Camping Spots Along the Great Ocean Road

Camping is one of Australia’s favourite pastimes. There’s something undeniably satisfying about hitting the road and setting up camp somewhere in the wild to spend the night under the stars. The famous scenic route, the Great Ocean Road, offers plenty of places to stay and spend the night, whether by the ocean or in the dense Great Otway National Park. Here we present some of the best Great Ocean Road campsites for your next trip, from caravan parks to free public campsites.

Embark on a memorable Great Ocean Road Tour and discover the best campsites along the way. Plan your trip with our guide for a truly unforgettable experience!

The best time to camp on the Great Ocean Road

You can camp on the Great Ocean Road at any time of year. Campsites and caravan parks are usually open all year round, which means you can drive out on the scenic ocean road and camp in the open whenever you feel like it. However, before planning your camping trip, you should keep a few things in mind.

In summer, the Great Ocean Road is hot and crowded. Although it offers excellent conditions for swimming and relaxing on the beach and long daylight hours, this is often made difficult by 30-degree days and an increase in the number of visitors.

Embark on a memorable Great Ocean Road Tour and discover the best campsites along the way. Plan your trip with our guide for a truly unforgettable experience!

Winters are cold, wet and usually very quiet. The weather at this time of year is not the best, but you can always find a short window of clear days. This is the perfect time if you prefer quiet, deserted and cheap campsites.

Autumn and spring are the best seasons to visit the Great Ocean Road. This is when you can combine good weather with quiet campsites.

The campsites can be overcrowded from Friday evening to Sunday evening or on school holidays, so it is advisable to book in advance if possible. Midweek on the Great Ocean Road can be extremely quiet for most of the year, and it would be ideal if you could take a little time out.

Cumberland River Holiday Park

This fantastic campsite is just a short drive from the famous seaside resort of Lorne. There are excellent hiking opportunities around this campsite with beautiful grassy vegetation.

The walks are some of the best in the area and extend to Great Otway National Park. The beach opposite is very picturesque, and the river running through the campsite offers exciting places to relax and cool off on hot summer days. If you don’t like camping, there are well-equipped huts on site.

Jamison's Track BusJamison's Land

This tiny campsite is right by the ocean and is free, which is appealing. However, be ready for the absence of toilets, running water, or barbecues.

Apollo Bay Holiday Park

A paradise by the sea, Apollo Bay Holiday Park is just metres from the beach and a short walk from the town centre, where great restaurants and shops await. Apollo Bay Holiday Park has many wonderful things, including the Twelve Apostles, coastal waterfalls, the Otway Fly Treetops Walk, surfing beaches, and fishing spots.

You’ll have plenty of choice with modern amenities in all fully self-contained lodges and various camping and caravan sites. The campsite kitchen is equipped with the latest technology, with two large barbecues, a hob, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, and an extra large TV, and it can cater to large groups’ needs. The Apollo Bay Holiday Park offers a family-friendly holiday approach, allowing everyone to enjoy a well-deserved break. The solar-heated pool, games room, and playground will keep children safe and entertained while adults enjoy a little peace and paradise.

Eumeralla Scout Camp

This popular scout camp is on over 300 hectares of beautiful natural bushland, 35 kilometres from Geelong and two kilometres from the famous Anglesey Beach.

This is an excellent place if you love the mountains. The camp is high on the cliffs, offering great ocean views and the town of Anglesey. In addition to the lodges and dormitories, there are excellent bush campsites where you can spend the night under the starry sky.

Jamieson Creek Campground

This campsite was recently renovated and rebuilt with much-needed improvements. There are 24 pitches for tents, but only two are suitable for caravans. There is not much space for tents and caravans. Each site is next to the other, but it’s a great place to spend the night among the trees above the Great Ocean Road.

It’s a bit of a steep site. It’s easily accessible from the Great Ocean Road but accessible to most vehicles. You can also explore the area on foot using the Jamieson Creek Walkway, which connects to the Wye River at a distance of 5.5km one way. Alternatively, you can easily walk to the campsite’s barbecue area and enjoy the magnificent ocean views with an evening drink.

Marengo Holiday Park

This well-kept park offers good access to the beach and views of nearby Apollo Bay.

Dogs are allowed, and there are good facilities for relaxing. The shops in Apollo Bay are pretty close, which is handy if you’re not very well organised and need to stock up on groceries nearby.

Kennett River Holiday Park

This part of the world is known as koala country, so a few of our furry friends can be seen here (and at nearby Grey River). Kennett River Beach offers moderate surf (especially good for beginners), and the campsite is across the road from the beach. There’s also a decent shop here.

Beauchamp Falls Campground

This comfortable free campsite is next to the incredible waterfalls around Beauchamp Forest. Vic Forests manages this campsite, which overlooks the pine plantations in the area. It’s across the road from the Beauchamp Falls car park, so there will be little daily traffic.

However, being close to Beauchamp Falls, a short drive from Hopetoun Falls and Otways Redwood Forest, it’s a great free campsite where you can stay overnight. However, you have little or no shelter, so it’s not ideal in hot or wild weather.

Dandos Campground

Another great free campsite in Otway is similar to Stevenson Falls Campground. It has a large flat area among the trees by the Hellibrand River that is large enough to accommodate over 50 tents. The gravel road leading to the campsite is acceptable for any vehicle but can be slippery after heavy rain. As with Stevenson’s Falls, the campsite is filled with weekend tourists and can be pretty noisy. Therefore, it is better to come early or in the middle of the week if you are looking for peace. This is one of the best free places to stay in Otway.

Aire Crossing

This perfect little campsite is located in the middle of the woods on the banks of a river. It’s a great free campsite with untreated water and toilets, close to the famous Otways Falls. Phone service here is minimal (none from Optus), and it’s quite a ways off the beaten track, but the quiet bush setting is a real highlight.

Blanket Bay Campground

This is a trendy family campsite on the eastern side of Cape Otway. Located on a sheltered beach, it is an excellent place for swimming and snorkelling. The campsite offers plenty of walking opportunities and is home to the Great Ocean Walk. GOW Campground is nearby, where you can spend the night on the trail. Phone service is minimal, but visitors who come here during the day may find some signal.

Bimbi Park

Bimbi Park is a well-known caravan park on Cape Otway. It is set in a beautiful bushland landscape and offers a variety of accommodation types to suit everyone’s needs, from bare pitches to lodges. The staff is renowned for their friendliness and can assist in organising day trips. The hotel is close to Apollo Bay, the Twelve Apostles and many beaches, while Cape Otway Lighthouse is just 5 km away. Wild animals, including koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas, are often seen here.

Stevensons Falls Campground

This is one of the best free campsites in Otway National Park. It’s a little remote, 35km from Apollo Bay, but perfect for exploring its waterfalls. The large, flat site can accommodate up to 50 tents, but they are not numbered. The tents are occupied on a first come, first served basis, so it’s best to arrive early on weekends and in the summer to get a good tent spot.

Otherwise, I found enough space most of the time. The campsite is 1.5 km from Stevensons Falls, along a relatively easy hiking trail from the far end of the campsite, and it’s well worth the time. As it is a free campsite, it can get very crowded on Saturday nights and long weekends, but it is usually quiet midweek.

Big Hill Campground

Big Hill Campground is one of the most famous campsites on the Great Ocean Road near Lorne. The campsite is nestled in the beautiful bush, just 11 km from the Great Ocean Road. There are 13 pitches, half reserved for tents and the rest for campers, caravans and other vehicles. The place is tranquil but cannot be fully booked as it is a tiny clearing. We recommend booking in advance for summer weekends and holidays. Otherwise, I found it was only half full in the middle of the week and could book a spot for the day.

BIG4 Narrawong Island Holiday Park

BIG4 Narrawong Island Holiday Park is a beautiful campsite 15 minutes east of Portland and about 45 minutes west of Port Fairy on the Great Ocean Road.

The holiday park offers a range of accommodation options, such as caravans, campsites and lodges. All accommodation options are self-contained to ensure a comfortable stay.

The park is just a short walk from the beach and on the banks of the Surry River. It offers stunning views of the surrounding lush bushland and the river itself. It is a quiet and peaceful place ideal for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

For outdoor enthusiasts, BIG4 Narrawong Island Holiday Park offers easy access to activities that do not require leaving the park, such as fishing, kayaking, surfing, and swimming. The cafe is open most weekends, so grab a takeaway and stroll along the beach looking for shark teeth. Bring a camera for whale watching (in winter). Guests may be lucky enough to see a baby whale frolicking in the dunes while its mother closely monitors it.

Mortlake Caravan Park

The Mortlake Caravan Park is ideally situated in the beautiful Tea Tree Lake Reserve and Gardens, offering vast open space for children to stroll and play. Centrally located and within walking distance of all attractions, it is an excellent base for exploring the city, trying your luck at trout fishing in Tea Tree Lake and gem hunting at Shadwell Mountain.

Mortlake is the centre of Victoria’s rich agricultural and pastoral region of the Great South Coast. This thriving rural town is on the Hamilton Highway. It has various dining options and excellent sports facilities, including a 50-metre swimming pool, skate park, historic bluestone quarter and a relaxed, rural atmosphere.

Mortlake Caravan Park is a pet-friendly park with motorised and non-motorised pitches where you can settle down for a relaxing holiday. It offers all the amenities you need to create a natural oasis away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Tanners Road Campground

This is a great free campsite just outside of Winchelsea. This is a great place to camp near Torquay or Anglesey on the Great Ocean Road. It’s usually quiet, but 4×4 and motorbike drivers can be very busy on weekends and leave many tracks behind the campsite.

The phone and internet connection is a bit unstable and not very powerful, but it is a bit off the beaten track and a secluded place to enjoy the beauty of the Otway. Dogs are allowed, as the campsite is not in a national park.

Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park

Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park is the only seaside caravan park in Torquay. Situated at the start of the Great Ocean Road and on the picturesque Torquay surfing beach, Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park is the perfect location for your next holiday, weekend break or camping trip.

It offers many accommodations, including plenty of family camping pitches, lodges on-site and even new glamping tents to suit all budgets.

You can hear the waves crashing at Torquay Surf Beach, a great place for surfing, swimming, fishing and walking. Bell Street cafes, restaurants and shops are close to the park, and Torquay town centre is within walking distance. Please note that some units are pet-friendly during the low season.

Gardens Caravan Park

Situated next to the beautiful Botanic Gardens on the banks of the River Moyne, Gardens Caravan Park offers you a relaxing holiday. Only 200 metres from the famous East Beach, you can breathe in the sea air and enjoy the outdoors from the terrace of a detached lodge or choose from spacious motorised or non-motorised camping pitches.

Surrounded by the legendary Norfolk pines, this green-fronted caravan park is ideally located for the whole family to enjoy Port Fairy’s attractions. The town or the historic working harbour, where yachts and fishing fleets are moored, and Griffiths Island, to see the lighthouse and sheepshead during the breeding season, are just 600 metres away on foot.

You can go fishing on a boat, on the riverbank or in the sea, and places to launch and clean fish are just two minutes from the park.