Accessible Eat and Drink Guide
Discover the best accessible places to eat and drink along the Great Ocean Road, where great taste meets thoughtful, inclusive design. Whether you're after a beachfront café, a cosy country pub, or a winery with sweeping views, this guide highlights venues that consider a range of mobility needs.
Suffoir Brewery Winery Distillery, Macarthur
Suffoir is located just outside Macarthur and near the entrance to Budj Bim National Park. The cellar door experience offers much more than visitors expect, with resident emus and other farm animals, kept ensuring pest control and biodiversity in the working vineyard. This family-owned business is welcoming, and the friendly operators are dedicated to inclusive service.
The new cellar door building is step free, has handrails, wide doors, lever handles, taps, and switches. An accessible toilet and designated car park are recent additions to the experience, and chemical use is limited to cater for those with intolerances and food options cater to special dietary requirements.
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie, Bellbrae
Kids are encouraged to explore the lawns, native garden, and emerging orchard or play in the lavender field and sand play area. Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie welcomes all people with access needs with accessible toilet facilities, multiple designated disabled parking spots, step free entrance and step free throughout. They also cater to customers with allergies and food intolerances.
Note: in peak times this venue may be difficult for those with sensory sensitivities.
The Cally Hotel, Warrnambool
At The Cally Hotel in Warrnambool, you can enjoy traditional pub fare, pizzas, plus live music most nights. Wheelchair access is available to the Beer Garden at the rear of the building, and disabled parking is available. A games room with pinball machines, ‘pickers’ and table games provides a great space for those inspired to play.
The staff at the Cally are friendly and helpful and the menu is clear and legible.
Brae, Birregurra
For the premium special occasion dining experience in the Great Ocean Road region, there is no question that the award winning Brae, near Birregurra is at the very the top of the list. Amazing service is provided to all guests of the restaurant and on site accommodation. The Brae dining and accommodation experience, including touring the farm is suitable for people with limited mobility.
There is step-free access to all areas from car park to dining room, bathrooms and paths touring the farm. The restaurant dining room and a dedicated accessible bathroom are suitable for wheelchair users with step-free access, wide doors, space between furniture, lever handles, taps and bathroom basin at lower height. The wine list is presented on a tablet, so the text is zoomable, to assist those with low vision and menus are adjusted to cater for intolerances and special dietary requirements
Waves, Port Campbell
The friendly service and range of menu items to suit different requirements at Waves Cafe, Bar & Restaurant in Port Campbell makes the dining experience inclusive and welcoming to all guests. The entry ramp has a very small lip, however the 7 days, 3 meals per day and coffee available all day make this venue ideal for visitors to Port Campbell and the 12 Apostles Coast.
REAL Pizza Pasta and Salads, Port Campbell
At REAL, people of all abilities are welcome. Enter the restaurant either via a side ramp or front stairs. There is a wide double door entry option. The table layout is flexible and can be arranged to suit the customer’s needs. Inside there are two spaces offering different noise impact and outside there is a well-lit dining space with flexible layout options including plenty of service dog space.
Staff are equipped with an AUSLAN abbreviations sheet and welcome all food preferences. Menus can be adapted as required and wait staff can assist with meal suggestions and are happy to accommodate a range of customer needs.
The Pavilion, Warrnambool
With a long ramp accessing the cafe from the Warrnambool Foreshore promenade or breakwater car park, The Pavilion Cafe and Bar at the Warrnambool breakwater is one of the region’s most highly rated breakfast, brunch and lunch spots, that also welcomes people of all abilities.
The Pavilion staff are accommodating and are more than happy to reposition tables and chairs and create additional space in and through the venue for people who require it. They also take orders and payment at the table.
