Whales, shipwrecks, and sandy beaches draw travellers to this Great Ocean Road town.
Surrounded by sandy beaches, Southern Ocean views, and sunken shipwrecks (this is the Shipwreck Coast, after all), Warrnambool makes a fun stopover along the Great Ocean Road. Discover the coast’s seafaring history at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, get on the water at the Lake Pertobe Adventure Park, then head down to the coast to swim and snorkel at Killarney Beach or spot whales from Logans Beach. Camping options are plentiful, whether you check into a family-friendly holiday park or caravan park, rent a cosy cabin, or escape to a tranquil Hipcamp in the heart of the bush.
The 130km section of the Great Ocean Road from Port Fairy through Warrnambool to Cape Otway is named for its treacherous rocks and crashing waves, and it’s full of dramatic ocean vistas. Stop to admire the Twelve Apostles' rock formations, hike the coastal cliffs of the Great Ocean Walk, and spot koalas and kangaroos at the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Campers have plenty of options, including non-powered sites at the Port Campbell National Park campground.
Continuing east along the Great Ocean Road from Cape Otway, the first stop is the Great Otway National Park, where the first-come, first-served campsites are ideally situated for bushwalking and wildlife watching. Stop to admire the views at Apollo Bay and hike to the waterfalls around Lorne, before arriving at the famous surf beaches of Torquay.
Just over an hour’s drive north of Warrnambool, the craggy peaks, waterfalls, and vibrant wildflowers of Grampians National Park make for some spectacular hikes. Camping options are just varied, so take your pick from motorhome and caravan sites, comfy cabin and chalet rentals, and glamping tents. Or head into the wild and go bush camping along the trails.
Summer is peak season for road-trippers along the Great Ocean Road, but as one of Australia’s most famous drives, traffic can be a problem. Driving the road in an easterly direction from Warrnambool is a smart way to dodge the day-trippers coming from Melbourne. Alternatively, visit out of season—it’s often still warm enough to swim and surf in late spring and early autumn, while winter (June through September) is whale-watching season.