Your Local Guide to One of the Great Otway National Park’s Most Enchanting Short Walks
If you’re travelling the Great Ocean Road or planning your Great Ocean Walk adventure, make time for Maits Rest — one of the most beautiful and accessible rainforest walks in the Great Otway National Park. Just 15 minutes from Apollo Bay, this peaceful 800-metre boardwalk loop leads you into ancient rainforest that has existed here for millions of years.
Local Insight from Walk91
This guide is written by the Walk91 team, locals based in Apollo Bay who live and work on the Great Ocean Walk. We support walkers on this trail each walking season and share practical, first-hand knowledge to help you plan safely and confidently.
Maits Rest is more than a walk — it’s a living museum of the Otways’ natural and cultural history. With giant tree ferns, old-growth beech trees, rainforest birds and glow-worms, it offers an unforgettable taste of the true Otway wilderness.
And as Apollo Bay locals offering self-guided and custom Great Ocean Walk tours, we can assure you — this spot is a favourite for both travellers and Walk91 guests.
🌳 A Forest With Deep, Ancient Roots
The rainforest at Maits Rest represents one of the last pockets of cool temperate rainforest once found across the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. The towering myrtle beeches and moss-covered logs you see here have ancestors dating back more than 150 million years.
Even today, fallen trees continue to nourish the forest for decades, creating the layered, lush understorey that makes the Otways so unique.
How Did Maits Rest Rainforest Walk Get Its Name?
The name Maits Rest dates back to the early 1900s, when forest ranger Maitland (Mait) Bryan used this sheltered spot as a place to rest his horse while patrolling the Otway forests. Over time, locals began referring to the area as “Mait’s Rest,” and the name has remained for over a century.
Many of the tracks around this forest were once used by loggers, pack horses and lighthouse supply crews heading toward Cape Otway — a reminder of the region’s early settlement history.
Today, the boardwalk allows visitors to experience this ancient ecosystem without disturbing the fragile soil and root systems.
🌿 Where Is Maits Rest? (Location Guide)
Maits Rest is located within the Great Otway National Park, on the Great Ocean Road (B100) between Apollo Bay and the Cape Otway Lighthouse.
📍 Google Maps:
Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, Great Ocean Road, Cape Otway VIC 3233
📍 Driving Distance:
- 10–15 minutes from Apollo Bay
- 10-15 minutes from Cape Otway Lighthouse
- 1 hour 15 minutes from the 12 Apostles
🚗 How to Get to Maits Rest
From Apollo Bay (Most Popular Option)
- Follow the Great Ocean Road (B100) west toward Cape Otway.
- Continue through the forested hills.
- Look for the large Maits Rest car park on your right.
From the 12 Apostles / Port Campbell
Follow the Great Ocean Road east toward Apollo Bay until you reach the Maits Rest turn-off on your left.
From Melbourne
Take either:
✔ the scenic coastal route (Torquay → Lorne → Apollo Bay)
✔ OR the faster inland route via Colac.
🌱 What You’ll See on the Walk
This short loop walk showcases some of the best rainforest features in Victoria:
🌳 Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus)
The giants of the Otways. Many are centuries old, draped in moss and lichens.
🌿 Giant Tree Ferns
Their sweeping fronds create an otherworldly canopy.
🍄 Fungi and Moss Gardens
Especially stunning in spring and winter.
🐦 Wildlife
You may spot:
- swamp wallabies
- glow worms (after dusk)
- rosellas and fantails
- beetles and fungi thriving on fallen logs
It’s a peaceful, atmospheric contrast to the dramatic coastal scenery of the Great Ocean Road and Great Ocean Walk.
Is Maits Rest Suitable for Everyone?
Yes — this is one of Victoria’s most accessible walks.
- 800-metre loop
- 20–30 minutes
- Boardwalk + compacted gravel
- Gentle gradients
- Suitable for families, older travellers & all fitness levels
It’s ideal for a morning stretch or a relaxing nature break while exploring Apollo Bay and Cape Otway.
Local Tips From Walk91
As the only locally owned Great Ocean Walk operator based in Apollo Bay, we’ve walked this boardwalk countless times. Our best tips:
🌧 Visit after rain — the forest glows.
🌙 Go at dusk for glow worms.
🕒 Arrive early or late to avoid Great Ocean Road tour buses.
📸 Bring your camera — the light here is beautiful.
🚶 Stay on the boardwalk to protect delicate root systems.
How Maits Rest Fits Into Your Great Ocean Walk Itinerary
Many Walk91 guests visit Maits Rest:
✔ Before starting a 3-Day Hike the Cape
✔ During a rest day on a 7-Day Complete Great Ocean Walk
✔ After walking the Shelly Beach to Apollo Bay section
✔ On a wet-weather day
✔ Before heading to the Cape Otway Lighthouse
It’s a perfect introduction to the rainforest landscapes you’ll experience along the Great Ocean Walk.
Great Ocean Walk FQAs:
Maits Rest is located about 15 minutes from Apollo Bay, inside the Great Otway National Park. It’s an easy stop along the Great Ocean Road and a popular add-on before or after walking the Great Ocean Walk.
The self-guided loop is approximately 800 metres and usually takes 20–30 minutes, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the ancient rainforest, boardwalks and tree ferns.
Yes. The trail is mostly flat and follows boardwalks and compacted paths, making it suitable for families, older travellers and anyone looking for a peaceful, accessible nature walk.
Visitors often spot glow worms (at night), wallabies, possums, native birds and occasionally koalas. The rainforest itself is a highlight, with giant tree ferns and old-growth myrtle beeches.
Absolutely. Many Walk91 hikers enjoy Maits Rest as a warm-up walk before starting the Great Ocean Walk or as a gentle recovery stroll after finishing the trail.
Yes. Maits Rest is open year-round. However, the walk is especially beautiful after rain, when the forest is bright green and waterfalls in the surrounding area are flowing.
Parts of the boardwalk are accessible and suitable for prams, but some sections have small slopes or uneven surfaces. It’s best described as “easy and family-friendly,” though not fully wheelchair accessible.
No — there are no toilets, shops or water at the Maits Rest car park. Visitors should use facilities in Apollo Bay before arriving and bring their own water.
Yes, but rainfall can make some sections damp or slippery. Good footwear is recommended. The boardwalk helps protect the environment and provides a safe walking surface even in wet conditions.
Maits Rest is unique for its short, accessible loop, ancient cool-temperate rainforest, glow worms, and impressive myrtle beeches. It’s one of the easiest ways to experience the Otways without committing to a long hike.
🌿 Ready to Explore More of the Great Ocean Walk?
Walk91 specialises in self-guided, pack-free Great Ocean Walk tours from 3 to 10 days — all designed by a local former Parks Victoria ranger who helped build parts of the trail.
We’re local.
We’re flexible.
And we’re here to help you design the perfect Great Ocean Walk itinerary.
👉 Explore Our Great Ocean Walk Tours
👉 Download Your Free Great Ocean Walk Guide
About the Author
Walk91 is a locally owned Great Ocean Walk operator based in Apollo Bay, Victoria. Our team lives and works on the Great Ocean Road and provides self-guided Great Ocean Walk support throughout the walking season, drawing on first-hand knowledge of trail conditions, logistics, and safety planning.
