In the heart of the Otway Ranges, Forrest Guesthouse accommodation is the perfect getaway to stop, relax and soak up the fresh country air.

Forrest Guesthouse is set in beautiful gardens right in the heart of the Forrest township.
It has four self-contained suites that are suitable for friends, couples or small families.

Forrest Guesthouse self-contained accommodation

Forrest Suite, King or twin singles

Lake Elizabeth Suite, Queen bed

Barwon Suite, King bed or twin singles, plus sofa/trundle

Otways Suite, King bed or twin singles, plus sofa/trundle

Dar Tèta, authentic Middle Eastern cuisine on your doorstep

If you want to truly relax, book yourself in for lunch or dinner at Dar Tèta. The restaurant is onsite, just metres from your suite.

The name Dar Tèta means Grandmother's House in Arabic. Experience authentic middle eastern cuisine, mainly Palestinian, cooked with love.

Book direct with Ely online https://www.obee.com.au/darteta/

You can choose where to dine:

  • inside in the cosy space that was a former timber miller's cottage, warmed by the fire in Winter or in air-conditioned comfort in Summer
  • front verandah, for small tables with a street view
  • garden view verandah - perfect for larger groups with multiple tables or a long banquet, this space overlooks the guesthouse gardens

Forrest Guesthouse is the home of all things bikes in Forrest. We offer hire bikes, guided rides, and skills sessions through our sister businesses. We even have a range of spare parts for those needing some mechanical assistance.

Dar Tèta Restaurant Forrest

Food and Drink

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Forrest Accommodation
Restorative! After a day out on the mountain bike trails, we needed a place to gain a good nights sleep for the next days adventure. If you don't want to be woken up with roosters or wildlife, and you love a dark room with luxurious sheets and heavenly pillows, then you will enjoy the guesthouse as much as us. We enjoyed a cup of tea in the morning while strolling around their lush garden. 

Wonderful place to stay and eat. A beautiful location in a lovely garden setting and Dar Tèta restaurant is very special. We're back for the fourth time.

Carlo Di Martino - Google, May 2023

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Our host Michelle went to great lengths to make our bike packing trip through Forrest run smoothly.
Highly recommended.

Paul Lazarou, Google, April 2023

This was I think our very favourite stay out of the places we've been throughout the Otways. The room and space was super cozy but SO well appointed. Honestly I don't think I've ever noticed a space that has been so well thought out. The kitchenette was so small and yet SO functional. Everything that I wanted to be there...was there! And the little touches around how to clean, how to look after things and also how to use things were super helpful. I love that there was a simple QR code to watch a video on how to use the plug in stove top. The shower was really warm, the bed was beautiful and clean and really comfy - and the rug over it was so nice and soft! It was the best sleep we'd had and my hubby has dust allergies. In the previous two places we stayed it set off his allergies but this one practically cured him. The garden outside was absolutely gorgeous too, I wish we could have stayed another night to just enjoy the beautiful space that Michelle had created.

Michelle, Airbnb, 5 May 2021

Forrest Guesthouse was delightful set in a sprawling treed garden. We enjoyed late afternoons on the sunny verandah. Our themed suite was spacious with everything needed in the cute kitchen and comfy sitting area. Michelle was most helpful with insights about walks and bike tracks as well as history of the local area.

Colin, Riparide, 9 April 2021

We absolutely loved our stay at Forrest Guesthouse. The location was perfect (1 min walk to the pub & cafe & close drive to many Otway walks, in addition to being in the middle of Lorne & Apollo Bay). The gardens are beautiful & our room was gorgeous (clean, comfortable, many thoughtful touches & well styled). In addition to all this, the service we received from Michelle was exceptional, making check-in & check-out seamless. We would definitely stay again.
 
Emma, Google my Business, 2 May 2021
 

Easy check in and parking, friendly and responsive host, central location, clean and well appointed rooms, pet-friendly. Overall it is great value for money.

Sarah Rusdiah, Google, Feb 2023

Another great example of a dog friendly accommodation that has everything you need for a weekend away. We stayed at the Forrest suite which is next to 3 other accommodation suites. Room was clean, well stocked kitchen amenities and plenty of room for your dogs to chill and relax with you. Your beer and coffee cravings will be well matched with the conveniently located Forrest Brewing Co. And Forrest general store. Michelle was a very responsive host and provided excellent local knowledge of the Otways. Will definitely be back! Thank you to Michelle and team.

Kathlyn, Airbnb, 14 June 2020

Forrest Guesthouse is a perfect place to stay when on a trip to the Otways. It has lovely self-contained units set in a lovely garden, and is perfectly situated to access the many mountain bike trails Forrest is famous for. We had a 2 night stay and found everything we needed in the unit, and plenty to explore a short ride or drive away. Michelle was really helpful with any enquiries we had, and we found the elevated bike rack really useful for washing off the mud! We will definitely be back to stay here for more mountain biking!

Clare, via Email, 28 Sep 2020

We loved our stay at Forrest Guesthouse, our room was extremely cozy, comfortable and warm - those electric blankets were a real saviour for the icy mornings! Great location near lots of beautiful walking/mountain biking trails. We struggled to find a place for dinner on Saturday night (due to new Covid restrictions) our host Michelle was ever so kind and helpful giving us lots of recommendations in nearby Colac/Apollo Bay. Would definitely stay here again!!

Harjoth & Laxman, Google, 1 Jul 2020

We loved our stay at the Forrest Guesthouse. Michelle went above & beyond. Our suite was spotless, well appointed and with great facilities. We had an evening drink on the veranda which was the perfect way to end the day, looking out at the beautiful garden and visiting birds. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the guesthouse, we would definitely stay here again.

Dan, 14 Mar 2020

What a beautiful little place. Clean comfortable accommodation (beds are great), right in the heart of the little historical town, with a maze of mountain biking tracks covering all abilities and fitness. Very friendly hosts. Eat your breakfast out on the veranda and take in the sights of the beautiful gardens. There is even a bike washing station to take care of your bike. Highly recommend. You won’t be disappointed.

Natasha, Trip Advisor, Oct 2019

Michelle's place was amazing! It was perfect for a little getaway - the space was super cosy, the kitchen was great as we could cook a proper meal and the garden was really lovely too. Michelle was very accommodating and easy to communicate with. We'd definitely love to come stay again!

Emily, Airbnb 29 Sep 2019

We had a wonderful time and are looking for the next child-free weekend we might have to come back. 

Rob, 24 Aug 2019

Beautiful, clean and cozy cottages. Well equipped and great hosts. Location is perfect and the garden was fun for kids to play in. Would stay again without hesitation.

Scott, Google, 10 Jan 2020

I brought my aunty and uncle here while there were visting from Ireland. Michelle could not have done more for us, she went above and beyond to make us feel so so welcome. She took us to see waterfalls, which we absolutely loved. (Our car could not have handled the terrain en route!!) The rooms are beautiful, the garden, the general store across the road had delicious coffee and snacks. Thanks Michelle!

Aine, Google, 14 Sep 2019

Michelle was an amazing host from the get go. Fantastic communication from first booking through to check out. Her property exceeded my expectations, lovely amenities and extremely comfortable room. I would highly recommend the property to friends & families.

Kate, Airbnb, 12 Jun 2020

Very happy I got up early this moring and found this beautiful walk along West Barwon Lake. Also cannot recommend Forrest (especially @forrestguesthouse and @forrestbrewery) enough if you're looking for somewhere peaceful yet beautiful to head for the weekend. 

Stephanie, 24 Aug 2019

Michelle and her family are fantastic hosts. Friendly, warm and welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The property is really lovely and we enjoyed an amazing family weekend away. 

Helen, 2 Sep 2019 (Airbnb)

We loved our stay in Forrest. Its a beautiful small village and the rooms are set in a gorgeous garden where all sorts of parrots and cockatoos come to eat seeds out of your hands. Michelle is a lovely and helpful host. The room was spotless and had everything we needed. We enjoyed visiting the brewery down the road.

Anna, Airbnb, 25 Dec 2019

Beautiful guesthouse which has been thoughtfully designed and decorated.

Chris P, 2 Sep 2019 (Google)

Very quaint accommodation in Forrest! Very clean. Nice & spacious too. Michelle was a great host with excellent communication, offering to go above & beyond for us. 

Sophie, Airbnb, 25 Aug 2019

Highly recommend.

Gemma, Airbnb, 8 Sep 2019

V cute stay and deff check out Stevenson's Falls close by.

Nick, Airbnb 30 Sep 2019

Lovely suite in the heart of Forrest. Clean, tidy and quiet, with all the amenities you could need. The hosts were fabulous - very accomodating and the girls loved playing with our dog. Highly recommend.

Kate, Riparide, 5 May 2021

Great little place, easy to find.

Tess, Airbnb, 7 Oct 2019

Great little place to go if you want to get away from reality & relax. Has everything you'd need!

Bella, Airbnb, 3 Nov 2019

A lovely stay in a lovely village. The room is very comfy decorated with lots of love and nice details. We enjoyed our stay. A small, lovely general store and a brewery are just 100 meters away.

Dominik, Airbnb, 1 Jan 2020

Super cute place! There were electric blankets for the beds and they had a huge garden!! 

Zoe, Airbnb, 6 Nov 2019

A very comfortable and cosy room with a beautiful big garden right out the front of the verandah. Very peaceful!

Priscilla, Airbnb, 11 Nov 2019

Very clean, great hospitality and wonderful amenities. Will definitely be back again! Thank you so much for letting us stay, a restful nights sleep. 

Ed, Airbnb, 4 Jan 2020

Awesome place to stay. Quaint setting with everything you need and perfect spot for exploring waterfalls, beach and the trails!

Albert, Airbnb, 4 Jan 2020

We loved it there. Everything was perfect. The room was so cosy and contained everything we needed, full of wonderful and tasteful details. We enjoyed breakfast on the terrace while watching the king parrots. The guest house has only few rooms and a very beautiful garden. It was wonderful silent and we appreciated staying almost in the middle of the nature. Forrest itself is absolutely nice. The beer of the brewery is very good!! Try also the pastry!!

Sabine, Trip Advisor, 7 Jan 2020

Such a cute place! With everything you need. Close distance to food as well! A great stop while we were doing Great Ocean Road. Loved it so much! Will come back next time.

Katie, Airbnb, 6 Jan 2020

We absolutely loved staying at Forrest guesthouse. Everything was perfect, and Michelle was a brilliant host. The rooms were all very tastefully decorated and were spotlessly clean.

Ella, 10 Jan 2020

I found the accomodation most comfortable and very family friendly. You were very approachable and willing to do what ever we needed for our stay. The rooms and other areas are charming. It really gives a real sense of being out of the city, without giving up the comforts.

Anne-Maree, Website, 24 Nov 2020

Staying at Forrest Guesthouse was such a lovely experience! Michelle was lovely, the place was small but very well organised; it somehow had everything you need despite its size. There was so much useful info about the town and it's surroundings, and we had such a lovely stay in the middle of the Otways!

Laurel, Airbnb, 24 Jan 2020

My girlfriend and I had a quick one night stay here and enjoyed ourselves. The room was one of 4 or 5 adjoined and surrounded by a nice garden and close to the pub/ local shop. The room was clean and very nice. 

Nick, Airbnb, 17 Jan 2020

Thanks so much for a wonderful stay! My sister and I really enjoyed your lovely accommodation and were immediately relaxed. The location is amazing - so many opportunities to get out and explore the bush, while being such a short drive to the beach.

Thank you again - we will be back!

Jared, Email, 28 Jan 2020

Great location for walks and biking. Nice room, well stocked with a lovely garden.

Dom, Airbnb 28 Jan 2020

Unreal accommodation! Beautiful little town with a cool brewery/cafe.. Michelle was really good at communicating and the accommodation was perfect! Will stay again!

Anthony, Airbnb, 29 Jan 2020

What a lovely guesthouse, with great amenities and a homely and comfortable feel. Such a great stay for a mini-break with access to the Otways and all the activities on offer. The hosts were more than accommodating and I wouldn't hesitate to visit again.

Sophie, Google, 29 Jan 2020

Really lovely and clean place!! Enjoy your stay at Forrest Guesthouse!! Thank you Michelle!!

Moises, Airbnb, 10 March 2020

Beautiful little place to stay. This was our second time here and loved it as much as the first time. Beds were comfortable. We really enjoy staying here and will be back.

N_kop71, Trip Advisor, 1 Mar 2020

"Delightful 3 nights' stay. Beautiful surroundings. Wonderful hosts.

We were in the Barwon Suite - comfortable, clean, comfy King-size bed. Basic cooking facilities in the suite (as the Restaurant is currently closed pending a new Chef) were quite adequate. Nearby 'Platypi Chocolates' were worth a visit (yummy), as was the interesting Platypus eco tour to Lake Elizabeth nearby. We even got to explore the Otway Fly and a nearby waterfall. We did not try out the Mountainbike trails, though hear they are of high value."

Graeme, 19 Mar 2020

We absolutely loved the guesthouse. Ideally situated for exploring the Otways, with so much to explore close by. The accommodation was beautifully styled. We wish we could have stayed for longer. Michelle was a great host, quick to reply and great at sharing local tips on where to eat. We'll certainly be recommending to friends and family.

Julie, Airbnb, 8 Jun 2020

Peaceful, relaxing guesthouse - great to get away. So many thoughtful touches. Catered for my dog Angus. Would definitely return.

Benn, Airbnb, 5 Jun 2020

Cute little space in the heart of Forrest.

Jessica, Airbnb, 8 Jun 2020

Great room, very cosy and warm in the winter time. Forrest as an area is nice and lots to do. Highly recommend staying here.

Jesse, Airbnb, 14 June 2020

Great stay in Forrest. Room had everything, newly updated, cosy, and close to things to do. Was perfect getaway.

Ashlee, Airbnb, 21 June 2020

Our stay at Forrest Guesthouse was amazing! Kids had a ball exploring the gardens and playing. The rooms are lovely and most importantly lots of MTB riding! Looking forward to our next stay!

Catherine Allen, Google, 1 Jul 2020

We loved the space, the location and the garden outside the rooms, very charming. Thanks - Michelle.

Shaun, Airbnb, 25 Nov 2020

It was old style charm with all the modern conveniences we needed.

Anne-Maree, Google Review, 24 Nov 2020

Michelle's place was quaint and very relaxing. We thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay there. I'd definitely recommend it. 

Catherine, Airbnb, 18 Feb 2021

Forrest is a beautiful spot to discover. Lovely surroundings and quiet accommodation. Tastefully decorated, compact amenities and friendly service. 

Lien, Riparide, 12 Feb 2021

Very cute accomm. Michelle was so lovely and quick to help out whenever we needed it. Will definitely come back.

Hung, Airbnb, 11 Feb 2021

Clean, great location in Forrest and fantastic communication from Michelle.

Brett, Airbnb, 9 Feb 2021

Fantastic little getaway amongst a lush garden and fantastic hosts. Private and well equipped suites right on the main drag, close to walks, local coffee spots and natural attractions. Could not recommend more highly!

Phillipa, Riparide, 3 Mar 2021

Lovely place and my children love the setup. Close to eateries and nearby attractions.

Jonathon, Airbnb, 27 Jan 2021

Michelle was fabulously helpful and accommodating. We had a lovely clean, warm and pleasant stay. The area is wonderful and we would recommend to friends.

Sophie, Airbnb, 21 April 2021

Absolutely lovely place to stay. The room was well appointed and the ambiance superb. We enjoyed a few drinks by the fire pit while the kids played on the lawn. Michelle couldn’t have been more helpful and welcoming. Highly recommend.

Chris Gregory, Google, 25 Sep 2022