The Rainforest Ride is a mass participation road cycling event with four different rides to suit all types of cyclists, from a challenging 140km circuit to a tranquil 23km journey, all amidst the magnificent Otway Rainforest in and around Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road.
The Rainforest Ride is designed to provide something for all levels of rider, from your ‘Beach Road speedsters’ who can tackle the challenging 140km Rainforest Circuit, to kids and their parents who can share a ride and walk in the rainforest with the 23km Waterfall Explorer. All rides are set amidst some of the most spectacular scenery around and take place along quiet sealed roads in the countryside.
This event is being conducted for charity with all participants encouraged to raise funds for the Burnet Institute to help us fight the world's worst infectious diseases: HIV, TB and malaria - The Big Three.
Each ride will include a number of optional stop off points and tourist attractions riders can include to break up the 
ride:
- Free entry to the world renowned Otway Fly tree top walk – bike security provided whilst riders visit (140km Rainforest Circuit)
- Free entry to the Cape Otway Lighthouse with its amazing cliff top views and historic surrounds (140km Rainforest Circuit and 70km Lighthouse Discovery Ride)
- Drink stations at scenic points, such as at the coastal lookout at Castle Cove
- Self guided walking tour along the short rainforest track at Maits Rest (23km Watefall Explorer and 23km Glow Worm Twilight Ride)
- Buy a coffee at any of the cafés along the way
So what sets the Rainforest Ride apart from other participation road rides?
- The premier course is around a new circuit that the vast majority of riders would not have ridden before
- All rides include stunning scenery along their entire length – no boring bits!
- It’s a ride conducted for charity so you’ll be riding for a great cause
- There’s a great range of optional activities and side trips available to break up your ride
- The roads are very quiet with little traffic, few trucks or other road users
- The location at Apollo Bay provides an ideal weekend away whilst still being a day trip from Melbourne if required
All rides will be conducted in a supervised event environment:
- Police and traffic management
- Well signposted and marshalled course
- Mobile medical support including paramedics, sports trainers and other medical professionals
- On course mechanical support
- Frequent refreshment stops providing water and sports drinks free of charge
- On course photography and entertainment
Click here to download the official event program with all logistical details involved with the 2009 event.
The Cause
As well as riding through the spectacular Great Otway National Park, riders are also being asked to rise to the challenge and help fundraise to assist the Burnet Institute in finding cures for The Big Three.
We’re not talking about ‘the big three’ grand prix car races or ‘the big three’ tennis tournaments, we’re talking about the big three global killers – HIV, TB and malaria.
- An estimated 33 million people are living with HIV (that’s 10 times Melbourne’s population!)
- Someone in the world is newly infected with TB every second
- Every 30 seconds, a child dies of malaria
The Burnet Institute is a unique organisation that combines medical research into infectious diseases and cancers with practical public health programs on the ground. This unique combined approach allows us to make a positive and long term impact on the quality of people’s lives in communities in Australia and around the world. To find out more about Burnet’s work, just click here.
To help Burnet fight the world’s worst infectious diseases you can Donate Now.