Otway Forest Park Guide
Forrest’s bike trails, and a free camp at Beauchamp Falls — DEECA forest park, not the national park.
Unofficial operator’s manual
Independent, unofficial, not DEECA, not Parks Victoria · Content reviewed 25 Sep 2026
Read this before Hammonds Road
Hammond Road Camping Area is the right turn, about 100 m after you enter Hammonds Road. That camp is Parks Victoria, in Great Otway National Park. Hammonds Road North is this forest park: a further 1.3 km along the same road, on the left.The two camps →
Can you camp, can the dog come, and who runs the ground. DEECA / Explore Outdoors owns live conditions in this forest park. Confirm on the Beauchamp Falls page and VicEmergency. Road closures stay on VicEmergency.
- Forrest trails · almost 100 km
- Beauchamp Falls · free camp
- First-come · no fees
- Dogs on the listed forest-park sites
- Hammonds Road · left, not right
- Not the national park
Plan, camp, trails, maps
Not the national park
This is Otway Forest Park
Otway Forest Park is a Victorian forest park run by DEECA through Explore Outdoors, on Eastern Maar Country, about two hours south-west of Melbourne. You are in that forest park. Great Otway National Park is next door, run by Parks Victoria and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority. Lake Elizabeth, Johanna, Triplet Falls and Hopetoun are in the national park. Camping at the named camps is free and first-come. Start with the Forrest trails or Beauchamp Falls. Check Explore Outdoors and VicEmergency before you drive.
What kind of day?
Forrest Mountain Bike Trails
Almost 100 km · 36 trails
Singletrack north and south of Forrest, in this forest park. No booking. No fees. Drinking water at the Southern Trailhead.
Beauchamp Falls Campground
Free · dogs · 3 km return
Rainforest camp near Beech Forest. Toilets, shelter, small vans. The walk to the 20 m falls is 3 km return. Bring water.
Do not turn right
Hammonds Road North · 1.3 km further
The right-hand camp is Parks Victoria. This forest park’s camp is on the left, 1.3 km past that turn.
I meant the national park
Different manager
Lake Elizabeth, Johanna, Triplet Falls and Hopetoun are not this forest park. Use the neighbouring national park guide.
Best for
A weekend on the Forrest trails, or a free night at Beauchamp Falls with the dog and a walk to the waterfall.
Skip if
You wanted Lake Elizabeth, Johanna, Triplet Falls or Hopetoun. You need a reserved pad. You are taking a van to Stevensons Falls.
Featured camp
Beauchamp Falls Campground
In Otway Forest Park near Beech Forest. Dogs allowed, no booking, no fees, toilets, a shelter, and room for a small caravan. The walk is 3 km return. Bring drinking water.
- Flat rainforest camp for tents, caravans, campervans and camper trailers
- Unsealed road that Explore Outdoors says a 2WD and a caravan can use
- 20 m waterfall, about one hour return
- Forrest’s trails are less than an hour north-east
How long
Distances from Explore Outdoors. Hours below are ours.
Half day
Picnic at Birnam Station or Loves Creek, or the 1 km return walk at Stevensons Falls.
A ride day
Forrest trails. Almost 100 km is the whole network of 36 trails, not one loop. Sleep in Forrest if you want a bed you can hold.
Overnight
Beauchamp Falls, or Dandos if you are in a van and Stevensons is the falls you wanted. You cannot book either.
Named trails
Forrest Mountain Bike Trails
Otway Forest Park Guide
Otway Forest Park Guide downloads
Printable planner and itineraries. Packing, what to do if Beauchamp is full, a ride day and an overnight. Explore Outdoors, CFA and VicEmergency links on every file.
- Planner — packing, last towns, dogs, fires, Friday Plan B
- Itineraries — half day, full day, overnight. Times below are ours
- Forest mark + www.otwayforestpark.com.au on every sheet
Free direct download — no email required. Maps · Itineraries · Privacy.
Part of the State Forest Guide Australia network
This unofficial Otway Forest Park guide is in that network. Not government. Not Parks Victoria. Not a national-park directory.
Browse state forests → stateforestguide.com.au
Sister state forests
Live sister guides only.
FAQ
Is Otway Forest Park the same as Great Otway National Park?
No. This page is Otway Forest Park, managed by DEECA through Explore Outdoors. Great Otway National Park is next door, managed by Parks Victoria and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority. Lake Elizabeth, Johanna, Triplet Falls and Hopetoun are the national park.
Which camp is Hammonds Road?
From Bambra, turn left onto Hammonds Road. In about 100 m the Parks Victoria Hammond Road Camping Area is on the right. Hammonds Road North, this forest park, is a further 1.3 km on the left.
Is camping free?
The named forest-park camps list no fees and no booking. You cannot reserve a site. Beauchamp Falls takes a small van. Stevensons Falls does not take caravans or camper trailers — use Dandos.
Can I bring a dog?
The official Otway Forest Park camp and picnic pages we checked list dogs allowed. Keep them on a lead. Great Otway National Park allows dogs only in the pockets Parks Victoria lists.
Is the forest park open today?
Check VicEmergency and the Explore Outdoors page for the place you are using. The weather strip is not a closure notice.
Camp and trail figures come from Explore Outdoors (Otway Hinterland, Beauchamp Falls, Dandos, Hammonds Road North, Tanners Road, Stevensons Falls, Forrest Mountain Bike Trails, Birnam Station, Loves Creek). Great Otway National Park is Parks Victoria. Fires and warnings: CFA and VicEmergency. This page is Otway Forest Park.
Not independently walked. Conditions, roads and fire rules change. Check Explore Outdoors and VicEmergency before you leave.