Maits Rest Rainforest Walk: Great Otway National Park guide

Maits Rest Rainforest Walk is a short loop in Great Otway National Park, on the Great Ocean Road between Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill. The track passes through cool-temperate rainforest on a mix of boardwalk and formed path, making it a useful stop for walkers who want a brief forest walk rather than a long day on the track. Parks Victoria lists the walk as an easy 800 m circuit.

The Parks Victoria Maits Rest Rainforest Walk page has the official track information and should be checked for current conditions before leaving Apollo Bay or Lavers Hill.

Quick route overview

• Distance: 800 m circuit
• Time: allow about 30 minutes
• Grade: easy
• Route type: loop
• Terrain: boardwalk and formed forest track, with some steps and uneven, damp surfaces
• Start: Maits Rest car park on Great Ocean Road, Great Otway National Park
• Access: sealed road access; suitable for conventional vehicles

What to expect

The loop enters dense rainforest quickly, with myrtle beech, ferns and mossy fallen timber close to the track. Sections of raised boardwalk keep walkers above the wetter ground, while the rest follows a formed path through the forest.

This is a compact walk rather than a remote bushwalk. The tree cover and damp ground give it a different feel from the nearby coast, but the track can still be slippery after rain and is not a substitute for a longer Otways walk if that is what you have planned.

Safety and conditions

• Check the Great Otway National Park page for alerts, closures and fire information before travelling.
• Wear shoes with grip. Boardwalk, roots and leaf litter can be wet and slippery, particularly after rain.
• Stay on the formed track and boardwalk. The forest floor is easily damaged and can be uneven beside the path.
• Carry a rain layer and drinking water if you are continuing along the Great Ocean Road. Otway weather can be cool and wet even when conditions are clearer on the coast.
• Dogs and other pets are not permitted in Victoria's national parks.

Practical tips

The car park is directly off the Great Ocean Road, so take care when pulling in and out, especially in wet conditions or when traffic is busy. Allow time for the short loop rather than treating it as a roadside photo stop: the boardwalk is narrow in places and other walkers may be moving slowly.

Maits Rest works well as a low-effort break between Apollo Bay and the western Otways. For a longer walk through a very different forest and gorge landscape, the Grand Canyon track in Blue Mountains National Park is a separate day-walk option in New South Wales.