Drive west along the Great Ocean Road 22 km past Lorne to Kennett River. Cross the bridge, turn right at the caravan park and then turn left into Grey River Road. Follow this unsealed road for 6.3 km to the Grey River Picnic Ground. There are picnic tables and wood-fired barbecues (supply your own wood).
Having left the picnic ground, cross the bridge on Grey River Road. Pause for a few minutes, lean on the rail and absorb the beauty of the river. In particular you will be aware of the varying shades of green within the Australian landscape. Take the first track on the left. Both the Rough and Soft tree fern can be found here. If you feel the fronds near the trunk of the fern you will notice the difference in texture. About 50 m down the track take the one on the left (marked River) and walk the short distance down to the riverbed where you can sit and enjoy the ambiance.
Retrace your steps a short distance and take the turn away from the river to the Lookout. Notice the large-buttressed Mountain Ash. These giant trees, which are the world’s tallest flowering plants, are scattered among the tall Manna Gums, Southern Blue-gums and other eucalypts.
Look for the Kangaroo Fern climbing up the trunks of the eucalypts and also the variety of fungi, mosses, liverworts and other small plants that grow on the dead trees, rocks, and along the sides of the track. Perhaps you may see the glossy Otway Black Snail, a carnivorous gastropod, that is sometimes found along tracks in the dark, cool parts of the walk.
Continue until you reach the end of the track to a lookout from where you gain views through the trees of the ferny gully and forested hills.
Retrace your steps for the return walk to the picnic area.
If you walk slowly, you may gain sightings of some bird-life. Rose Robins and Golden Whistlers are present in the area, and you are sure to hear many other bird calls.
