Tour of the Otways
 – Gravel

Melbourne Pickup TOO 1: Fri Sept 11 | TOO 2: Fri Nov 13 |

  With your pick up details confirmed, we will arrive to pick you, your bag, and bike up, during the Friday afternoon.  Once we have everyone aboard we will transport to Forrest, approximately 2h drive from the top of the Westgate Bridge.  Once in Forrest we can set up bikes, ensuring they will be ready to perform over the next four days.  Pre-dinner drinks at the Brewery, followed by a welcome dinner, served inhouse.

TOO 1: Sat Sept 12 | TOO 2: Sat Nov 14

Big Clockwise loop down to the GOR & return (95k) We are starting with our biggest day on the bike. So, there’ll be breakfast, with plenty of coffee, before we start, and ride north out of Forrest, towards Barwon Downs. Here we leave the bitumen as we turn onto Delaneys track, and head towards Lorne, climbing all the way to the top of the ridge, and Mt Sabine Rd. We descend past the Falls Festival farm, down to Lorne, turning towards the south-west, stopping for coffee at Wye River. Now we stay on the great ocean road until Kennett River, where we take the Grey River Rd and commence our second climb for the day up towards Mt Sabine. After passing the highest point of todays ride -635m- (possible picnic spot) we join the Kaanglang Rd, and descend all the way back to Forrest. Aperitifs on the back deck of Topbike HQ, followed by dinner at the Guesthouse.

TOO 1: Sun Sept 13 | TOO 2: Sun Nov 15 | 

We’ve got an 80k loop today, as we head out of Forrest to the north-east. Starting with two long climbs, we have a flattish run in through farmlands to finish. Our first climb is up Thompsons Track, which is an excellent road for spotting wildlife. As I once rode side by side with a wallaby along here, for a short stretch. We use Cowley track as a descent back into the big smoke of Barwon Downs, where we hook right and start the second climb up Neck track. Remembering today, that both our peaks are under 600m. Wickham track runs us out of the hills, before we turn for a long ramble home through farmlands, across the top of the mountainbike park, with the Rail Trail home to finish. Late lunch on the back deck of Topbike HQ. NB we do not pass one shop on today’s ride, so any coffee stops will have to be of a ‘creative’ style.

TOO 1: Mon Sept 14 | TOO 2: Mon Nov 16 |

Another medium sized loop today, as we head out of town on bitumen, towards Colac. While we do go a long way south into the heart of the Otways, we really only have ‘one and a half’ climbs today, and most of the climbing is completed in the first 30k, before we reach our southern most point of Beech Forest. We’ll stop for coffee at Ferguson, and ride the Gellibrand rail trail north, and home again through a different selection of farmlands.

TOO 1: Tues Sept 15 | TOO 2: Tues Nov 17 | 

Our traditional Wednesday morning winter ride, but now it’s on Tuesday, in spring. We start with a climb out of Forrest up the Kaanglang Rd – that we used as descent home on Saturday. Turning left onto the Mt Sabine Rd for a short while, then left again onto Thompsons track. Down-up-down all the way back around to Forrest. We’ll have lunch back at the Guesthouse before loading the cars and returning everyone back to Melbourne.. Included in your tour is all transport from Melbourne to Forrest and back again, for you, your bike and one bag, accommodation, all breakfasts, lunches and all dinners. Also included are your experienced and knowledgeable guides, maps, training tips, coaching (if required) and mechanical back-up for your bike. Please also see our recommended list of things to bring. NB: The itinerary above is to be used as a guide only, as Topbike Tours are well known for making use of all (and creating some extra) opportunities, expect that variations from the above can happen at any time. Please note all distances are approximate and subject to change.