Want to spend time driving along one of Australia’s most beautiful coastline and maintain your budget? Here are the best free camping on the Great Ocean Road spots to look out for. Experience nature, the drive itself, the towns, the food, and more from some of these amazing free camping spots.
This guide is broken into three areas around the Great Ocean Road:
- Torquay to Apollo Bay
- Apollo Bay to Nelson
- The Hinterland
Note that some locations are open and closed seasonally.
Table of Contents
Free Camping on the Great Ocean Road: Torquay to Apollo Bay
The first stretch of the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne starts at Torquay. This coastal town is a hub for all things surf culture. Situated on the beach and only a short drive to the infamous Bells Beach, the town has a variety of surf shops, a brewery and tap house, fish and chip shops, and a couple of cafes.
There are a few great wineries a short drive inland and the area has a nice, laid back kind of feel. This is a great place to spend a night or two (depending on your time frame). Check out these free camping on the Great Ocean Road spots near Torquay.
Allenvale Mill Bush Campground
Carry on along the Great Ocean Road through Anglesea to the small town of Lorne. This sleepy town is a great place to camp out with some beautiful beaches and waterfalls nearby.
- Location: Off Allendale Road on the Banks of St George River, Outskirts of Lorne
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- 17 campsites available, unpowered site
- Tents only (short walk to campground 250m from carpark)
- Fires not allowed
- Nonflush toilet, shared picnic table, non-drinking water available, no rubbish bins
Allenvale Mill Bush is a nice camping area in the forest. There are a lot of good walking trails and waterfalls close by. A BBQ area is 7 mins drive away and it is about 3km from Lorne and the beach.
Wild cockatoos, koalas, and kangaroos can be seen in this camp area which is surrounded by a mini gully and lake. The toilets are well maintained and it is a generally clean place to camp out.
Sharps Camping Area
This little campsite is a short drive further inland from Allenvale Mill. It is very basic but offers free camping on the Great Ocean Road just a short drive from the beach and the town of Lorne.
- Location: Garvey Track, 3km from Lorne
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- 6 campsites available (6 people per site), unpowered site
- Can accommodate Caravans and campervans
- Fires not allowed
- No toilet, no drinking water or rubbish bins
You’ve got to drive down a dirt road to get to the campsite so be sure your car is up for it. The site is surrounded by wildlife like rosellas, king parrots, cockatoos, and koalas. As mentioned, it is a very basic campsite with no toilets (5km drive to the closest drop toilet), no drinking water or rubbish bins so come prepared. The small space can fill up quickly as there is no booking required.
Jamieson Creek Bush Campground (closed June – October 2020)
A 15-minute drive along the Great Ocean Road from Lorne is the Jamieson Creek Bush campground. If you want to feel like you’re really camping remotely and get as close as you can get to the ocean then this spot might be for you.
- Location: Separation Creek, 11km from Lorne and 5km from Wye River
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- 6 campsites available, unpowered site
- Can accommodate Caravans and campervans
- Fires not allowed
- No toilet, no drinking water or rubbish bins
There are 2 campsites set aside for tents, others for tents or campervans. It is a basic campsite with no toilets (no drinking water or rubbish bins so come prepared). The main attraction is its proximity to the beach which has a beautiful swimming area. You can hear the ocean waves at night.
The grounds/road is currently closed (potentially until October 2020), so check Campermate and/or Aircamp prior to visiting.
Free Camping on the Great Ocean Road: Apollo Bay to Nelson
Apollo Bay is the next main hub along the Great Ocean Road. There is an IGA and Bay Liquor for groceries and alcohol supplies. It is a fairly quiet town with a nice public beach area including toilets and outdoor showers.
The drive from Apollo Bay to Nelson passes through a lot of inland areas, with attractions like The Great Otway National Park, Aire River Wildlife Reserve, and the 12 Apostles (where the road comes back to the coastline).
There are some great free camping on the Great Ocean Road in this beautiful area.
Panmure Campground
Inland from the 12 Apostles around an hour drive is the Panmure Campground. It is a small, free campsite with nice facilities and a pub within walking distance.
- Location: 8830 Princes Hwy, Panmure
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- Camping space on the grassed area, suitable for caravans and campervans, unpowered site
- Flushing toilets, a free electric BBQ, children’s playground, undercover shelter with seats, bins available, dog friendly, non-drinking water available.
The site is close to the highway so you can hear trucks going by at night for those light sleepers. It is located beside a creek and near a swimming hole (which sometimes has a platypus). Nearby is a general store that only stocks snacks and a hotel which does dinner from 6-8 pm.
Sawpit Campground
If you keep driving along the Great Ocean Road towards Portland you will find the Sawpit Campground a short drive inland within the Narrawong Flora Reserve. This free camping on the Great Ocean Road location offers fire pits for those craving a campfire.
- Location: Boyers Road, Narrawong
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- Large camping area, unpowered site
- Can accommodate Caravans and campervans
- Some sites have firepits
- Long drop toilet, public BBQ, fire/bbq pits, picnic benches, no water, no bins, dog friendly.
The campground is among tall timber at the site of an old sawmill (hence the name). It has a modern long-drop toilet, but be sure to BYO toilet roll.
There are some good walking and cycle tracks within the reserve where you can see rosellas & kangaroos. There is also a lot of shade from tall trees which makes it a popular free camping on the Great Ocean Road location on weekends.
Great Ocean Road Hinterland Free Camping Sites
A lot of travelers make their way from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road and then back up through the Hinterland on their way back. The Hinterland area can also be accessed from the Great Ocean Road itself, either as short day trips or overnight explorations.
There is plenty to see in the Great Ocean Road Hinterland area like waterfalls and inland hiking trails. There are also quite a few free camping sites in the hinterland.
If you’re looking for free camping on the Great Ocean Road that are slightly more inland, this is the list for you.
Hammond Road Campground
Starting at the Torquay end of the Great Ocean Road and working down towards Lorne is the small town of Aireys Inlet. Inland (around 20 minutes) from here is the Hammond Road Campground.
- Location: Hammond Rd, Wensleydale,
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- 12 campsites available, unpowered site
- Can accommodate Caravans and campervans
- Long drop toilet, non-drinking water available, no bins, firepits available for use
Kangaroos frequent the area which is a popular site, so arrive early to get a spot. Also, note that there is a long drive along the gravel road to get to the site, so be sure that your vehicle is up for it.
Big Hill Campground (Great Otway National Park) – Closed June-October
This is great free camping on the Great Ocean Road for those who want to be near Lorne. Just a 20 minute drive inland, the Big Hill Campground has great amenities including a fire pit.
- Location: 1265 Deans Marsh-Lorne Rd, Benwerrin
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- 12 campsites available, unpowered site
- Can accommodate Caravans and campervans
- Long drop toilet, non-drinking water available, firepits available for use, no bins.
This site is full of rosellas in the middle of the forest. It can get popular later in the day, so arrive in the afternoon to secure a spot. Note that there are seasonal closures between 1 June and 31 October.
Stevensons Falls Campground
Keep heading down the Great Ocean Road towards Apollo Bay and you will find Skenes Creek road that heads inland. Around 45 minutes drive up into the hinterland there is the Stevensons Falls campground.
This is an amazing place to stay for those looking to be surrounded by natural beauty. A short walk to the waterfalls and surrounded by a pine forest, this site has great amenities too.
- Location: Colac Water Pipeline Track, Barramunga,
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- 50 campsites available, unpowered site
- Can accommodate Caravans and campervans
- Long drop toilet, non-drinking water available, firepits available for use, no bins, dog friendly
There is only gravel road to access so be sure your vehicle can make it.
This is a Great Free Camping on the Great Ocean Road site because you can walk to nearby waterfalls (20-30 minutes) and get some amazing views down the valley. Kangaroos frequent this site too!
Dando’s Camping Spot
If you want to feel completely isolated in nature, Dando’s Camping Spot might be for you. The quiet, pine forest escape is high up the Great Ocean Road hinterland.
- Location: Lardners Track, Gellibrand,
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- Plenty of campsites available, unpowered site
- Can accommodate Caravans and campervans
- Long drop toilet, picnic tables, firepits available for use, no bins, dog friendly
It’s a large camp area by the Gellibrand River in the Great Otway National Park. It has good Shade and grassy areas in between pine trees. There are some beautiful riverbanks to walk to, as well as a lot of wildlife.
Aire Crossing Campsite
If you’re making your way through the Great Otway National and want to stay a little bit longer, head to the Aire Crossing Campsite.
- Location: 300 Wait-A-While Rd, Wyelangta,
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- 5 Campsites available, unpowered site
- Can accommodation campervans
- Unfiltered water available, not dog friendly, toilets,
This is a beautiful site for free Camping on the Great Ocean Road because you are surrounded by ferns and towering trees. There is a lot of shade and the campground is situated above a river which you can swim or relax by. It is a small site that offers a beautiful, natural escape.
Beauchamp Falls Campsite
Want close proximity to beautiful, fern covered waterfalls? This amazing little campsite is a great place to feel connected to the Great Ocean Road Hinterland.
- Location: Beauchamp Falls Walking Track, Beech Forest
- No booking (first in first served), no fees
- Campsites available, unpowered site
- Not recommended for caravans and campervans due to small windy road leading to the site, especially when wet (however can accommodate campervans)
- Long drop toilet, BBQs (which require wood), fires allowed, no water, no bins, dog friendly
The campground is in the middle of a forest with a grassy area for tents and firepits. Only a short hike to the beautiful Beauchamp waterfall.
While it is a long drive off the great ocean road it is only a 15 minute drive to the Hopetoun Waterfall, so its the best campsite if you want to hang out by waterfalls.
What to Pack for Free Camping on the Great Ocean Road
- Tent (with rain cover)
- Camping chairs
- Solar chargers / luci lights
- Natural sunscreen
- Natural repellent
- Steripen / Waterbottle with a filter
- Water
- Toilet Paper
Paid Camping/Glamping on the Great Ocean Road
If you are looking for more facilities or something more luxurious for your Great Ocean Road trip, there are plenty of paid camping sites, or some unique Airbnb stays.
Note that the free camping on the Great Ocean Road spots are all first-come, first-serve. So, if it is getting late in the day and you can’t find a free place, these are also some great alternatives which can be booked online.
Up To Date Campsite Info
A few of the free camping on the Great Ocean Road spots close seasonally and some close for weather-related maintenance. The best way to stay up to date with real-time campsite functionality is through the two apps below:
- Aircamp (website & app)
- Campermate (free app)
Travelling around Australia?
If you are looking for more unique accommodation options around Australia, there are some great Airbnbs, camping sites, and eco accommodation. Here are some of our favourites:
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Aaron is one of the co-founders of The Dharma Trails. His background in marine eco tourism and writing have blended together to create the eco travel platform read by users around the world.
