Weekend in The Otways
Date and time: 9:00 am Saturday 6th December to 3:30 pm Sunday 7th December
Description: Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the below requirements for this trip.
This is a social weekend trip catered to enjoy the mild spring weather and the natural beauty of the Otways and the Great Ocean Road. The region offers stunning landscapes, with plenty of opportunities to capture the magic of both coastal scenery and lush rainforest.
As a proper club trip, there will be a four-wheel driving component along easy and medium-rated tracks, including some sandy sections. The route is suitable for proficient drivers and offers a great chance to explore off-road in a relaxed and scenic setting.
There will be time to enjoy pretty towns on the Great Ocean Road including Anglesea and Torquay, watch sunset and/or sunrise from one of the scenic lookouts and most importantly have a dinner together on Saturday.
Flexible participation: If you’re unable to join for the full weekend, there is an option to participate for one day only. Please contact the trip leader in advance if you plan to join either Saturday or Sunday.
Here are details of the weekend trip:
Day 1 – Saturday
- 9:30 am – 04:30 pm Trek 14 The Otways – Medium from Lorne to Anglesea (ca 74 km)
- 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm check-in at accommodation
- 6:15 pm – 7:45 pm dinner in Torquay or Anglesea
- 8:15 pm – 9:00 pm sunset photography
Day 2 - Sunday
- 10:00 am – 03:30 pm Trek 15 Inland from Anglesea – Medium from Anglesea to Winchelsea (ca 51 km)
Weather: Late spring and early summer in the Otways are typically sunny and warm, but conditions can vary. Please check the forecast before departure and come prepared with suitable clothing and footwear. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
This is strictly a dry-weather trip. If rain is forecast, I reserve the right to cancel or postpone the trip with one week's notice.
Equipment: Below are the recommended vehicle requirements. If you are not sure if your vehicle is suitable for this trip, please have a chat with the trip leader.
A well-maintained 4WD vehicle with All Terrain tyres, UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club). Bring your standard recovery gear including rated snatch strap, shackles, recovery boards and a shovel. These are medium treks, but after rain roads can be wet, slippery and with some puddles.
Drivers must have completed the RRCV club training or equivalent.
No camper trailers, pets or firearms.
Accommodation: Arrangement of accommodation for the night 6th/7th December will remain in participants’ discretion. Anglesea and Torquay offer a variety of hotels, motels, B&Bs and campgrounds. Weather in spring can be unpredictable, so flexible bookings are highly recommended (ideally allowing free cancellation before the 4th December).
Meals: Coffee stops will be held in the bush, so please bring your own simple morning and afternoon tea. Consider packing a thermos or a small gas stove for tea or coffee.
This is a social weekend trip, and it would be lovely to enjoy Saturday evening together. A restaurant in either Torquay or Anglesea will be booked once participants have registered. I’ll share the details once arrangements are confirmed.
For Sunday breakfast, feel free to make your own at your accommodation or grab something from one of the local cafés or bakeries nearby.
Maps and Reference Material: Meridian Maps 'The Otways' 4WD Touring Map, 3rd Edition
Trip Standard: Medium in dry conditions – a combination of easy and medium tracks.
Fuel: a full tank ex Melbourne, fuel available in Lorne, Anglesea and Torquay
Distance: Melbourne – Lorne (141 km), Lorne – Anglesea (74 km of high and low range driving), Anglesea <-> Torquay (2 x 20 km), Anglesea – Winchelsea (51 km of high and low range driving), Winchelsea – Melbourne (114 km) – Total: 420 km
Duration: 2 days
Convoy limit: 8 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: We will depart at 9:30 am on Saturday from the car park of the Lorne Visitor Information Centre (15 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne VIC 3232). If you would like to grab a coffee beforehand, please arrive a little earlier to allow time.
We aim to finish the trip around 3:30 pm on Sunday in Winchelsea.
Trip Leader: Piotr Pecho mobile: 0427 439 908 email: piotr.pecho@gmail.com
Club Guest Registration policy: It is club policy in regard to insurance cover that if a member brings any non-members on the trip they must be registered and have paid the required fee as Temporary Members BEFORE the event.
i.e. non- members can no longer register on the day with the trip leader.
Temporary Membership information and ways to register can be found at:
Temporary (Guest) Membership
Also if a non-member wishes to bring their own vehicle, the member inviting the non-member must contact the trip leader for approval to bring the vehicle. Such approval will take into account skills of the driver, suitability of the vehicle and whether or not a place within the convoy limit is available for a non-member's vehicle.
