Cape Otway, Victoria — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Cape Otway, in the Colac Otway Shire local government area.
| Locality | Cape Otway |
| State | Victoria (VIC) |
| Local Government Area | Colac Otway Shire |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT) |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional Australia |
| Latitude | -38.77925 |
| Longitude | 143.57546 |
| Population | 33 |
| Density | 0.4 /km² |
| Area | 82.2 km² |
| Elevation | 70 m |
| Postcode | 3233 |
| Area Code | 03 |
| Distance to Melbourne | 162 km southwest |
Cape Otway is a locality in the Colac Otway Shire local government area of Victoria, Australia. It is a small community with a population of 33. The locality covers an area of 82.2 km², giving a population density of about 0.4 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 70 m above sea level. It lies approximately 162 km southwest of Melbourne. Cape Otway is located at 38.7792°S, 143.5755°E. It observes Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT). Postcode: 3233. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Outer Regional Australia.
Cape Otway clings to the wild southwestern edge of Victoria, a place where the Southern Ocean asserts its dominion with a raw, untamed beauty. It lies 98.1 km south-west of Geelong, VIC (from Geelong, VIC: bearing 224°T), and is situated 7.4 km south-west of Apollo Bay. Here, the land plunges dramatically towards the sea, a rugged tapestry of ancient temperate rainforest, heathlands ablaze with colour in spring, and windswept cliffs that stand sentinel against the relentless surf. The air, perpetually carrying the tang of salt and eucalyptus, feels clean and invigorating, a constant reminder of the vast, unpopulated wilderness that stretches inland. Towering grey gums, their bark peeling like ancient parchment, dominate the higher ground, while ferns unfurl their delicate fronds in the dappled, humid gloom of the gullies, creating a landscape that hums with a quiet, persistent life.
The history of Cape Otway is etched in the very stones of its iconic lighthouse, a steadfast beacon that has guided countless mariners through treacherous waters since its construction in 1848. This sentinel of the sea stands as a testament to the perilous journeys undertaken by early settlers and the vital role this remote outpost played in connecting Australia to the wider world. For generations, the local economy has been shaped by the unforgiving coast, with fishing and timber milling forming the backbone of livelihoods, though today, tourism plays an increasingly significant part, drawing visitors to its dramatic coastline and the Great Ocean Road. The character of Cape Otway is one of resilience and quiet self-sufficiency, a place where the elements dictate the pace of life and the sheer grandeur of the natural world inspires a profound sense of awe.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Cape Otway, Victoria with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Cape Otway, in the Colac Otway Shire local government area.
Detailed location data for Cape Otway includes the postcode (3233), telephone area code (03), and local government area (Colac Otway Shire), with an ABS remoteness classification of Outer Regional Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Cape Otway is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |