Otways 4WD Trip Review
Great Otway region, Victoria
Location
Great Otway region, Victoria
Route
Forest tracks throughout the Great Otway region
Terrain
Forest tracks, mud, clay, ruts, steep climbs and descents, creek crossings
Difficulty
Easy to difficult depending on track and weather
Vehicle
4WDs with decent clearance and recovery gear
Would we go back?
Definitely
The Otways is one of those places where the conditions can completely change the trip. We've explored the area by 4WD and it's a completely different experience to the open mountain country of the Victorian High Country. Here you're driving through thick forest, muddy tracks, deep ruts and creek crossings, with some seriously slippery sections after rain. And let's be honest — the Otways is usually more fun when there's a bit of mud around.
The 4WDing
There's a good variety of tracks throughout the Otways, ranging from fairly easy forest roads through to tighter and more challenging 4WD tracks.
The biggest factor is the weather.
When it's dry, plenty of the tracks can be relatively straightforward. Add some rain and that can change very quickly.
The clay gets slippery, ruts fill with water and climbs that didn't look particularly difficult suddenly need a lot more thought.
It's definitely somewhere we'd recommend driving to the conditions rather than relying on somebody else's track rating.
Mud, Ruts & Creek Crossings
If you're heading into the Otways after rain, expect mud.
There are plenty of sections where deep wheel ruts develop, and blindly dropping a wheel into one can quickly leave the vehicle sitting somewhere you don't want it.
We'd rather stop, get out and have a look at a questionable section before committing.
Creek crossings are another part of exploring the area. As always, if we can't confidently judge one from the driver's seat, we'll get out and check it first.
Depth isn't the only concern. The bottom, current and particularly the exit can be just as important.
Completely Different to the High Country
That's one of the things we like about four-wheel driving in Victoria.
You don't have to travel interstate to find completely different terrain.
The High Country gives us big mountain views, rocky climbs and steep ridgelines.
The Otways gives us dense forest, mud, slippery clay, creek crossings and tracks where you can feel like you're buried in the bush.
Both are great for completely different reasons.
Camping & Exploring
The Otways is also a great area to turn into a full weekend rather than just doing a day trip.
Set up camp, spend the day exploring different tracks and come back in the afternoon to get the fire going when conditions and restrictions allow.
There's also plenty to see away from the 4WD tracks.
Waterfalls, rainforest, rivers and the coastline are all close enough that you can easily mix the four-wheel driving with some exploring on foot.
That's especially good when travelling with the kids because the whole weekend doesn't have to revolve around sitting in the 4WD.
What we'd take
We wouldn't head out exploring the harder Otways tracks without proper recovery gear.
Our setup includes rated recovery points and recovery gear, recovery boards, tyre deflators, compressor, tyre repair kit, shovel, first aid kit, tools and UHF.
We also generally prefer doing the more challenging tracks with other vehicles.
It's a lot easier dealing with a bogged or stuck 4WD when you've got another properly equipped vehicle there to help with the recovery.
Things to know before you go
Check current track closures and conditions before heading out.
Seasonal closures apply to some tracks throughout the Otways, and temporary closures can also happen because of storms, fallen trees, flooding, fire or track damage.
Don't assume an old GPS route or a track somebody drove previously will still be accessible.
Weather is also a massive consideration here.
Heavy rain can turn an otherwise straightforward day of four-wheel driving into a completely different trip.
Our verdict
The Otways is a completely different style of four-wheel driving to some of our other favourite Victorian destinations, and that's exactly why we like it.
Dense forest, slippery clay, mud, creek crossings and plenty of tracks to explore make it a great place to spend a weekend with the 4WDs.
Throw in waterfalls, rainforest and the Great Ocean Road just down the road and there's plenty to do when you're out of the driver's seat as well.
It's somewhere we've explored before and somewhere we'll definitely head back to.
A4GW Rating
8/10 🤙
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