Classic Otway’s Rides 4 *gravel

After an early breakfast your ride host will meet you at the gate to Cape Patton Estate at 0800 for the start of your ride.

We start both rides with a climb over the coastal range through thick coastal forest on good gravel roads with little or no traffic. Each ride will have you traversing the Otways through logged segments, new growth and old growth forests before you start your return to the coast. Average grades for the climbs +/-5% with pinches to 10%.

The road surfaces are mostly a clay base with sprinklings of well packed blue gravel. The roads are fast if its dry but the Otways are wet and if there has been recent rain expect to be peppered with mud. These rides are deal for intermediate level rider’s with an equal level fitness. The longer loop can be shortened to 85km by returning via the sensational Turtons Track as gravel riding is often less about the kilometres than the time time in the saddle.

Please contact us if you would like us to supply you with locally sourced produce, for a home meal.

For the non riders the newly developed Jamieson Creek Walking Track at 13.7km return is a rigourous effort.

After an early breakfast head to Wye River for a coffee at the General if you like before walking to 1.5km to Seperation Creek to start the walk. Funded by Parks Victoria after the Wye River Bushfires in 2015 the Walk to Jamieson River campground and return is magnificent. The views of the ocean, when they arrive are a framed vision surrounded by the backdrop of the Otway’s national park. Return to the Wye General for a well deserved lunch before returning to Cape Patton.

Arriving home mid-afternoon you will all have time to refresh and relax, have a nap, afternoon tea, massage or perhaps a walk and swim at the beach. Curl up for the afternoon with a book of your choice or one from the shelves. You could continue to explore the bush surrounds and the local coast if you have energy to spare.

Today’s shorter ride can be done in either direction from Cape Patton, each gravel segment begining shortly after you climb from the coast.

60-70% of the ride is on gravel and for most you will be enveloped in dense rainforrest.

This shorter ride covers a little of everything but requires a good base level of gravel skill and road fitness. There are variations of this ride, depending on the groups time constraints or not, to increase the ride to 65km or shorten it to 43km.

Our aim at the end of this week end of riding is for you have taken away not only a great ride experience but to have in the least gained some insight into how to ride like a pro, descending tips, the nuances of how your gravel bike feels and performs compared to the handling of your road bike. Gravel riding, with a pro will not only improve your riding but fuel your passion for cycling on a whole new level.

Check out at your leisure:

Thank you and farewell from your ride team at “Classic Otway’s Ride Series”

Today’s walk needs to be guided as the path is hidden.

Carved through the bush you will descend through changing terrains, rainforest to coastal scrub and arrive at the magnificent beach nestled on the rocky shores under Cape Patton.

Return to the house via the coast and driveway.

LATE CHECKOUT; at your leisure

We hope you enjoyed your Otway experience.