The top 10 campgrounds on the Great Ocean Road.
With over 240km to explore and some of the best campgrounds in Victoria, the Great Ocean Road and surrounds offers a great range of camping experiences for everyone. Whether you’re looking for coastal camping on pristine beaches, getting back to nature in scenic National Park campgrounds or enjoying all the action-packed amenities at family holiday parks you’re going to have a great camping weekend at these Top 10 campgrounds.
At the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, the Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park is the only beachfront caravan park in Torquay. Located just a few sandy steps away from the picturesque Torquay Surf Beach, a great spot for surfing, swimming, fishing and walking. Conveniently, the Bell Street cafes, restaurants and shops are just out the front of the park, and the Torquay town centre is within easy walking distance.
A range of accommodation is available with plenty of family-friendly camp sites and onsite cabin accommodation to suit all budgets. The park is packed with fantastic facilities – the giant kangaroo jumper cushion, playground, large recreations areas, TV room, BBQ’s and newly build camp kitchen will keep the whole family happy during your next holiday, a weekend away or an overnight camp. You can even bring your pooch from May – October.
Located just 10 minutes past Torquay, Anglesea is a natural playground for families that just want to have fun. Stay and play at Anglesea Family Caravan Park. It boasts fantastic facilities that will keep the whole family entertained. Bounce on the giant jumping pillow, play a few holes on the mini golf course, dive into the heated swimming pool then test out the playgrounds, volleyball court and basketball rings. After that, the kids will sleep like babies in your deluxe country-style cedar cottage. Wake and explore the sandy beaches, learn to surf on gentle rolling waves, take a fun boat through the middle of town then then drop a line at Anglesea River – all just a short walk away.
Located just 7 minutes past Lorne, Cumberland River is a tranquil riverside getaway that makes you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere – with the luxury of Lorne just around the corner. The dramatic cliffs that flank Cumberland River Holiday Park not only creates one of the prettiest campgrounds in Victoria but also a wi-fi free hideaway. Who needs a device when the peaceful pools, rippling waterfalls and the nearly private surf beach are your playground, all within metres of your riverside campsite or cabin. Offline may just be the new luxury, but if you’re looking for the ultimate in seaside sophistication nearby Lorne serves up some of the finest dining, shopping and experiences on the Great Ocean Road. Best of both worlds!
The Cumberland River Holiday Park runs along the banks of the bumbling river, nestled between a lush green valley and dramatic cliffs. Set up your home for the weekend right beside Cumberland River’s popular swimming hole – it’s easy to see this is one of the most picturesque holiday parks in Victoria.
BIG4 Wye River Holiday Park is set amongst the world-famous Otway Ranges, flanked by bush on one side and beach on the other. The 25 acres park is nestled in the Wye River Valley and the local koalas, kangaroos and birdlife love it just as much as you will. The Wye River cascades through the centre of the park leading you to Wye Beach – the perfect spot for fishing, surfing, swimming and exploring.
The range of facilities and activities at BIG4 Wye River Holiday Park offers something for everyone. Kids will love the jumping pillow, basketball courts, go carts and a fantastic play areas. The range of fully self-contained cabins, river side caravan and camping sites with access to sparkling clean amenities, laundry facilities and Camp Kitchen will keep Mum and Dad happy too. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better natural holiday and caravan park destination.
Mountains or sea? Why choose, when you can have the best of both worlds in BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park. Nestled between the Great Otway National Park and the stunning coastline of the Great Ocean Road the park offers endless family adventures – from all-abilities hikes, beautiful waterfalls, native wildlife experiences to just relaxing on the pristine beach.
The BIG4 Holiday Park is a 5min drive or 1.5km bike path ride from the center of Apollo Bay. The tiered layout gives most sites glimpses of the sparkling waters of Apollo Bay, but the best are saved for the Ocean View Deluxe Cabins. The park boasts fantastic facilities – dive into the heated swimming pool then test out the adventure playground with flying fox and interactive water play zone, the modular bike/scooter pump track, games room, basketball half court, tv lounge and entertainment shelter.
The Big 4 team also host a range of seasonal activities that include kids club, live music, yoga, twilight cinema, boot camp, yoga and marshmallow roasting around the communal firepit.
Camp under the koalas at Bimbi Park – located in Cape Otway, 30 minutes from Apollo Bay. Home to the largest koala population in the world it is a natural wilderness with magnificent forests, beaches, secluded bays and a spectacular coastline far away from the bustle of towns and traffic.
Whether you are pitching a tent, staying in an onsite camping pod, van, bunk room, cabin or in off-grid eco-luxury you will be camping under the koalas. The other animals that live at the park are pretty cute too – kids can feed the chickens, collect farm fresh eggs, pat the trail ride horses and even walk the resident goats!
Still wanting more, the whole family can challenge themselves on the unique rock-climbing wall and on-site mini-golf course before hiking to the secret sandy beaches – you’ll most likely have them to yourselves.
Camp under a million stars on the culturally significant land at Budj Bim National Park. Renamed in 2017, (previously known as Mt Eccles National Park) this 8000 hectare national park is the first national park co-managed by Gunditjmara Traditional Owners and Parks Victoria.
Budj Bim Campground is your home amongst the gum trees! It is so quiet, the only living beings we saw were the koalas and kangaroos. Here, you can set up camp in the forest rocks hollows and ridges formed by the lava flows from the ancient volcanic eruption. The simple campground surrounded by native bushland offers large campsites suitable for 6 people, bathroom and campfire facilities and several nature trails to explore this unique volcanic landscape.
Follow the Lake Surprise walk along the crater rim or descend to the crater-lake’s edge. The longer Lava Canal circuit walk will reveal a maze of lava blisters, Tunnel Cave, Natural Bridge and also a dry crater offering views of the park and into the crater itself.
The wonders of Warrnambool lay out before you at Warrnambool Surfside Holiday Park. The sand and surf of Warrnambool Beach and the expansive parkland of Lake Petrobe are on your doorstep with the heart of town only a 10minute stroll away.
You’ll find plenty to see and do for the whole family from your six-star environmentally-rated lodgings or coastal campsites at the Surfside Holiday Park. Enjoy your pick of flat, grassy powered and unpowered campsites protected by lush, coastal scrub. Or enjoy a country cottage or stunning Surfside Beach Chalet with a six-star energy rating and timber deck.
Gardens Caravan Park is perfectly located on the idyllic banks of the Moyne River, beside the picturesque Botanic Gardens and only a few metres from the ever-popular East Beach. The grassy open spaces surrounded by the iconic Norfolk pine trees provides a tranquil break for the whole family. Smell the sea air and enjoy the natural open spaces from the deck of a self-contained cabin, or choose one of the spacious, grassed camping sites for the duration of your stay.
Just 600 metres from the Port Fairy town centre, this dog-friendly caravan park is ideally situated for all of your holiday activities. Gather your group large or small, and relax and recharge in these idyllic surroundings.
Located just over 3hrs from Melbourne, Peterborough is the tiny shorefront town right in the heart of the Great Ocean Road’s iconic attractions. The Great Ocean Road Tourist Park offers the perfect place to base yourself right between the iconic landmarks of Port Campbell National Park and the lesser visited but equally spectacular Bay of Islands Coastal Park.
Spend the weekend fishing, golfing, walking epic ocean trails, swimming at secret coves and calm rivers or take short drives to visit some of the postcard worthy cliffs, offshore islands, towering rock stacks, gorges, arches, blowholes and other rock formations. Relax on the deck of your riverfront, two-bedroom cabin and take in the views of the beautiful Curdies River Inlet. Kids will also love the jumping pillow, basketball ring and playground.
Hearing the sound of the waves the invented surfing from your tent in Torquay
Camping beside the clear water creek and dramatic cliffs at Cumberland River
Getting back to nature in Wye River
Camping between the iconic landscapes of the 12 Apostles and the Bay of Islands
Camping with the koalas at Bimbi Park
Wherever you choose to pitch your tent you’re sure to have a great weekend camping on the Great Ocean Road.
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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.
