Ultimate 10 Day Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip Planner
Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip planne
A Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip is a must do activity when visiting Australia! Hiring a campervan and going on a self drive holiday along the most jaw-dropping ocean views in Australia is an amazing experience! You will want to stop at every possible lookout, for example to take in the unbelievable beauty of one of the most popular roadtrips in Australia, The Great Ocean Road.
Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip – 12 apostles
The Great Ocean Road organised tour, car or campervan hire which is best?
Don’t make the classic tourist mistake and rush the Great Ocean Road! Many bus tours offer a one day highlights tour of the Great Ocean Road! We especially do not recommend doing this! The reason is these tours have to get you to the main highlights by lunchtime! Subsequently, they then have to turn back and furthermore do a mad rush (along the same road) to get to Melbourne!
In addition to it being a long day, you are basically doing a driving tour looking out of a coach window! Furthermore we know you guys are way more adventurous than this! As a result of the time constraints of bus tours, they bypass a lot of fantastic spots along the Great Ocean Road! This is all done to enable them to rush you to get a glance of the 12 Apostels, and then back asap! However, you will miss out on many other incredible things to do and see on the Great Ocean Road! It’s known as Australia’s most famous road trip for good reason, so ditch the tours or coaches and go for a Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip instead!
Discounted Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrips – Enter your dates below:
Are you are still in the planning stages of how to explore the Great Ocean Road by campervan? In particular Travelwheels Campervans have some special offers available at the moment. Simply enter your dates below for our lowest prices on Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrips.
To make the most out of Australia’s best roadtrip we suggest reading this guide about the Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip. The staff and feedback from happy customer reviews who have already travelled along the Great Ocean Road helped put this guide together. Therefore let’s start our review of the 10 Day Great Ocean Road trip planner for you. Remember you can always call our team on 0412766616 or email [email protected] for free Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip itineraries in English, Français or Deutsch.
Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip Planner – Day 1
Bird-eye view from a helicopter ride over the Twelve Apostles from the Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip
With two lanes that snake and weave between wavy blue waters, golden limestone formations and panoramic villages, the Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip is a must do activity in Australia! The Great Ocean Road is perhaps one of the most beautiful campervan road trips in all of Australia. It stretches over 243km along the Victorian coastline from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool.
The great thing about hiring a campervan for the Great Ocean Road is you can take your time to explore it’s beauty. This guide will enable you to find out where to stop in a campervan on the Great Ocean Road, and the many beautiful things to see along the route.
On day one we recommend to pick up your camper from our Melbourne campervan hire branch. The reason why is that Melbourne is the closest campervan depot to the Great Ocean Road. Here are just some places you could visit on your first day on the Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip:
Ballarat:
Victoria’s largest inland city, Ballarat, for example, is becoming the hub of contemporary art and events within the region. Furthermore for any history buffs, they will find Ballarat has a rich and fascinating historical background to investigate. You can admire the Victorian and Edwardian buildings, parks, gardens and statues of the city, as well as literally entering the “golden era” of an era of gold rush in Australia! For example, in Sovereign Hill you can join in and experience a ‘real gold mining community from 1850’. In particular you can dress up like an “old school hipster” and take part in the fun!
Ballarats’ gold mining community
Geelong:
The Greater Geelong region offers a wide mix of attractions. Many people quickly skip Geelong as they are already rushing on their Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip! Check out the Bollards of Geelong, which illustrate the history of the city in a very unusual way! For example, there are more than 100 of these huge painted icons guiding visitors along the free walking track stretching from Rippleside to Limeburners Point.
Bollards of Geelong
Torquay:
Torquay is known for being the center of surfing culture! It is the home to the iconic brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver and many more! Torquay is also known as the starting point of the curvy roads which loop along the Great Ocean Road tour. Travelwheels recommends stopping at Surfworld National Surf Museum in Torquay. Here is a link to their Surfworld facebook page for opening hours and details about this wicked surf museum.
Photo courtesy of Surfworld Torquay – old school Australian surfers
There is a surfing mall with lots of surf related shops at Surf City Plaza. For example it has many of the top brands such as Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Oakley, Roxy, Rusty, Billabong, Hurley and other surf culture brands to check out. Here is a link from trip advisor with a review of Surf City Plaza to check out before you go. And here is another useful tip from our customers who have been on The Great Ocean Road campervan road trip: They suggest to visit the factory shops instead of the mall for brands like Rip Curl and Quiksilver. In this case they found cheaper prices for surf wear at the factories – The place to go if you are searching for bargain discounted surfwear.
Jan Juc:
Jan Juc is a neighboring suburb that is famous for brilliant lookouts and native flora. There are beautiful hiking tracks running along the coast between Jan Juc and Torquay. Try the Jan Juc to Bells Beach trail(4km) or the Pt Danger to Jan Juc walk(2km). Both can be done in about an hour and offer you some of the most spectacular views this area has to offer. These mini stops are great examples of free things to do on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip adventure.
Bells Beach – Top tip on a Great Ocean Road tour
Bells Beach:
This is a must do activity on your Great Ocean Road campervan road trip! Bells Beach is one of Australia’s best surfing spots! For example they hold the annual Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition here. This event is the longest running professional surfing content in the world!
If you have a surfboard, this is the place to stop! Ever watched the movie Point Break? Yeah right, then those massive waves were filmed at Bells Beach! Even if you are not a surfer, then we would still recommend visiting Bells Beach on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip. You can check out the awe-inspiring views from the cliff-top car park for free. It is a great spot to watch pro surfers ripping it up!
Day 2 – Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip Planner
After a great first day of sightseeing you can continue your trip down south on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip. For example, just 10 minutes from Torquay is a town called Anglesea. This is a favourite vacation destination among many Australians and very popular area for camping holidays. Coupled with many more great things to do in this area, we recommend spending some time checking out our favourite spots close by:
Great Ocean Road trip – Perfect for a campervan holiday
Anglesea:
You might wonder why Anglesea is one of the most favorite holiday destinations to Australians holidaying in their own country? Next to crystal clear waters, this amazing village offers attractive parks and gardens. In addition to this you can find an abundant flora and a lot of wildlife, particularly the kangaroos! For example Anglesea Golf Club is a hub for locals during the day, but why should travellers on the Great Ocean Road Campervan roadtrip go to a golf course at night? In the meantime you might be thinking why visit a golf course at night in Australia, are you guys mad? Here is the reason why, in the afternoon, just before sunset, you get the chance to get closer to Australia’s furry locals! This place is packed with Kangaroos chilling on the golf course in the early evenings!
The Surf Coast Walk
Another essential free thing to do on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip is the Surf Coast Walk. This world-class walking destination is a 44km easy access trail along the coast that connects Torquay, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet. Expect thrilling views and an unique coastal environment within easy reach. You can spend an hour, a day or a week here easily. Both our staff and feedback from customers who have recommended the Surf Coast Walk. Therefore we suggest this should be on your “Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip” list of free things to do. Whilst on the The Surf Coast Walk at the mid-point we recommend climbing up to Point Roadknight, and taking in the views for free!
The Surf Coast Walk
The Point Addis Marine National Park
On your way to Anglesea will you pass “The Point Addis Marine National Park“, which is worth a stop on your Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip. This park features an eye-catching scenery with far-reaching sandy beaches. In particular it has crumbling limestone and sandstone cliffs and beautiful natural viewing platforms all for free!
The Point Addis Marine National Park
Aireys Inlet
This hidden gem at Aireys Inlet, is often forgotten on the rush to the Apostles, however it should be on your list when hiring a campervan in Melbourne for a Great Ocean Road trip. Stop at this beautiful coastal town and soak up the fresh sea air, dazzling natural attractions and maritime history. You can access the Surf Coast Walk, explore the Cliff Top Walk and discover the Lighthouse Precinct Walk. In addition to it being a hidden gem, the amazing views from Split Point Lighthouse and the Eagle Rock Lookout are great! These are just to name a few of the fun-tastic things you can do in this little hidden treasure whilst exploring the Great Ocean Road by campervan.
Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet
Great Ocean Road Trip Planner Lorne & Apollo bay – Day 3
On your third day of your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip you can explore the area between Lorne and Apollo Bay. Get ready for some fabulous attractions and a wonderful day outdoors exploring this lovely area. To avoid crowds and stress, we recommend stopping just before Apollo Bay and parking up your campervan. If you are lucky you might find some free camping on the Great Ocean Road here. This way you can fully explore the area next day and in the meantime watch all those day tour buses whizzing by! Here come some of the highlights as suggested by customers who have already done a Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip with Travelwheels campervan hire:
Beach time in Lorne – Patrolled swimming for the extra bit of safety!
Lorne:
Lorne is one of our favourite coastal villages along our ultimate Great Ocean Road campervan guide! Unfortunately it can become quite busy during summer, so we recommend first thing in the morning or late afternoons are a good time to explore. Your first stop on your Great Ocean Road campervan hire roadtrip in this area has to be the Lorne Beach. Safety tip – it is the only patrolled beach in town. We regularly recommend our customers to cool off at Loutit Bay or take a walk up to Shelley Beach to check out the rock pools for free!
As a result of Lorne being surrounded by mountains, it has many gorgeous waterfalls and hiking trails for you to explore and all for free! Instead of rushing through as many people do on their Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip, we suggest taking your time exploring this special place. A lot of the travelwheels customer reviews often say they really enjoy spending a few days getting lost in it’s beauty.
Erskine Falls
Erskine Falls
Another lovely place to visit on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip is Erskine Falls at the Otway National Park. The falls drop from one of the highest points in the Otways. Two viewpoints offer a picturesque view of this 30 meter high waterfall that cascades in a gorge! There is a lookout point above the waterfalls and furthermore a hiking trail leading to the base of the falls as well. However, we recommend keeping your eyes open as there are some steep sections in places! This is also another place our customers have said they really loved and commented there are way less tourists as well! The whole thing about hiring a campervan to explore the Great Ocean Road is to visit hidden gems such as the Otway National Park. This way you can miss all those tourists on tour buses and see the real Great Ocean Road!
Teddy’s lookout to the river
Teddy’s Lookout
It is time to pack a picnic and drive your campervan up to the end of George Street at the outskirt of Lorne. Simply follow the signs up to Teddy’s Lookout, and as a result of your efforts enjoy a 5 star picnic and in the meantime savour the view for FREE! Incidentally, just a short walkway takes you to the viewing platform that gives you more delightful views. Here you can also view the surf break into the mouth of Saint George River. We really recommend stopping here, and finally enjoying one of the secret gems hidden away! What a place and definitely worth checking out on your Great Ocean Road campervan road trip adventure!
Teddy’s Lookout
Wye River
Wye River is a small coastal town located on the river it’s named after. Compared to some of the bigger towns on the Great Ocean Road this is a very quiet, relaxing place, and no bus tours hogging the road! Free things to do are swimming in the turquoise waters or checking out the great views. In the meanwhile in the evening why not check out one of the local pubs and chat to some locals! If you got some time on your hands, we recommend checking out Paddy’s Path. According to locals there are swamp wallabies, possums, grey kangaroos and koalas to check out. The Wye River is surrounded by the Ottway National Park, and if you like birds watching, then this area is highly recommended.
Kennett River
With a population of only 50, Kennett River is a quiet and laid-back town you will pass through on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip. It is just a short stroll away from Wye River and well known for its tranquil beaches and native wildlife. As a result of visiting Kennett River there is a very high chance you will catch sight of koalas, kookaburras and king parrots, too!
TIP: Park your campervan at the Grey River Road. From here you can quietly walk around and will spot many koalas in the trees! If you are lucky and come during spring time in Australia you can even find some koalas with their babies in the lower tree levels! Even though it is very busy at times, this is a much safer place to watch koalas than trying to stop at the Otway Lighthouse Road with all those other tourists!
In addition to this place, there are some more koala spots to check out, but we will talk about these later on. Consequently between May and September you are just in time for the whale watching season on the Great Ocean Road. Travellers tip – if you don’t like crowds, then stay away from Kennett River as it becomes a very popular as a result of the whale watching season kicking in!
Koala watching near Kennett River
Lake Elizabeth
Before you head to Apollo Bay you might want to try another detour on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip? We suggest visiting Lake Elizabeth near the township Forrest. Dead tree trunks emerge out of the water, and as as result create a very indescribable eerie atmosphere! This is a great place for mini outdoor camping adventure and worth coupling this with a canoe trip as well!
Lake Elizabeth
Day 4 – Great Ocean Road Trip Planner: Apollo Bay
You are now approaching Apollo Bay on your Great Ocean Road campervan road trip. For instance, if you love outdoor adventures such as surfboarding, kayaking, sunset beach rides on horseback, and many more fun things, then Apollo Bay is for you! Coupled with galleries, tea houses and countless culinary delights, Apollo Bay has plenty to offer travellers along the Great Ocean Road. You can easily spend a whole day in this marvelous town, but our recommendation is to make this your base for few days. This way you get to really appreciate just how wonderful this area is. Furthermore Apollo Bay is known as the gateway to the highlights of the Great Otway National Park! Here are some of our favorite places from both the staff at Travelwheels and customer reviews of places to visit on the Great Ocean Road close to Apollo Bay:
Surfing is one of the great things you can do in Apollo Bay and the area
Apollo Bay Music Festival
For over 20 years the Apollo Bay Festival has been a “secret” to people who enjoy great music, cool people and a great vibe! For instance, you can chill out by the beach whilst watching talented local and international musicians perform their best without massive crowds! Consequently, this 3-day festival is not just about music, but also includes theater, comedy, dance, film and literature and is wicked stop on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip.
Apollo Bay Music Festival
Marriners Lookout
If you have a thing for spectacular lookouts than this one will knock you off your feet! You don’t get all the coach tours stopping here and Marriners Lookout is just north of Apollo Bay and very easy to find if you follow the signs. It is actually private property but the landowner decided to kindly share this remarkable view with the public. Therefore please respect his property and close the gate behind you!
Marriners Lookout
Mait’s Rest – Great Ocean Road tour
Another quick and fun stop on your Great Ocean Road campervan road trip is Mait’s Rest. It is an 800-meter-long, self-guided, adventurous walk through the spectacular rainforest of the Otway Ranges. It is on the Great Ocean Road and only 15 minutes drive from Apollo Bay.
Mait’s Rest is a wonderful trail through the Otway National Park
Visit Triplet Falls on the Great Ocean Road
An hour north of Mait’s Rest you will find Triplet waterfalls. You will pass giant trees coupled with a fascinating fauna on this one-hour walk to these stunning waterfalls. The great thing about hiring campervan instead of doing a bus tour of the Great Ocean Road is making mini stops like this. Whilst you are in this area, check out Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, which is only a ten minute diversion on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip from the falls. It’s like being a kid again or a monkey swinging in the trees! They have tree top walks and a zip line that is 30 metres above the forest floor!
Triplet Falls in Victoria
Australia’s Oldest Lighthouse
Cape Otway Lightstation is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia, and is a real tourist attraction due to it’s sad history! According to the history books, it was built in 1848. Afterwards it was used by the first migrants of the 19th century to signal Australia in the distance after many months travelling from England to Australia. Check out the observation platform on top of the lighthouse to enjoy a breathtaking view of the dramatic coastline! As a result of the ferrous seas, you can clearly see why in this case the lighthouse was built to protect the boats from the rough seas and wild coastline! As a rule we suggest either an early morning or late afternoon visit to miss the coach tours from Melbourne!
Cape Otway Lighstation – The oldest lighthouse in Australia
Otway Lighthouse Road
One of the great things about an independent Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip is you can stop when you want! For the most part the bus or coach tours do limited stops in the most popular crowded places! In the meantime, let’s get back to your adventure and make sure you look up in the trees on the drive to Australia’s oldest Lighthouse to spot the Koalas!
As a rule the driver should keep his or her eyes on the road and not on the koalas! For instance, Travelwheels has had a lot of positive feedback from customers who hired a campervan from us stating they spotted loads of Koala here! Subsequently, be careful during peak season as the street can get crowded! As previously mentioned, we recommend the Grey River Road in Kennett River for a more relaxed and safe area to view koalas without the crowds of bus tours.
Yeah – We love more koalas!!! Look closely and you will see many of them hiding in trees.
Cape Otway Camping & Caravan Park – Bimbipark
We recommend the Bimbipark as the last stop of the day on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip. This is a brilliant campsite, and the best thing is that it is surrounded by cute koalas!! That’s right if you just can’t get enough of those furry friends, then this is a great place to park your campervan on the Great Ocean Road.
Camping is the most popular way to travel in Australia
Day 5 – Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip Planner
Melba Gully
For the most part, everyone rushes pass Melba Gully with their eyes set for the 12 Apostels on the Great Ocean Road. In the meanwhile you might want to stop here as it’s a good spot for free camping on the Great Ocean Road. Lastly, let us warn you that Melba Gully is one of the wettest regions in Victoria with an annual rainfall of over 2000mm! Don’t let that put you off as the area is full of Giant Myrtle Beech, and Blackwood trees. Madsen’s Track Nature Walk is a 35 minute leisurely stroll with a great picnic area and by the way at night time you can observe unusual glow worms for free.
Glow worms are very common in this area
Johanna Beach – very good surf beach on Great Ocean Road
Johanna Beach stretches between Glenaire and Lavers Hill. Occasionally the Bells Beach Surf Classic competition is moved to Johanna if the waves are flat at Bells Beach. The reason for choosing this beach is because of the long stretch of ‘beach and reef’ breaks. However check the conditions before you surf, as coupled with its powerful waves, it has the reputation for rapid jumps in the size of the waves!! As an example these waves have been known to double in size in the space of just a few hours! A tip from the “mystical surfer dude” who used to work for us explained that, “Westerly facing of Johanna picks up swells that misses Bells Beach and the rest of the surf coast (thanks surfer dude!).
Johanna Beach
Other good reasons to stop her on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip is for the fishing and hiking. Above all, Johanna Beach also offers many different types of accommodation including a campsite with excellent views. There are also some sneaky opportunities to free camp on the Great Ocean Road with your campervan, but shush we didn’t tell you this 🙂
Lavers Hill – Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip attraction
If you follow the Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip trail you will pass through Lavers Hill. This town is perfect to get your energy levels back up with some home cooked brunch. You will find many cafes, shops & a pub with bistro.
Gibson Step
Gibson Steps – Highlight on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip
Now for most people, this is where the Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip really starts! As a general rule of thumb if you are booked on a 1 day coach tip, the company will say this is the start of the highlights of the Great Ocean Road! However, we know you guys are real travellers, so the journey is also the adventure on the Great Ocean Road! We know you have been following our Great Ocean Road by campervan trip planner so you have a better understanding of where it is at!
Gibson Step lookout
Gibson Step is just the start of the ‘walls of fame’ which make up the Great Ocean Road. In the meanwhile remember to walk down the steps and take loads of pictures. You can post your photos on the Travelwheels Campervans Facebook Page if you have a spare moment (thank you). Your Instagram feed is about to explode as this is such a photogenic and “picture-tastic” location to take photos!! Once you jump back into your campervan, the next stop will be “The Twelve Apostles”! This is literally a two minute drive from Gibson Steps, so get those cameras ready!
The Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road
This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia! The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks on the coast of the Port Campbell National Park. By the way, you might ask why is it called the 12 Apostles when right now there are only eight Apostles remaining? Unfortunately, the ninth stack collapsed dramatically in July 2005, so you need to get your skates on and visit the most talked about section of the Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip! In the meantime, you never know when the next Apostle is about to collapse, so we recommend visiting them soon!
Best time of day for less crowds and great photos of the 12 Apostles?
The staff at Travelwheels Campervans recommends first thing in the morning to about 11am to visit. If not, then sunset is also another great time to get those photos to post on Facebook. This way the sun won’t be a problem for you, and if you take some good shots, then please share them on the Travelwheels Campervans Facebook Page. (thank you)
Twelve Apostles at the Great Ocean Road
Loch Ard Gorge
This is a favourite stop for many of our customers on their Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip holiday. It’s another 3 minute drive west from the Twelve Apostles to get to Loch Ard Gorge. Furthermore it was named after the shipwreck that only spared two teenagers during a tragic accident. The best way to explore this area is on foot and there are three different easy walks to see the best natural treasures this region has to offer. The main path from the car park will lead you to all the best viewing platforms of the Loch Ard Gorge.
Mutton Bird Island
“The Wreck of the Loch Ard” walk takes approximately 50 minutes to complete (1,4km). In addition to it being free, it will describe the tragic story of the Loch Ard shipwreck and you can view the cemetery as well. Another walk for 90 minutes (3,4km) will guide you to the Muttonbird Island viewing platform. Worth heading here to see and hear the majestic Blowhole, Thunder Cave and Broken Head!
The Loch Ard Gorge
Thunder Cave and Thunder River
The Thunder Cave and Thunder River are on the 3,4km walk which is accessible from the same car park as Loch Ard Gorge. The best part about this fairly quiet hike along the beach is where the river meets the ocean! Hence, you can understand why this is a special place and well worth a visit. It’s another free thing to do on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip planner and highly recommended.
A Great Ocean Road tour must be on your holiday list!
Port Campbell
After you have soaked in all those wonderful views on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip we suggest stopping at Port Campbell. Not the best place for free camping, but a good spot to stop and daydream about your adventures over a cold beer! The great thing about hiring a campervan for the Great Ocean Road is you can cook your own food. Places like Port Campbell can be expensive for food as they have a captive audience! If you feel like eating out, Port Campbell offers many options for food, but it is not cheap, ouch! Next stop tomorrow is a good one, so get some rest before your next adventure begins in the morning!
Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip Planner Day 6
No time to rest and let’s go onto our next stop on our Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip adventure! Day 6 promises another handful of fabulous sightseeing spots that will become wonderful memories in the near future.
Dream beaches on your Great Ocean Road trip – What else could you ask for?
The Arch
The Arch is the first of the outstanding highlights to the west of Port Campbell. This unusual but natural rock formation is formed through erosion by the sea and wild winds! Follow the 150m long path from the car park and be amazed by the view! For the most part, the best time to visit is when the strong waves clash dramatically against the limestone cliffs! Travellers tip – do it while you still can as reports have been published that this great attraction is at risk of collapse! The reason why is as a result of a huge chunk of rock has fallen away (recently) from the cliff-face into the sea!
The Arch might be collapsing soon!
London Bridge
The London Bridge rock formation unfortunately collapsed in 1990 but is still worth a stop on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip. Check out the leftover pillars and try to imagine how the missing middle bit reminded someone of London Bridge. This is how this apostle got it’s name back in the days. Today this Great Ocean Road attraction is also called London Arch. FACT CHECK: When the London Bridge collapsed over 25 years ago two tourists where standing on what is the island part today. They had to wait for a helicopter to get to back to land safety! Consequently both are happy and alive today, and now part of the history of the Great Ocean Road story.
London Bridge – Great Ocean Road trip
The Grotto
The Grotto is perhaps the most enchanting among all of the rock formations found on the Great Ocean Road Campervan roadtrip holiday. Therefore make sure you are ready for a marvelous spot where a sinkhole meets the sheer cliff! Together with this weird mixture off a natural cave, blowhole and arch it is a fun place to visit! Travelwheels customer feedback tips! In this case we suggest to avoid the crowds, make sure you get there before 3PM! Afterwards then this is when all the tour day trip buses from Melbourne arrive and it can be chaos!
The Grotto – Great Ocean Road tour tip
Worm Bay + Bay Of Martyrs
Bay of Martyrs region has a horrific story to tell, and you wouldn’t know this when you are enjoying these magnificent views! In the meantime, you can start a picturesque, self-guided walk from the car park that takes you along the breath-taking cliff tops. For instance, explore lush cliff faces, sprawling beaches, and sparkling waters. Furthermore you should stop at Massacre Bay, Massacre Point, and Bay of Martyrs. Worm Bay is a great spot to dip your toes into the clear ocean, however the water can be freezing! Make sure you are with friends as there are no life guards on this beach if you get into trouble.
Great Ocean Road tour with a helicopter
Bay of Islands on the Great Ocean Road
Just west of Peterborough, the Bay of Islands Coastal Park provides excellent views of this remarkable group of islands. In particular it is a lot less crowded than the previous Great Ocean Road attractions. It offers a perfect panoramic view with a milky pink sky during sunset. A great place to take that final shot of those awe-inspiring, astonishing, natural rock formations for facebook! Our staff at Travelwheels Campervan Hire in Melbourne highly recommend stopping here and there are a lot less crowds as well!
Island Archway, 25 meter high rock bridge, collapsed in 2009
Next Stop on your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip is Warrnambool. Here are our suggestions for a quick side trip that is fun and free! Check out Hopkins Falls, located on the Hopkins River.
Warrnambool
Warrnambool enjoys a good variety of coastal attractions and has become a popular tourist destination over the last couple of years. Logans Beach has a great whale watching platform that has become to one of the best observation spots in the area. The whale watching season is between June and October. Attractive rocky coastal features can be observed from Pickering Point and Thunder Point. Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is also a great spot to learn more about the area and history of the Shipwreck Coast. You can see the infamous Loch Ard shipwreck of 1878 brought to life with a fascinating sound and laser show here.
Whale watching is one of the most popular things to do for tourists and locals alike
Day 7 to 10 – Great Ocean Road Campervan Roadtrip Planner
Now you have been on a Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip for about seven days. This is a much better way to explore this magical part of Australia than those one or two day bus tours! In the meantime why not take the long way back to Melbourne? As a rule we suggest finishing your Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip with a “BANG”! There is no point and doing the same road back and why not do something different?
One of Travelwheels Campervan Hire staff’s favourite places to visit in the whole of Australia are the Grampians Nations Park. For instance, check out a stunning sandstone mountain range, impressive indigenous artwork and beautiful waterfalls for example. If you love Australian native animals and walking then you are in for a treat at this National Park. It is simply one of the best national parks Australia has to offer, and not as crowded as many of the other top national parks. If you want to find out more about the greatest national parks in Australia, have a read of our best national parks in Australia guide.
Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve – A great place for animal lovers
Tower Hill
Before you drive up the Grampians, start your day with a side trip to Tower Hill, which is located just off an extinct volcano crater! This place gives you the chance to explore the ancient geological history and the thriving flora and fauna. Get a glimpse at kangaroos, emus and koalas in the wild!
The Grampians National Park Road
Things to do at the Grampians National Park
There are many things you can keep yourself busy with at the Grampians National Park. Check out some of the largest waterfalls in South Australia, and choose between many hiking trails that guide you to spectacular scenery which is simply stunning. If you are looking for some adventure sports then canoeing or abseiling are a lot of fun! Below are our top tips for the Grampians from staff and positive reviews from customers who hired a Travelwheels campervan and visited the Grampians:
Mackenzie Falls
Discover beautiful waterfalls
Mackenzie Falls is one of Victoria’s largest waterfalls and flows all year round. In the meanwhile, why not check out Beehive Falls near Halls Gap, another great place to check out. How about a short, but very picturesque walk through the shady ferny forest to the Silverband Falls. Furthermore, if waterfalls are your thing than you should not miss out on Wannon Falls! They are located south of the Grampians and between Hamilton and Coleraine. The Wannon Falls were created by lava flow that surged upstream to the river. As a result you can see the spectacular hardened basalt lava on display. Couple this with the water that cascades into a deep pool and it makes this a special area to explore.
View from the top of The Balconies at the Grampians National Park
Hiking is the best way to explore Grampians National Park
There are many ways to explore this rich natural wonder, however, the best way is walking! The Grampians National Park is amazing when you hike through it! Together with all the great walks of various distances for all fitness levels, you will love it! We know it is slightly out of the way for most people on a Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip, but definitely worth it! You will be surprised how many wonderful treasures there are to discover:
- The Grampians Peak Trail is a three day round trip from Halls Gap. It was just recently opened and is expected to be expanded to a 13 day hike by 2019. Following this track you will pass by most of the best attractions around Halls Gap. We particularly recommend checking out Venus Bath, Splitters Falls and “The Pinnacles” which are just a few on the endless list of breathtaking highlights to explore.
- Gulgurn Manja: This rockshelter is where you can find some very old fingerprints. For example, there are also many other rock paintings of indigenous people who used the walls to tell their stories.
- Fyans Creek Loop Walk: This is an easy walk which is 2,5km long. We especially recommend visiting early in the morning or in the afternoon and you might spot many kangaroos hopping over a wide-ranging lush landscape.
- Mount Rosea Loop Walk: Take in the 360-degree vista of the Grampians as you reach the top of the Mount Rosea! This is a wonderful hike in the southern part of the Grampians.
- The Pinnacles: There are many ways to “The Pinnacles” but the easiest would be the 4.2km long hike from Sundial carpark. A round trip will take you about 1,5h, and well worth the walk.
The Pinnacles
More lookouts to check out in the Grampions National Park:
- Boroka Lookout: Just a short stroll away from the car park. From here you can view Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield, a very spectacular lookout.
- The Balconies and Reeds Lookout: Only 2 kilometers from the Reed Lookout car park. You will be blown away by a magnificent panorama view over the Victoria Range, Lake Wartook and Mount Difficult (beautiful stop right next to the famous “Balconies“)
- One Tree Hill Lookout: Near Ararat you can get wonderful views over the surrounding landscape of this region. It is also a great place for a picnic.
- Mount William Lookout: At 1,167 metres, Mount William is the highest point in the national park. Climbing up here promises you fantastic 360-degree views over the Grampians’ unique rock formations and wonderful natural landscapes which are a joy to experience.
The Balconies
If you don’t want to hike all by yourself, then there are many organised tours that are available. Locals will guide you to the best spots the Grampians has to offer. You can do tours by foot, flight or by 4×4 safari! The guides are really good and you get to learn loads of info about the area and its history.
Kayaking at the Grampians
Canoeing & kayaking at the Grampians
Lake Bellfield and Lake Wartook are nearby Halls Gap. They are both great spots to cool off during the summer month, or do some adventure sports! We love the kayaking, but it is also famous for fishing as well.
Adrenaline kick – Abseiling at the Grampians
Abseiling at the Grampians National Park
This region has become a mecca for rock climbing and abseiling. This area can be argued as some of the best abseiling in Australia. Thousands of abseiling routes are offered by local adventure companies who offer a variety of climbing and abseiling courses. You choose between easy introductory courses and extreme climbs for the very experienced climbers.
The Grampians charmes with fantastic hikes and lookouts
Great Ocean Road Trip Planner
Wow, we have finally come to the end of our Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip holiday. As a result of using this guide you would have seen some of the most beautiful places in the south coast of Victoria and South Australia has to offer. You even got a glimpse at one of the best (Travelwheels staff favourite) national parks! Let us know what you think of our Great Ocean Road campervan roadtrip holiday guide. Finally have we missed anything? Maybe you have a secret spot you want to share with us?
Twelve Apostles Aerial, Great Ocean Road, VIC
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