So if you have a few days to go exploring, this little part of the world is totally awesome ! The more advanced & difficult runs offer a bit of everything , long fast flowing singletrack , with jumps , some steep downhill near lake Elizabeth as well as some big drop offs . The Yaughter loop is a loop of 11.5 km, mostly singletrack, but some forestry roads. We had a 2 night stay and found everything we needed in the unit, and plenty to explore a short ride or drive away. The trails are good, well-maintained and well signposted. The eucalypt forests are beautiful Probably the most notable is its wide range of Mountain Bike trails. ... Forrest Mountain Bike Trails. Whether you’re after activities and adventure or peace and quiet, Forrest can provide it, and all set in the heart of Victoria’s beautiful Otway Ranges. Trail 6 was closed from wet but 4&5 were dry. Be careful of brown snakes which frequently sun themselves across the trails , being bitten wouldn't be fun as their bite is potentially deadly , so , watch out & be careful . At the gateway of the Otway Ranges, in the hinterland of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is the quaint old town of Forrest. The Otway Odyssey will be held on February 20 and the Great Otway Gravel Grind falls on February 21 in 2021. Totally uncrowded , especially during the week , a great place to explore the vast array of singletracks . Situated in the Otway Ranges National Park , the tiny town of Forrest was once previously a logging town , now it caters for mountain bikers more specifically . I feel the trail difficulties are over-stated. Mountain biking, hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife watching, beer, food, wine and pure relaxation – the list of things to do in Forrest is long. The Otway Fly . About Us | WHERE: Branch Rd, Little River, VIC 3211. Every time i visit this place I want to stay for longer to ride more trails , the trails & the place have an entrancing quality that make you want to return again & again , & the place offers some of the best free camping anywhere in Australia , where , in summer , you can camp out by Lake Elizabeth , go fishing & swimming as well as the place being surrounded by the lush forest of the Otway Ranges National Park . A traditional Guesthouse with long verandahs, rambling gardens and boutique décor, Forrest Guesthouse is all about getting away to the country. Designed around the village of Forrest, these trails showcase the natural beauty of the Otway Ranges, passing through tall eucalypt forests, dry heathy scrub and dense fern gullies. Enjoy the abundant nature and waterfalls walks close by. The Southern Loop looks good (especially Red Carpet) but I discovered I'd buckled my front wheel in the said argument with the tree (you might say it won) and I could only limp around. Forrest Hire Bikes are based at Forrest, Victoria in the heart of the Otway Ranges. Two days spent riding in this place isn't long enough , it is a mecca for mountain biking . The more extensive trail network is just to the north of the town , take the left at Boundary Road & less than a kilometre in will take you to the central carpark for the trail network . The trails around Lake Elizabeth are a bit easier , although the flowing singletrack of 'Red Carpet' will satiate the needs of most mountain bikers with its smooth fast flowing singletrack . About 30 kilometres inland from the Great Ocean Road and 162 kilometres from Melbourne. The massive Mountain Ash trees are truly spectacular and rival Californian Redwoods for the world’s tallest tree. No serious climbs but some serious fun... even though I had an argument with a tree about who had right of way. Another trail head , away from the main trails , south of town towards Lake Elizabeth , is where more flowing singletracks branch out around the large lake . Only a 40 minute drive down from the forest to the Great Ocean Road will land you along one of the most scenic coastal roads I have seen anywhere , the closest seaside town being Apollo Bay . Extensive, varied trail network linked by fire roads. The vast network of trails , singletracks , burms & jumps make for days of fun & great adventure . The trails are world class , with an incredible amount of variety , for the beginner to the more advanced double black runs . Trail head facilities a bit neglected. Once a logging town in the late 1800s, it has seen many changes from tramways carrying freshly cut timber into the railway, to mountainbiking that now makes up a large portion of the economy of Forrest. Terms | Privacy. there is limited mobile coverage , so take food & water or energy drinks in your pack , & a compass with the trail map , then you can be sure to have all bases covered in case you get lost . Situated in the breathtaking scenery of the Great Otway National Park the Forrest MTB Trails offers some of the most diverse and fun trails in Australia. The town of Forrest is also only a half hour drive from one of Australia's most scenic places , the Great Ocean Road , so if you want to go for a surf the southern ocean beaches are just a close drive away with little seaside towns dotted along the way . 1. I can only give this place a rating of 5 out of 5 . But there are plenty of other activities to keep you … The Paddys Swamp Trail Bike Visitor Area is easily accessed via Winchelsea, which is situated halfway between Geelong and Colac on the Princes Highway. Or if you like to move at a faster pace, ride the internationally renowned mountain bike trails that wind through the spectacular Otway Ranges. The area now has over 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) of sign posted "single track". You Yangs Regional Park. Singletracks Merch | Recently the Forrest MTB Trails have had a revamp & makeover ,thanks to the guys at World Trail .The southern trails starting from the trail head right in town are well worth exploring .Forrests signature run ,'Red Carpet' is an utter joy to ride ,with flowing roller coaster sections ,offering technical challenges & flowing singletrack through lush forest high above Lake Elizabeth & the Barwon River .The southern trails traverse above the Barwon River & lake Elizabeth ,offering totally beautiful views of the valley . It ranges from trail to hardcore cross country. This trail network extends around the beautiful Lake Elizabeth where there is free camping if you don't want to stay at any of the B n B's in town . There is a lot of climbing in each of the "black" trails. Sign-posting on the trails heading out of Forrest and around Lake Elizabeth could be better. Albeit with a loop as well. The Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park are situated south of the Princes Highway which runs between Geelong and Warrnambool. NEAREST DISCOVERY … Purpose-built mountain bike trails Check out the Forrest Trails, considered to be some of the best in Australia. UîçÛ}N;Á&uV¾8MðÌRÚ«äb¶? The Otway Odyssey is held here. So while the 100km Otway Odyssey doesn’t repeat any trails, it does past through Forrest twice before finishing there. Further details can be found at the official website www.rideforrest.com.au. Forrest Mountain Bike Trails A network of over 50km of sustainable, cross-country mountain bike trails in the picturesque Otway Ranges near the small township of Forrest. However , for most of the year , its unspoilt riding through flowing trails under the rainforest canopy , even wet its great fun , although more technical . Good fishing , good swimming & not many campers make this place ideal to take a few friends with their bikes , although it is assumed people always clean up once they leave , a fair enough rule for free camping in awesome environs . According to a report prepared for the Colac Otway Shire council, the mountain bike destination industry in Australia has grown exponentially since trails opened in Forrest in 2005, with large-scale destination trail projects being established across the country. Some of the trails snake through lush rainforest & the landscapes change from trail to trail . 1st time staying at the charming Forrest village. Some trails are excellent, others fairly ordinary. Only a half hours drive from Forrest is the Great Ocean Road , one of the world's most scenic drives , as the road snakes around the coastline , with National Parks to the north & the Southern Ocean on the south , cool little seaside towns adorn this stretch of coastline , & the surfing is awesome , with spots dotted along the coast . Drove up from Apollo Bay and took an old 50mm travel hardtail out on the trails. The ground is mostly packed soil with a couple of trails having sandy soil (this makes them great in wet winter days because they drain well). Some of the best mountain bike races are single loops, or even point to point. The trails are in two parts: the Southern trailhead is in town with a parking area, toilets and shelter; and the Yaughter trailhead is south of the town a couple of kilometres up a dirt road called Boundary Road - parking only, no facilities. Best Bike Trails | If some regular maintenance occurred then maybe the trails would merit some technical ability but at moment not so. There are some major events held here including the Giant Odysey as well as the famous Forrest six hour held annually . Forrest is situated in the very heart of Victoria's Great Otway National Park. Best MTB Gear | Forrest Mountain Bike Trails 2 Baridjaru (Great Otway National Park) Linking Forrest to Lake Elizabeth this trail showcases the natural beauty of the Otway Ranges, passing through tall eucalypt forests, dry heathy scrub and dense fern gullies. There is a nearby lake , Lake Elizabeth , where you can camp for free pretty much the entire year . The trails run through native eucalyptus forest and there's a good chance to encounter some native wildlife. The Great Otway Gravel Grind (or GOGG) is an organised gravel event that is held at Forrest, Otway National Park, Victoria. Discover the Great Otway National Park on one of the fully guided tours. My favourite trails were 'Yo Yo' and 'Follow the Dog'. There’s over 65km of single track weaving through everything from tall eucalypts, native bush to magical fern gullies.....quite simply there is … There are places to stay in town , great little B & B's & a pub in town with gourmet beers & good food . With a great location in the heart of The Otways the accommodation is perfect for those who want easy access to the Forrest bike trail heads, walking tracks and a cold beer next door at The Forrest Brewery. A stunning area with a singletrack that surrounds the lake , with views of the Barwon Resevoir from some parts of the upper singletracks. And the Otway Odyssey will be point to point again in 2021. On the oval, you pass through a marked section where you can leave a bag with items you might or will need. The main technical challenges are branches to hop, and a rare larger drop-off. A tiny township in the Otway Ranges, Forrest is renowned for its wealth of mountain bike trails. As well as the many bush walks and waterfalls close by, the walk around Lake Elizabeth (located in the heart of the ranges) is a place not to be missed. Start at the boundary Road carpark , ride in from town or drive in , then start from the carpark which is central to all the trails & loops . At night an eerie mist settles on the lake , & the unique Australian platypus can be seen swimming on the surface in the evenings & early mornings , an illusive little marsupial , cute & furry , with a deadly sting in its tail though , they usually keep to themselves though . There are 60 km of trails in this Forrest network , there are the Yaugher Trails just north of the town , turn left down boundary Road for the Yaugher Trails , its well signposted , as are all the trails . This the best starting point to learn about the Otways Ranges rainforest and how it works. Upon leaving Forrest I am already planning my next visit. ie Tiger snakes & brown snakes , equally as deadly ! 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