A good base for riders
Torquay's known for surfing, but it works really well for a mountain biking trip too. Easy coastal tracks start a short ride from the house. The bike park and cross-country trails at Anglesea are about 20 minutes down the road. And inside about an hour you can get to two of the best-known trail networks in Victoria: Forrest, up in the Otway Ranges, and the You Yangs, north of Geelong.
For jump parks, pump tracks and BMX tracks for the kids, see our bike parks guide. That spread is handy if your group's a mixed bunch. The keen ones can disappear to Forrest for the day while everyone else potters along the coast, and you all end up back at the same house for dinner. Holyday House sleeps 8 in four bedrooms, so it suits a riding weekend with mates. Our group accommodation guide shows how the rooms split up.
Below you'll find where to ride, roughly how long it takes to get there, who each spot suits, and a few things to know before you go. Trail conditions and closures change, so always check with the land manager or the local club before you head out.
Where to ride at a glance
Drive times from Holyday House are rough, and assume the traffic's clear.
| Trails | Where | Getting there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surf Coast Walk (shared sections) | From Whites Beach, Torquay | Ride from the house | Easy coastal riding |
| Anglesea Bike Park | Camp Road, Anglesea | About 20–25 min | Jumps, skills, kids |
| Eumeralla trails | Anglesea | About 20–25 min | Cross-country, green to blue |
| Currawong Falls loop | Distillery Creek, Aireys Inlet | About 30–35 min | Intermediate loop |
| You Yangs Regional Park | Near Lara, north of Geelong | About 45–60 min | Families to technical descents |
| Forrest MTB trails | Otway Ranges | About 1 hr 15 min | A full day of singletrack |
Close to the house
The Surf Coast Walk
Parts of the Surf Coast Walk are shared with bikes. The concrete foreshore path through Torquay to Point Danger is flat and easy. Visit Great Ocean Road lists the clifftop track from Point Danger past Jan Juc to Bird Rock and on to Bells Beach as a cycling section, along with the Anglesea riverbank path and Point Roadknight. The rest is walkers only. It's cruisy riding, not proper mountain biking: gravel, gentle hills and big ocean views. Follow the signs, slow down around walkers, and give the bell a ring on blind corners.
Anglesea Bike Park
On Camp Road, about 1 km from the Anglesea township. Visit Great Ocean Road calls it Victoria's first professionally designed 4X track. There's over 400 metres of mountain cross and jump track (mounds, rollers, table-tops), a dirt jump area and a short bit of singletrack with log rides. Beginners through to advanced riders will have fun, and kids love it. Surf Coast Shire says the park shuts when it's raining or heavy rain is forecast, and opens again once the track dries out. If the weather's doubtful, ring the shire on 03 5261 0600. A volunteer committee looks after it with the council. Our Anglesea Bike Park guide has more.
Eumeralla trails
Just past the bike park. The Surf Coast Mountain Bike Club puts the Eumeralla network at around 30 km of cross-country trail, mostly green and blue, through coastal bush. It's not very hilly, it's more flowy than technical, and it drains well after rain. The trails run along the edge of the Eumeralla Scout Camp, so stay out of the camp itself. The entry points are signed and fenced.
Currawong Falls
Behind Aireys Inlet, starting from the Distillery Creek Picnic Ground. The club lists it as an 11 km intermediate loop with a 200 m climb. Walkers and runners use it too, so watch out for people on blind corners.
You'll also spot informal trails around Anglesea on apps like Trailforks and Strava. They're not sanctioned or maintained, so ride them at your own risk, or stick to the signed networks. The local club is working with land managers on a longer-term trail plan for the area.
Worth the drive
Forrest
Forrest is a little town inland in the Otway Ranges, and one of the best-known mountain bike spots in Victoria. It's had a state-funded revitalisation, and the government now puts the network at over 70 km across 26 trails, with more on the way. There are two trailheads: one in town on the Forrest–Birregurra Road, and the Yaugher trailhead a short drive north. From there the trails head off through tall forest, anything from easy loops to long, fast descents. A popular ride goes out to Lake Elizabeth and back. The walk around the lake, and Stevensons Falls on the other side of town, are in our Lake Elizabeth and Stevensons Falls guide. It's about an hour and a quarter inland via Birregurra, so make a day of it. The 2023 upgrade also added asphalt pump tracks and a skills park at the trailhead, one of them built for young kids; see our bike parks guide. There are cafés and a craft brewery in town for afterwards.
You Yangs Regional Park
The granite peaks of the You Yangs, north of Geelong, have over 50 km of trails split across two areas, according to Parks Victoria. The Kurrajong Plantation area has easier, flatter loops through eucalypt plantations, which suit families and first-timers. At the northern end of the park, the Stockyards area is the hard stuff: flowing singletrack, steep rocky sections, downhill tracks and cross-country loops. Allow roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Torquay via the Geelong Ring Road. Stick to the signed trails on the park map. Walkers have the Flinders Peak climb. If you'd rather walk than ride, Serendip Sanctuary sits at the foot of the range, about 50 minutes from the house.
A riding weekend
Here's one way to spend three days. The minimum stay is two to four nights depending on the dates, so some weekends you'll get an extra day to play with.
Day 1: Coast and warm-up
Check in from 3pm, unload, then roll down to Whites Beach for an easy spin along the foreshore to Point Danger before dinner.
Day 2: Forrest
Head off early for the Otways and ride most of the day. Lunch in town, then a few more laps. Back to Torquay for a BBQ and a soak in the hot tub.
Day 3: Anglesea
A shorter morning at the bike park and Eumeralla, or the Currawong Falls loop, then lunch in Anglesea or Aireys. Check-out's at 11am, so pack the car first and ride on your way home.
Legs need a day off? Try the breweries around Torquay or go for a surf. Our things to do guide has plenty more.
After the ride, and before you go
- Clean up at the house. There's a hot outdoor shower for muddy riders, a washing machine and dryer for your kit, and a private hot tub for tired legs
- Ask about bikes. The house has covered storage for surfboards and wetsuits, and free parking. If you're bringing bikes, ask Steve and Karen where they're best kept when you enquire
- Hire or ride with a guide. You can hire bikes and book guided rides on the Surf Coast. Visit Great Ocean Road lists the local operators
- Check conditions. Parks can close on high fire danger days, and storms bring trees down. Have a look at Parks Victoria and the Surf Coast Mountain Bike Club before you go
- Look after yourself. Carry water, a spare tube and a phone, and tell someone where you're going. Mobile reception can be patchy in the Otways, and snakes are out and about in the warmer months
Mountain biking near Torquay FAQ
Where can I mountain bike near Torquay?
Closest are the shared sections of the Surf Coast Walk, then the Anglesea Bike Park and Eumeralla trails, about 20 minutes away. Forrest and the You Yangs are each about an hour or less.
Can you ride bikes on the Surf Coast Walk?
On some bits. The Torquay foreshore and the clifftop track to Bells Beach are generally open to bikes, but some sections further west are walkers only. Follow the signs and give way to people on foot.
What's good for kids and beginners?
Try the Torquay foreshore path, the Anglesea Bike Park, the easier Eumeralla loops, or the Kurrajong Plantation area at the You Yangs.
How far is Forrest from Torquay?
About an hour and a quarter's drive inland via Winchelsea and Birregurra. Make it a full day.
Is there somewhere to keep bikes at Holyday House?
There's covered storage for surfboards and wetsuits. For bikes, ask Steve and Karen when you enquire and they'll tell you the best option.
Can I hire a mountain bike locally?
Yes, there's hire and guided rides on the Surf Coast. Visit Great Ocean Road has the current operators. Book ahead when it's busy.
Planning a riding trip? Check dates at Holyday House, or check out the Surf Coast Walk for more on the coastal tracks.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 13 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Surf Coast Walk — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Anglesea Bike Park — Surf Coast Shire
- Trails — Surf Coast Mountain Bike Club
- Forrest Mountain Bike Park ready to roll — Bicycle Network
- You Yangs Regional Park — Parks Victoria