The Great Ocean Road, perhaps the best family holiday destination in Victoria, offers a plethora of activities for families. From the golden beaches to the lush forests, this area is a haven for families seeking an escape from the everyday. Here are our top 7 activities to make your family holidays in Victoria unforgettable!
Most Aussies have fond memories of exploring rock pools as kids. Relive this nostalgia or create new memories with the next generation by taking a closer look at the marine life in the rock pools along our beaches. It’s a perfect family activity in Victoria.
Remember, respect the natural habitat and don’t touch any animals or remove shells or rocks as these may be homes or protection for our fauna. Best Spots:
Explore the region’s various fantastic mountain bike trails, rail trails, town paths and promenades, perfect for family day trips in Victoria.
One highlight is the Anglesea Bike Park, which is Victoria’s first professionally designed 4 x track (mountain cross), a 400-metre long track with mounds, rollers, jumps and table tops. It also has a dirt jump arena and single track with log rides. The fun doesn’t stop there, the Great Ocean Road is home to loads of family-friendly bike and scooter trails, so you can be assured there is one suitable for you and your little ones.
Slow down and enjoy a family picnic, a great way to disconnect from devices, to eat slowly and to have some great conversations.
There are plenty of supermarkets and local produce specialty stores across the region where you can create a delicious picnic for everyone to enjoy, or stick to the classics with fresh fish and chips on the beach or at a park.
History is definitely not boring at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum.
Create memories for a lifetime at this replica maritime village, which depicts the seafaring life of the 1800s. The museum has some amazing facts and figures about the hundreds of shipwrecks that met their end along the southern coast of Victoria, as well as artefacts from shipwrecks like the Loch Ard. Each night there is a dramatic sound and light show that will truly blow you away.
Get back to basics and take the family berry picking during summer at one of several berry farms in the region. Not only will the kids get a good feed of fresh fruit straight from the berry patch, but they’ll also learn about how produce is grown in the region’s fertile lands.
Visit farms like Berry World or Surf Coast Strawberry Fields for a memorable experience.
Trying water activities for the first time is so much easier when the equipment is available for hire and you have experienced instructors ready and willing to help show you the ropes. As well as great beaches to surf at, there are lots of rivers and waterways across the region where you can get out in the canoe, test your skills on a SUP board, or cruise along in a paddle boat.
Whether you’re looking for a family surf lesson or to canoe around the 12 Apostles, the Great Ocean Road’s watersports make for some of the best family day trips in Victoria.
Just a couple of hours from Melbourne, the Otways’ rainforests are some of Victoria’s best-kept secrets. If you really want to get the kids deep in nature, take them to a rainforest, where it feels like you could come across a dinosaur at any time!
To appreciate the height and enormity of the rainforest trees, go to the Treetops Adventure Yeodene. Located just outside the forest, here you can take in the gigantic trees up close and personal with adrenaline-inducing high ropes and ziplining for every skill level. Get the blood pumping while taking in beautiful views at this exciting attraction for families in Victoria.
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
