CRACKING RUN

NOW HERE’S A CRACKING good run if you’re out in the Otways, it’s the run from Colac to Tanybrynyn which will give you plenty of fast sweepers, plenty of tight stuff and some open stretches. For this ride, I started in Colac. Colac serves as a gateway to the Otway Ranges to the south and Great Otway National Park. Colac became townre in 1864 and a city in 1960 and is one of Australia’s premier dairy regions, while also producing top quality fruit, vegetables, grains, livestock, dairy products, and poultry. Most of what you could need on this relatively short trip is available hereCARLISLE RIVER Farm allotments were taken up in the Carlisle River valley in 189,2, and a sawmill was started in 1893.

A butter factory was established in 18,99 and in 1902, when the narrow-gauge railway was opened to Gellibrand and Beech Forest, dairy produce was transported across country to the Gellibrand railway station. In 1902, a public hall was built, serving as the first school (1905).

There was a hotel from 1907 to 27. A racecourse (1909) was converted to a recreation reserve in 1933, and reticulated water was provided for the village in 1955. Despite being on a relatively remote back road, the village maintained a steady population well into the post-war years. Tbutter. Mostly just a landmark for this route, the factory continued untilbut the river rises to the east and is a tributary of the Gellibrand River200 3. CHAPPLE VAL marks this route. Blink and you’ll miss it.

LAVERS HILLavers Hill is on the Great Ocean Road between Fort Campbell and Apollo Bay, but on the inland section of the road north-west of Cape Otway, and at the junction of the roads to Cobden, the small commercial centre of LAVERS HILLthe town caters well for tourists, featuring several cafes, a bakery, a pub with a bistro, and a couple of dacinformation centres. The landmark wood sculpture at the junction of the Great Ocean Road and Colac Road is the “Drift”, which is a tribute to the marine environment, prehistoric skeletal finds, shipwrecks,, and the agricultural machinery of the are a, designed by artist James CatellLavers Hill is an area noted for scenic beauty. Perched at the highest point on the Great Ocean Road, views can be enjoyed of the rolling hills and timbered forests of the Otway Ranges.

Lavers Hill is also a handy base for exploring the natural attractions of the area, including the Triplet Falls, Hopetoun Falls and Beauchamp Falls. The Great Otway National Park surrounds much of Lavers Hill, with the Melba Gully section, located just south of the town centre, consisting of rainforests located in one of Victoria’s wettest locations. Night vision to view glowworm trails through the forests. Around a 20-minute drive north-east of Lavers Hill is the Otway Fly – an elevated tree top walk through an exquisitely beautiful beech myrtle forest, featuring a 45-metre-high lookout tower. Another blink and you’ll miss it location along this route.

BEECH FORESTBeech Forest, named after the beech myrtle trees which are common inthe area is a tiny township which achieved its moment of national fame in 1983 when 61-year-old local potato farmer, Cliff Young (Cliffy), became an iconic figure of endurance when he won the Sydney to Melbourne run known as the Sydney to Melbourne UltramarathonThe town has become part of an excellent, circular day trip from Apollo Bay which takes in Cape Otway, the tiny settlement of Lavers, the Otway Ranges and Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, before reaching Beech Forest and then returning through the Otways to Skene Creek north of Apollo Bay. Beech Forest has become a popular retreat for people wanting an alternative lifestyle. It is popular with artists, organic farmers and those who want to live in the bush away from tourists and crowds. Don’t blink here as you need to decide turn left or turn right!