Otways

StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesAireys Inlet
FinishForrest
DifficultyDifficulty 2/5
Suitable ForAWD Motorbike 
Distance94.32 km
Minimum Days2
Average Speed53 km/hr
Travel Time1 hr 46 mins 46 secs
Page Updated: 23 May 2025

Description

This trek is a great long weekender, particularly if you live in or around Melbourne. Our start and end point is only 120kms from Victoria's capital city and this trek is a wonderful introduction to the first time 4WDer with a good combination of tar and gravel roads. It is a 4WDer's dream - close to the city with plenty of tracks to explore.

The Gentle Annie Track has recently been resurfaced with a flat groomed gravel track and no 4WDriving is required. If you're after a more challenging 4WD adventure this is not the route to take - but there are tons of marked 4WD tracks on our map for you to explore (many are deeply rutted and steep but accessible by high clearance 4WD and experienced drivers).

The trek begins at Aireys Inlet on the famous Great Ocean Road and finishes in the township of Forrest. The Great Ocean Road follows the coast and there are numerous coastal towns, fantastic scenery and excellent fishing and surfing opportunities. At Aireys Inlet, there are a number of great walks and a particular favourite is before Lorne at the Cumberland River Reserve with walks to Jebbs Pool and Cumberland Falls. This is a great spot for camping.

How to Use this Trek Note

  • To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP

ExplorOz Traveller now features the NEW EOTopo 2025 mapset!

Environment

There is a great variety of landscape in this region. The coastal heathlands and open woodlands contrast greatly with the rainforests which are hundreds of years old. There is a large amount of wild life that may be seen throughout your trip to the Otways.

History

At the turn of the century most of the villages along the coast such as Lorne were cut off by the Otway Ranges and the only way of communicating easily with the outside world was by sea. In 1916, during the middle of the war, it was suggested that returned servicemen be employed to build roads to cut off areas.

From this initiative the Great Ocean Road trust was founded to provide employment for returned service men, and to create the road as a memorial to those who had served in the war. The road was mainly hacked out of the earth by manual labour and was completed in 1932. It is a long and winding road that starts officially at Torquay and finishes at Warrnambool.

The Otways or Otway Ranges were formed 150 million years ago when Gondwana began to break up. Home to the Katabanut Aboriginal people, the steepness and tall forests of the ranges prevented European settlement until the 1870's when some land was cleared. The Otways National Park was created in the mid-1980's. The Angahook-Lorne State Park comprises the Eastern Otways.

TrekID: 61

Preparation

MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek - Outback Safety, Outback Driving Tips, Outback Communications, and Vehicle Setup for the Outback.

TIP

Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability.

Permits

The Otway Range Forests offer a number of free campgrounds. Bookings are required for campsites in the Great Otway Range National Park.

Some tracks in the Otway Parks and Forests are closed between 1 June to 31 October. This trek travels on some seasonally closed tracks, so its best to contact Parks Victoria before finding you can't get through! For more information, call the Parks Victoria Information Line on 13 1963.

Fuel Usage

DieselULPLPG
4cyl 13 litres4cyl 12 litres *4cyl 19 litres
6cyl 14 litres6cyl 17 litres6cyl 17 litres
8cyl 14 litres8cyl 16 litres
Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

All year round - maybe avoid June to October when parts of the Parks are closed.

Closest Climatic Station

Aireys Inlet
Distance from Trek Mid Point 16.1km E
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C22.722.921.319.016.113.813.314.416.117.919.621.0
Mean Min. °C13.914.713.411.59.88.17.37.48.19.211.012.2
Mean Rain mm38.337.034.249.050.360.966.867.757.561.561.340.4
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Map

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Directions

Aireys Inlet to Gentle Annie Hill
Driving: 11.78 km
Heading: 287°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 13:20
  • Bike southwest. for: 0.11 km time: 00:03
  • Turn left onto Mangowak Lane. for: 0.02 km time: 00:01
  • Turn right onto Great Ocean Road/B100. for: 0.66 km time: 00:21
  • Turn right onto Lialeeta Road. for: 0.43 km time: 00:18
  • Turn right onto Ridge Road. for: 1.36 km time: 00:53
  • Turn left at the end of the road, ontofor: 0.81 km time: 00:48
  • Turn right. for: 0.32 km time: 00:08
  • Turn left onto Old Coach Road. for: 0.85 km time: 00:46
  • Turn right onto Boyd Avenue. for: 0.15 km time: 00:06
  • Turn right. for: 0.47 km time: 00:33
  • Turn right. for: 1.58 km time: 01:45
  • Turn left onto Gentle Annie Track. for: 5.03 km time: 07:39
Gentle Annie Hill to Benwerrin
Driving: 10.25 km
Heading: 248°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 11:36
  • Bike west on Gentle Annie Track. for: 5.36 km time: 07:42
  • Turn left at the end of the road, onto Seaview Road for: 3.18 km time: 03:10
  • Turn left at the end of the road, onto Deans Marsh - Lorne Road for: 1.7 km time: 00:44
Benwerrin to Big Hill Campground
Driving: 0.77 km
Heading: 186°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 52
  • Drive south on Deans Marsh - Lorne Road/C151. for: 0.77 km time: 00:52
Big Hill Campground to Mount Cowley
Driving: 14.55 km
Heading: 218°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 16:28
  • Drive southwest on Deans Marsh - Lorne Road/C151. for: 0.23 km time: 00:18
  • Turn right onto Benwerrin-Mt Sabine Road. for: 11.45 km time: 12:14
  • Turn left at the end of the road, onto Benwerrin-Mt Sabine Road for: 1.55 km time: 01:07
  • Turn left onto Mount Cowley Track. for: 1.22 km time: 02:30
  • Turn right. for: 0.11 km time: 00:20
Mount Cowley to Sharps Track Campground (Closed)
Driving: 7.56 km
Heading: 93°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 08:33
  • Bike east. for: 0.13 km time: 00:06
  • Bear right onto Garvey Track. for: 7.42 km time: 08:27
Sharps Track Campground (Closed) to Allenvale Mill Campground (tents only)
Driving: 3.4 km
Heading: 86°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 03:50
  • Bike east on Sharps Track. for: 1.27 km time: 01:31
  • Bear right. for: 0.09 km time: 00:02
  • Turn left. for: 0.04 km time: 00:01
  • Bear right onto Sharps Track. for: 1.51 km time: 01:54
  • Turn right. for: 0.34 km time: 00:14
  • Turn left. for: 0 km time: 00:00
  • Continue. for: 0 km time: 00:01
  • Continue. for: 0.16 km time: 00:08
Allenvale Mill Campground (tents only) to Lorne
Driving: 2.12 km
Heading: 54°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 02:24
  • Drive east on Allenvale Road. for: 1.39 km time: 01:32
  • Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit, onto Otway Street for: 0.29 km time: 00:17
  • Turn right onto William Street/22. for: 0.38 km time: 00:30
  • Turn left onto Mountjoy Parade/B100. for: 0.05 km time: 00:05
Lorne to Point Grey
Driving: 1.4 km
Heading: 131°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 01:35
  • Drive south on Mountjoy Parade/B100. for: 0.23 km time: 00:19
  • Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit, onto Mountjoy Parade for: 0.99 km time: 00:40
  • Keep left at the fork. for: 0.14 km time: 00:20
  • Turn left. for: 0.05 km time: 00:16
Point Grey to The Spit
Driving: 4.19 km
Heading: 216°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 04:44
  • Drive southwest. for: 0.05 km time: 00:05
  • Turn left. for: 0.14 km time: 00:39
  • Turn left at the end of the road, onto Ocean Road South for: 4.01 km time: 04:00
The Spit to The Brothers
Driving: 1.19 km
Heading: 235°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 01:20
  • Drive southwest on Great Ocean Road/B100/22. for: 1.19 km time: 01:21
The Brothers to Cumberland River Holiday Park
Driving: 0.68 km
Heading: 295°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 46
  • Drive west on Great Ocean Road/B100/22. for: 0.53 km time: 00:18
  • Keep right at the fork. for: 0.1 km time: 00:17
  • Turn left at the end of the road, ontofor: 0.02 km time: 00:04
  • Turn right. for: 0.03 km time: 00:07
Cumberland River Holiday Park to Jamieson Creek Campground
Driving: 4.67 km
Heading: 223°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 05:17
  • Drive southeast on Jamieson Track. for: 0.13 km time: 00:07
  • Turn left to stay on Jamieson Track. for: 0.61 km time: 00:42
  • Turn left at the end of the road, onto Great Ocean Road for: 3.85 km time: 04:14
  • Bear left. for: 0.04 km time: 00:04
  • Turn left onto Cumberland Track. for: 0.04 km time: 00:11
Jamieson Creek Campground to Lake Elizabeth Campground (tents only)
Driving: 24.34 km
Heading: 290°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 27:33
  • Drive northwest on Jamieson Track. for: 3.76 km time: 06:00
  • Turn right onto Wye Road. for: 8.88 km time: 11:11
  • Turn right at the end of the road, onto Benwerrin-Mt Sabine Road for: 2.11 km time: 01:57
  • Turn left onto Kaanglang Road/22. for: 8.18 km time: 07:13
  • Make a sharp right onto Baridjaru. for: 1.19 km time: 01:04
  • Turn left. for: 0.01 km time: 00:01
  • Turn right. for: 0 km time: 00:01
  • Continue on Lake Elizabeth Driveing Track. for: 0.01 km time: 00:00
  • Bear left. for: 0.11 km time: 00:02
  • Bear right. for: 0.1 km time: 00:05
Lake Elizabeth Campground (tents only) to Forrest
Driving: 7.42 km
Heading: 327°
Avg Speed: 53 km/hr
EST Time: 08:24
  • Drive east. for: 0.15 km time: 00:28
  • Turn right onto Lake Elizabeth Access Track. for: 1.65 km time: 01:20
  • Turn right at the end of the road, onto Kaanglang Road for: 3.95 km time: 04:45
  • Bear left onto Kaanglang Road/22. Continue on 22. for: 0.87 km time: 00:51
  • Turn right onto Station Street. for: 0.08 km time: 00:08
  • Turn left onto Blundy Street. for: 0.21 km time: 00:15
  • Turn right onto Grant Street/C119. Continue on C119. for: 0.5 km time: 00:32
  • Turn right. for: 0.01 km time: 00:06
Distance is based on the travel mode shown (Driving, Straight, Cycling, Walking etc), Direction is straight line from start to end, Avg Speed & EST Time is calculated from GPS data.

What to See

A great way to enjoy this region is to bush camp in the Otway Forest in one of the free campgrounds then make a day trip down to the coast to enjoy the beaches and maybe take a hike to the waterfalls. Check local Parks Vic information for closures.

Facilities

Where to Stay

Other than the camping options listed here, alternative vehicle based camping grounds are found further afield at Tanners Road Bend Campground, Hammond Road, Dandos, and Beauchamp Falls. (No vehicle based camping at Lake Elizabeth near Forrest). Beware of busy periods if seeking availability at free camps as this area is so close to Geelong and Melbourne it is a hot spot on weekends and holidays.

Services & Supplies

Wildflowers

Related Travel Journals

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