12 Best Great Ocean Road Beaches: Best Places to Swim

The Great Ocean Road is home to some of the best beaches in Victoria. Moreover, the stunning surf coast has an array of gorgeous golden-sand beaches with shimmering blue water.

Besides, these beaches are some of the most well-known holiday spots in Victoria bringing in tonnes of tourists year-round. And, it’s tricky to choose only twelve of the best locations, however, I think that I’ve managed to narrow it down.

So, continue reading to discover some of the best beaches along this magnificent stretch of coastline and take note of all my travel recommendations while visiting!

Where Is the Great Ocean Road?

The Great Ocean Road is a beautiful coastline in Victoria, South-West of Melbourne. Moreover, this coastal road begins in Torquay which is about a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne. And, it ends in a small town called Allansford.

The drive is roughly 243km in length, which should take around 4 hours to complete as a one-way journey. Nonetheless, this timeframe is dramatically increased with the number of stops required to enjoy this road trip.

Tip: I would allow a lot more time to complete this trip as there are many slow vehicles along this road.

What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit?

The best time of year to visit this location in Victoria is anytime from February to April. Moreover, this is when there are fewer crowds as kids are back at school and far fewer people are on holiday.

Therefore, you will get to enjoy much quieter beaches and roads making it easier to travel. Not to mention, this is when the weather is warmest and most consistent. You’ll find the days average around 25 degrees Celcius with nights dipping to around 17 degrees.

12 Best Great Ocean Road Beaches

I have written this list in order for the best beaches travelling from Torquay towards the end of the Great Ocean Road in Warrnambool. Moreover, this keeps it in order so that you can ensure you stop at all the best places on your grand Great Ocean Road adventure!

Important: Please keep in mind that these beaches can be extremely dangerous to swim at and I advise that all swimmers are confident in the water. Moreover, there are many strong rips, currents, and large waves along this coastline that are extremely dangerous.

Please read more on this website about swimming safely at these beaches. And, always read the signage prior to visiting every beach. Finally, always swim between the flags!

Bells Beach

Now I wouldn’t necessarily advise swimming at this world-renowned beach as it’s more for the pro surfers. Nonetheless, this is an excellent beach to visit while travelling along the Great Ocean Road.

Feel free to check out the multiple viewpoints, or head down onto the sand to watch the large waves crash onto the shore. Moreover, if you happen to be around when the Rip Curl surf competition is on (usually during Easter weekend), I recommend stopping in to watch professional surfers catch epic waves!

Anglesea

Anglesea is one of my all-time favourite beaches along the Great Ocean Road and it’s definitely one of the best! Moreover, there is a large stretch of sand and plenty of space to sprawl out on for an enjoyable day at the beach.

And, for the most part, this is a reasonably safe beach to swim at, though there are many rips and currents. Therefore, I recommend swimming between the flags for the safest day at the beach.

Finally, feel free to wander along the Surf Coast Walk for beautiful views over Anglesea, Point Addis, and Point Roadknight. It’s a fantastic walk to complete on a warm summer morning!

Or, head around the cove to Point Roadknight beach and check out some of the rock pools!

Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet is a fantastic beach to hang out at for a lovely day in the sun. Moreover, I recommend parking near the lighthouse, checking out some of the viewpoints, and then heading onto the shore to soak up the beauty of the area!

Not to mention, there is a fantastic Pub and Greek restaurant in the area that I recommend checking out while you’re down this way.

Eastern View

Eastern View is a stunning beach along the Great Ocean Road that attracts heaps of surfers year-round. Moreover, the long and straight stretch of beach spans nearby the famous ‘Great Ocean Road’ signage.

This is an excellent place to stop over and enjoy the war memorial arch and then head into the crystal-clear blue water for a dip! Be sure to read the signage for information on the history of this road.

Lorne

Lorne is one of the most popular tourist spots along the Great Ocean Road and for good reason. Lorne is an absolutely stunning beach and there is always loads going on in this pumping coastal town!

This is your perfect chance to learn how to surf with a couple of companies teaching visitors how to ride waves, or, kick your feet up and enjoy the blissful serenity of this magnificent location!

While visiting, why not check out some of the waterfalls in the area such as Sheoak Falls and Erskine Falls? Or, head up to Teddy’s Lookout for fascinating views over the Great Ocean Road.

Cumberland River

Cumberland River Beach is a little more under the radar and only about 10 minutes out of Lorne. Moreover, it’s a much smaller beach than the previous locations mentioned, however, there is still plenty of space to soak up the goodness of this location.

I highly recommend staying in the holiday park. There is a beautiful river that runs through the park, and the large cliffs beside the park look magnificent. It’s quite a unique location and a bit of a hidden gem!

Finally, this caravan park is nestled in the beauty of the Otways and would provide the ultimate getaway for a few nights!

Wye River

Wye River is yet another one of my favourite locations along the Great Ocean Road and is definitely one of the best beaches. Not to mention, it’s a tiny coastal town with a couple of things going on.

Head up to the hotel for a lovely afternoon drink or spend your time on the sand watching the sun go down.

Kennett River

Kennett River is one of the best Great Ocean Road beaches as it’s usually a lot less busy than some of the popular spots. Moreover, the beach is quite large, and there are some rock pools that you can explore.

Finally, if you have a little bit of time to spare, I highly recommend checking out the Kennett River Nature Walk. Besides, this is an excellent way to explore some more of the Otways and enjoy the bushland surrounding the Great Ocean Road.

Skenes Creek

Skenes Creek is a fantastic beach that is often dog friendly. Moreover, the caravan park is set up right alongside the beach making it an epic location to hang out for a few days.

Not to mention, this beach is relatively quiet during the off-peak season and there isn’t really much going on down here. Finally, I couldn’t recommend waking up for sunrise enough! Head over to the left side of the beach rock pools to watch the sun come up over the ocean. It’s truly spectacular and a beautiful way to start the day!

Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is one of the more popular locations on the Great Ocean Road and for good reason! This incredible beach sits alongside a pumping town that seems to be busy all year round. Besides, it’s the biggest town between Lorne and Warrnambool, making it an excellent location for a stopover.

The stretch of the beach is long and the water is a remarkable shade of blue. It’s always crystal clear and is the ultimate location for a swim! And, the views of the coastline are insanely beautiful! This is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches in Victoria.

Additionally, feel free to check out Marriner’s Lookout while you’re in the area, you won’t be disappointed!

Tip: Keep an eye out for koalas! There are usually a few hanging around in the trees.

Bay of Islands

While the Bay of Islands isn’t a swimming location, is it the ultimate location for a beautiful stroll along the sand. Besides, this has to be one of the most stunning Great Ocean Road beaches with large cliff rocks standing in the ocean.

Think of this location as the smaller version of the much larger and more popular Twelve Apostles. Nonetheless, it’s a gorgeous location to visit for a short wander.

The Flume Beach

Last but not least, the final beach at the end of the Great Ocean Road that I recommend checking out is Flume Beach. And, this is an excellent location to end your Great Ocean Road journey as it’s a beautiful beach situated alongside a lovely rural beachside town.

While visiting the Flume Beach, I recommend having a crack at riding the waves. Besides, this is a great time to bring out the surfboard or boogie boards as the waves are often consistent!

Need to Find a Campsite?

There are tonnes of great places to stay along this stunning stretch of coastline, and more often than not, you’ll be sure to find a caravan park or holiday park willing to host you for a night or five.

Nonetheless, this blog post includes some of my all-time favourite locations to stay along the Great Ocean Road. Therefore, giving you plenty of options for fantastic places to stay!

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, these are just some of the best Great Ocean Road beaches that I’ve come upon in my many road trips along this stunning coastal road. Besides, the beaches are quite literally endless and you could spend forever exploring them all.

Furthermore, these are some of the top favourites that I want to share with other travellers! I’m sure you’ve discovered a new place to check out, so be sure to save this post for later!

Finally, feel free to continue reading my other blog posts to discover more about this beautiful part of Victoria. Besides, there is so much beauty along this magnificent coastline and so many fantastic activities to enjoy! Happy travels!