The Great Otway Gravel Grind is the perfect excuse to explore the Otway Ranges off-road

The Great Otway Gravel Grind (or GOGG) is an organised gravel event that is held at Forrest, Otway National Park, Victoria. Forrest is approximately a 2-hour drive from Melbourne.

The Otway Ranges served up one of Australia’s first gravel grinding courses at the GOGG’s inception in 2017, with subsequent events proving just how good the dirt roads of the Otways are!

The GOGG is designed for those who want an alternative to riding on sealed roads and instead want to enjoy the freedom and fresh air of riding gravel through beautiful forests with few (if any!) cars – plus experience our time-out zones! The Otway Ranges surrounding Forrest has a near endless network of quality dirt roads emanating in all directions.

The courses can be enjoyed on any type of bike, such as gravel specific bikes, MTB, CX, or flat-bared commuters – either way you can take in the beautiful terrain and complete a beautiful day on the bike (with a difference – see below)!

You’ll find two distances for this event. The GOGG Big Ring which is 97km and the GOGG Small Ring which is 49km.

This ‘big ring’ starts and finishes at the Forrest Football ground, taking riders on a beautiful journey on 2WD dirt roads through the mighty Otway Ranges to the coast (think Great Ocean Road!) and back again. These smooth dirt roads make for some magical riding through a timeless landscape with tall trees, massive tree ferns and a great sense of journey as you power through the hills. The course will include plenty of climbing with some sizable ascents spread across the course to keep your lungs working. You do not need any specific mountain biking skills to complete the course as the entire thing is on easily ridden dirt roads but you will need to pack your thunder thighs because there are a few climbs that will keep you honest along the way.

The 49km race will include a similar mix of smooth rolling dirt roads through the Otway rainforest that opens up this off-road cycling paradise to those who might normally stick to the asphalt. The roads are basically traffic free and the vistas along the way provide the wow-factor riding you don’t get when sticking to the main roads.

Ideal for those who may be new to cycling, not as fit as they’d like to be or who like to sleep in, the 49km Small Ring is also designed for riders on all styles of bikes ranging from gravel grinder or cyclo-cross bikes to road bikes (with thicker and wider tyres than normal) as well as mountain bikes and hybrids. No special bike skills are required although a solid set of legs or a can-do attitude will help you conquer the hills and feel on top of the world when you reach the top.

This looks like a great excuse to get out of the city and onto your bike! Stay in the area and try the local craft beer at the Forrest Brewery.

You’ll find other cycling events, like the Great Otway Gravel Grind, in our online Cycling Event Calendar.

Enjoy!