Parking
From the Great Ocean Road and Forest Road roundabout, continue about 2 km along Forest Road to Shiney Eye Track. Park along Forest Road or Shiney Eye Track near the junction.

Great Otway National Park, VIC
Heathland flowers and Anglesea views, with a steep finish
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike

The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Otway Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Otway National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Great Otway audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Shiney Eye Circuit: Heathland and Ridge Views“The Forest Road start for Shiney Eye Circuit is coming up. Choose this three-and-a-half-hour loop for open heath, light eucalyptus woodland and views toward Anglesea from Ridge View Track.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Great Otway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
Trail guide
This moderate loop crosses open Anglesea heath and light eucalyptus woodland. A published walk description gives it as 9.3 km (5.8 mi) and about 3.5 hours; the connected track line measures about 7.4 km, so treat the exact mileage as approximate and allow the longer time. From Forest Road, follow Shiney Eye briefly, turn onto Dusty Miller, and use Powerline and Ridge View tracks. A short Pipeline and Powerline section rejoins Ridge View before Shiney Eye returns to the start.
Ridge View opens south and southwest toward Anglesea. There is a short steep descent on the way out and a long, steep climb near the end. The route is mostly through bush tracks, with sections that can be poor after rain.
Grass-trees, fringe-myrtle, bluebells, daisies and purple-flag grow along the heathland sections. Common Heath is especially showy in winter, fringe-myrtle flowers in late spring, and orchids appear at different times of year, including Fringed Hare Orchids in autumn and Large Duck Orchids in spring. Blooming is seasonal, so none is guaranteed on a particular visit.
Blue-winged Parrots and Black-faced Woodswallows are often seen in the area; White-throated Treecreepers and Spotted Pardalotes may be heard. Dogs are allowed on leash. In winter, water can cross Shiney Eye Track; that and the steep finish make this a poor-weather-sensitive walk.
Wildlife
204 sightingsKoalaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
35 sightingsGrey KangarooMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
109 sightingsEchidnaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKookaburraMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
97 sightingsSwamp WallabyMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
20 sightingsBrushtail PossumMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Otway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateRed Rocks to Anglesea Walk5.1 km · 1.8 hr · 4.8 km awayCliff-top heath and surf, with steps up from Red Rocks.
ModerateAnglesea to Aireys Inlet Walk13.4 km · 4 hr · 4.9 km awaySand, scrub, old-road remnants and a lighthouse make a full coast day.
ModerateAnglesea Perimeter Walk22 km · 6.5 hr · 5.2 km awayA full-day circuit linking heath, wetlands and coast.
ModerateYan Wirring Mirr Loop4.5 km · 2 hr · 5.3 km awayHeath ridges, Salt Creek and coast views on a 4.5 km loop
EasyKoorie Cultural Walk1.1 km · 1 hr · 5.6 km awayShort interpretive walk to a lookout above Addiscot Beach
ModeratePoint Addis to Red Rocks Walk2.9 km · 1 hr · 5.6 km awayA beach-to-cliff coastal walk from Point Addis to Red Rocks.
ModeratePoint Addis and Bells Beach Loop14.5 km · 4 hr · 5.6 km awayFrom forest to Bells Beach, finish along sand at low tide
EasySpringtime Wildflower Experience2.5 km · 1 hr · 7.1 km awayAn easy heathland loop with spring orchids and a coastal outlook.
Picnic area · 4 km awayIronbark Basin Picnic AreaA picnic break with a short loop into ironbark woodland.
Sight · 5.7 km awayPoint Addis Visitor AreaA clifftop boardwalk opens up Point Addis’s limestone coast.
Beach · 6.2 km awayAddiscot BeachA long curve of sand beneath red cliffs and low-tide rockpools.
Beach · 6.4 km awaySouthside BeachCliff-backed surf and a marked clothing-optional stretch
Beach · 8.2 km awayGuvvos BeachA long, open stretch of sand with a lookout above the surf.
Beach · 10 km awayUrquhart BluffLong beach, bluffside surf and rockpools revealed at low tide.
Sight · 11.7 km awayCurrawong FallsA long fern-gully circuit with a rain-fed waterfall.
Beach · 11.9 km awaySunnymead BeachA quiet cove of reefs and rock pools, reached by steep steps.Parkwolf’s Great Otway ranking