark) maggots of a mosquito-like fly? But whatever they really are, there’s no denying that a walk through Glow Worm territory at night can be a magical sight.