Great Ocean Road Camping

Sleeping under the stars is the ultimate way to holiday for some travelers. Whether you prefer the holiday park community atmosphere or are looking for a secluded bush campground we’ve got you covered, from glamping to a front-row spot for your custom rig or a quiet piece of wilderness to pitch your tent. The Great Ocean Road region offers a diverse range of settings for those who love to camp. Here are some of our top tips for campgrounds.

Camp On the Coast

Pack your surfboards, fishing rods, or sea kayak – whatever your hobby, there are campgrounds dotted along the region’s coastline where you can settle into the coastal community vibe, and some, where it’s just a few steps between your bed and feeling the sand between your toes.

Great Ocean Road: Torquay to Apollo Bay

There are campgrounds to be found in every town along this section of the coastline. Each destination is different.

Camp in Torquay or Jan Juc to surf all day and enjoy the great range of casual dining by night.

Camping in Anglesea is geared toward family fun, Anglesea is the perfect place for learning to surf or SUP, famous for school camps, many Victorians made the pilgrimage to this place in their childhood. Revisit to reignite your inner kid! Paddle on the river or take to the rockpools or the Heath.

If you are a walker, try pitching your tent in Aireys Inlet, the town is linked by walking trails. The Aireys Inlet clifftop walk takes you past the iconic Split Point Lighthouse and the Distillery Creek Walking loop takes you through a diverse part of the Great Otway National Park. Also…. The Aireys Inlet Holiday Park is just a short stroll to the infamous Aireys Pub.

If you like, you can camp in style in Lorne (check out the options at the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park or check out what Twilight Glamping can set up for your stay. Dine at some of the region’s best restaurants, shop in the boutiques, drop a line off the pier. Lorne is a crowd-pleaser! Besides the holiday parks, Parks Victoria-operated Allenvale and Big Hill campgrounds are within walking distance of town, and the spectacular Cumberland River Campground is just a short drive from town. Into waterfalls? There are 10 within 10kms so stay a week to see them all!

Wye River and Kennett River are pretty little seaside towns in an area known as the Otway Coast Hamlets. These places come alive in the warmer months with families enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. These are places to enjoy the best of nature, beautiful beaches, walks, and wildlife. Reconnect with loved ones and disconnect with your day-to-day woes.

Around Apollo Bay, there are a number of camping options. The outlying towns of Skenes Creek and Marengo both have beachfront, ten seconds until your toes hit the sand parks, while in Apollo Bay you can lap up the luxury. Try one of the deluxe cabins at Pisces BIG4, they have the best views of any place in town! A great spot for families, with plenty of beach, dining options, and a great base for exploring the Otways.

Explore Great Ocean Parks for foreshore camping in eight locations between Torquay and Apollo Bay

Otways and 12 Apostles Coast

If you are setting off on the Great Ocean Walk, there are a number of designated purpose-built campsites on the coastal walking route between Apollo Bay and the 12 Apostles. These are for walkers only and must be booked in advance. If you’re here to camp and not to walk, and you want to experience the spectacle of the Southern Ocean and coastline, try Blanket Bay, Aire River (East or West), or Johanna.

Want to camp near the 12 Apostles? For days spent exploring this spectacular coastline (not to mention the foodie wonderland when you hit the hinterland!), there are camping options in Port Campbell and Princetown. In Peterborough, the Great Ocean Road Tourist Park is located on the Curdie River. Bring your boat, SUP, or canoe and relax while you watch the brave ones jump from planes and float down to earth at the nearby Peterborough airstrip with Skydive 12 Apostles.

Warrnambool and Port Fairy

Big cities, bright lights, and beers by the campfire! If this sounds like your ideal camping adventure, heading to the large townships in the West of the region might be your thing.

Warrnambool is home to a number of campgrounds, in the Lake Pertobe Precinct we recommend Surfside Holiday Park. It’s just as it sounds right by the beach and breakwater, and strolling distance to attractions like Flagstaff Hill, Deep Blue Hot Springs, the Lake Pertobe Paddle Boats, Mini-golf by the sea and the city centre. This is an easy-peasy option appealing to all ages. The NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park is close to Hopkins Falls for an out-of-town option.

Port Fairy provides everything one would want from a holiday by the sea. The historic township is such a beauty that many visit without even hitting the beach. A picturesque wharf, lovely boutique shopping, and some of our best cafe and dining options are all right here. There’s a lot of camping options too, with several large parks such as BIG4 Port Fairy, Gardens Caravan Park (close to the Port Fairy Golf Course), and Southcombe by the Sea, you’re spoilt for options. Close to Port Fairy, there are lovely beachfront caravan parks at both Killarney and Yambuk if you’-re looking for something quieter.

Portland and beyond

Big experiences are what Portland is all about. Big Sea fishing (think prize tuna), Big whales all along the coast in winter (Blue, Humpback, Orcas and Southern Rights), a really big port that sometimes welcomes cruise ships, and a thriving regional city that services the surrounding area with a great range of pubs, restaurant and family activities for visitors. There are a number of caravan parks along the coast here, such as the Portland Bay Holiday Park perched atop the township, or the laid-back Holiday Lifestyle Henty Bay on the beach on the outskirts of town.

If you are up for a hike and a half, the Great South West Walk traverses 250kms connecting Portland, Cape Bridgewater, Nelson, and the Glenelg River and so much diverse landscape in between. Designated campgrounds on the walking trail can be booked with Parks Victoria.

Let your troubles float away on the four-day, 75-kilometer Glenelg River Canoe Trail. The spectacular Glenelg River is the perfect wilderness adventure through limestone gorges and pretty bush scenery. Take the fishing rod and you may even hook a Mulloway in the evening (these are saltwater fish but it’s said they can be caught up to 50kms upstream) There are designated campgrounds for Canoeists (book with Parks Victoria).

There are a number of campgrounds for the general public along the Glenelg River such as Battersby’s and Pritchard’s which are very popular so must be booked ahead, and camping options in Nelson at the river mouth like Kywong Caravan Park, where you can pick up a burger at the Kiosk or live it up like a local at the Nelson Hotel. The Discovery Bay National Park campgrounds at Swan Lake and Mount Mombeong and at Cape Bridgewater the Bridgewater Lakes campground add to the fine options for getting away from it all in this

Explore Campgrounds in the Volcanic Lakes and Plains

Some of the bigger towns in the region are well set up for camping and caravanning. Mortlake, Colac, and Casterton all offer well-equipped campgrounds that cater to those traveling with large vans or RVs. Stay in these towns to access supplies and great country hospitality.

In Camperdown, the Lakes and Craters Caravan Park is perched next to the Botanic Gardens on top of a hill overlooking Lake Bullen Merri (high-speed water sports lake) and Lake Gnotuk.

Also in the Volcanic Lakes and Plains area, fishing enthusiasts can camp at Lake Tooliorook or Deep Lake, or the more serious fishermen can bring a boat to Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park, this lake is one of Australia’s most renowned for freshwater fishing lakes that stock 4 types of trout!

At Budj Bim National Park near Macarthur, you can stay close to the extinct volcano (Budj Bim) that is the namesake of this UNESCO world heritage listed cultural landscape – fun fact – the Budj Bim campground has hot showers! Book via Parks Victoria

Keen on craters? Koroit-Tower Hill Caravan Park is located close by Tower Hill, an ancient volcanic crater teeming with native wildlife and stories (told by Worn Gundidj @ Tower Hill)