Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DON'T MISS
FORREST
Tucked away in the hinterland of the Otways, a 30-minute drive from Apollo Bay, the former logging town of
Forrest has emerged as one of the new tourist hot spots in the Otways.
Since the decline of the logging industry, it's reinvented itself as one of the best
mountain-biking
destinations
in the state. Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) have opened 16
trails (adding up to more than 50km) - ranging from beginner to highly advanced. Grab a trail map
(
www.rideforrest.com.au/trails
)
from the
Corner Store
(
www.thecornerstoreforrest.com.au
;
cnr Blundy & Sta-
tion Sts, Forrest; 10am-5pm), which also does the best coffee and pies in town, and rents out bikes and ar-
ranges tours through
MTB Skills
(
www.mtbskills.com.au
;
bike hire half-/full day $65/85;) . It hosts the
Otway
Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon
(
www.rapidascent.com.au
)
in late February, and
Forrest Festival
(
www.forrestfestival.com.au
)
stage race held in the first weekend of December.
Located 7km from Forrest is scenic
Lake Elizabeth
, famous for its population of platypus, and surreal
scenery of dead trees jutting from its glassy water.
Otway Eco Tours
( 0419 670 985;
www.platypustours.net.au
;
adult/child $85/50) runs guided canoe trips at dusk and dawn to spot platypus. There's
also free camping here; BYO drinking water.
The town is also known for the
Forrest Brewing Company
( 03-5236 6170;
www.forrestbrewing.com.au
;
Apollo Bay Rd, Forrest; 6-beer tasting pallet $10; Thu 10am-late, Fri-Sun 9am-late, daily Dec-Jan) micro-
brewery where you can sample eight different beers brewed on-site and dig into quality pub meals.
Accommodation options include the wonderful
Forrest Guesthouse
( 03-5236 6446;
www.forrestaccommodation.com.au
;
16 Grant St; s/d $100/150; ), with rustic rooms and a charming cafe,
which has homemade pies and local beers on tap. It also rents out bikes. Otherwise,
Forrest Caravan Park
(
0447 588 348; sites per person $10.50, cabins from $60) has campsites and cabins.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Kennett River
Located 5km along from Wye River is Kennett River, which has some great
koala spotting
just behind the caravan park. There are also
glow-worms
that shine at night up the same
stretch of Grey River Rd (take a torch).
The friendly bush
Kennett River Holiday Park
( 03-5289 0272;
www.kennettriver.com
; 1-13 Great
Ocean Rd; unpowered/powered sites $29/35, d cabins from $115; )
is one of the best sites along the
coast, and equally popular with surfers, families, travellers and young couples. The beach-
view cabins have amazing vistas.
TOP OF CHAPTER
