The two hamlets sprawl over several kilometres. Wye River in the south has about 300 houses plus the Wye General store and Wye Beach Hotel, the CFA, two caravan parks, the Surf Club and a patrolled surf beach. Separation Creek is a quiet hamlet to the north with 100 houses and a quiet beach.
FOOD
Wye General store
The Wye General Store and Cafe has the best coffee on the Great Ocean Road. A hearty breakfast and nutritious lunch. The cafe is often packed with families at weekends. Also a good choice of basic provisions.
The Wye Beach Hotel serves lunch and dinner. Good pub fare with a spectacular view overlooking surfers on the ocean break.
WALKS
Walking map
The perennial favourite is Paddy’s Path, a pretty 20min walk on the hillside between Wye River and Separation Creek. The alternative beach walk between the hamlets is an opportunity to enjoy the rocks and pools on the way. Folks often go via the path and return via the beach.
The Riverwalk follows Wye River past the caravan park and a few km up into the edge of the rainforest.
The Wye Track heads steeply into the forest from the end of Dunoon Av, and kilometres later meets connecting forest roads.
Birds Track to the south of Wye rises over a high ridge and down to the Ocean Road, a good 1 hour workout with pretty views.
The Wye Road can be reached from Separation Ck, is well formed passing through rainforest and eventually meets up with the road to Forrest township.
WILDLIFE
Crimson Rosella
Over 20 species of birds are seen in the hamlets daily, typically King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas, Currawongs and Kookaburras, one of the joys of holidaying locally. Some birds like the huge Black Cockatoos are seen in warm months. Along the coast are Herons, Gannets and Gulls and in the river flats large groups of ducks.
Koalas often set up residence in trees around town, often just metres from local houses. When walking in the forest tracks it is common to see Wallabies and sometimes Echidnas. As is typical in Australian bush there are the odd snakes, harmless when left alone. Local stories:
Black Cockatoos visit
Dive-bombing Gannets
Baitfish megafeast
Birds make us happy
GOR birds
Koala walks up the road with us
Whales
HISTORY
Remnants of the century old Wye pier that opened up milling
Wye River and surrounds is on Gadabanud Country. The Gadabanud name is also know as Katubanut and means King Parrot people.
The town was settled by British colonisers in 1885. As piers and ships opened up access, timber milling flourished for a while, then with the opening of the Great Ocean Road, tourism became its lifeblood. Local bushman Paddy Harrington epitomised the struggle to live and adapt to the changing times, fleeting wealth and descent into poverty. Local stories go into fascinating detail:
The Saw-milling boom and bust
Paddy Harrington colourful pioneer
FIRE REGENERATION
Fires touched Wye periodically over the past century, but none as serious as Christmas day 2015 when fire engulfed the town with 118 houses destroyed and no lives lost. The fire increased the resolve of the local community to continue, and now many new upmarket houses have replaced old houses. Fewer trees has opened up views and there is a feeling of optimism in town. The forest is steadily regenerating and in most places there is little evidence of the fire. Local stories:
Fantasy forest of black
Starting over after cleanup
Wye regenerates
Drums on the beach
BEACHES
Wye Beach
Wye River beach is broad and sandy, patrolled in warmer months with volunteers from the very active Lifesaving Club, which boasts over 400 members and a thriving Nippers program, amazing for a small holiday town. The clubhouse doubles as a town meeting place, hosting over 50 meetings after the bushfires. The beach is very busy in summer and always has a few keen surfers out on the waves. Rocks at each end of the beach are ideal for rock pool rambling and a good casting place for fishermen.
Separation Creek beach is quieter all year round, an advantage not lost on the locals. Local stories:
Wye in Aust top 10 beaches
Nightly sound and light show
Rockpools
Petrified rock gallery
PET FRIENDLY
Dogs DO like holidays!
Many families on holiday in Wye and Sep bring their dog, many of which get their first water experience on the local beach. About half the holiday houses are pet friendly. Local stories:
World dog day at Sep
Dog travel tips
Tips for dog owners staying in Wye and Sep here. It includes the best places for exercising dogs and has local Vet contacts.
DRIVES
Fabulous views of the coast along the way, here Cape Patton
Wye River is located midway along the most spectacular part of the Great Ocean Road. High cliff tops, tight corners, isolated beaches and glorious views.
A favourite road trip is the scenic route from Wye River via the clifftop Ocean Road south to Carisbrooke, where the Falls are the closest to the Great Ocean Road.
Turn at Skenes Creek, then wind up through the rainforest to the foodie town of Forrest for a degustation lunch at Bespoke Harvest.
Then continue on through picturesque farmland in Pennyroyal valley to Lorne, a coffee, then more clifftop scenery on the Ocean Road back to Wye River. Magic.
Local stories of favourite drives:
Apollo Bay, Crayfish capital
The hidden Redwood forest
The free Attractions Guide with alternative holiday activities and itineraries – download here.
COMMUNITY
A community tree planting on Paddy’s Path
Although the community only has about 60 full time residents, there is a much larger group of landowners who come at weekends and the two groups gel into a strong supportive community. Visitors are welcomed into local activities.
The CFA is the core of locals with a very active group of about 20 members and 60 support members. The two annual CFA fetes in January and Easter are huge fun events and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for firefighting equipment.
The Surf club has over 400 members and arranges comedy nights and fundraisers in summer.
A Progress Association is active in lobbying for improvements and to protect the local environment, and after the 2105 fire a vigorous Resilience committee helped steer the community and government agencies together in rebuilding.
Otway Coast Tourism is a group of local business owners who meet to improve the local tourism experience.
There is a cycle of social rebirth over generations: folks first come as kids to camp, then bring their own young families back for holidays and even buy a place of their own in this wilderness paradise.
EXPERIENCE WYE
The best way to experience Wye and Sep is to come on holiday, relax and feel the vibe. After two days you start to unwind. Three is better and even a week if you can. Studies show a walk on the beach soothes the mind and body.