Great Otway National Park, Victoria: The secret spot to see native glow worms

Victoria's Great Otway Ranges is a different beast at night. Wandering along the wooden boardwalk, guided only by the narrow light of your torch, you'll hear the rainforest come alive. The low growl of possums playing in the growth, the splash of a platypus slipping into water, and nocturnal gliders leaping between trees.

But the real magic begins when you turn off your torch. It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust, then hundreds of tiny green lights merge into view, twinkling in the dark forest like your own private cosmos. This starlight, created by the gossamer threads of native glow worms, is the radiant little secret of south-west Victoria.

As the wettest region in the state, the Otway rainforest is the ideal place to find glow worms, who thrive in moist environments. Barely the width of a paperclip, glow worms can be found hanging out along ledges where they produce a delicate silk rope that looks like a beaded necklace. Using the glow emitted from their translucent abdomens as bait, they attract insects to their sticky fishing line and, once ensnared, reel in their prey to be devoured.

"We call them glow worms because 'carnivorous fungus gnats' doesn't have the same appeal," says Bruce Jackson, owner of Otway Eco Tours, which operates guided small group tours of the rainforest, including afternoon kayaking trips at Lake Elizabeth where guests can spot platypuses and glow worms.

"Normally people walk on the track without noticing them, unless it's pitch black. Then people finally realise they're there and they become fascinated, especially the kids. It's like seeing the stars up close."

Bruce says glow worms can be found scattered right across the region, from Lorne to Lavers Hill, and too often day-trippers pass through without realising there are hidden gems to be discovered after dark. But before visitors start packing their torches and heading into the hills, it's best to ask a local where to find them.

"It's a lot like looking for mushrooms. There are spots where you won't see them, but then just a few metres down the path you'll find lots. You either need to know what you're looking for or go with someone who knows where they are."