Before you head on your trip down the coast, be sure to make use of this Great Ocean Road free camping sites advice to choose the best location for your getaway.
However, these campsites require travel inland; they are not beachfront campgrounds. Nonetheless, this makes for the perfect opportunity to enjoy the Great Otway National park and explore all that this fantastic park has on offer.
Before heading off on your trip, be sure to check the Parks Victoria website to ensure safe access is possible to the campgrounds mentioned.
Continue reading the list of the five best Great Ocean Road free camping sites to make your trip planning a breeze.
The Best Great Ocean Road Free Camping Sites
Sharps Campground
This easily accessible, Great Ocean Road free camping site is a tranquil location for a few days away. In fact, the campground is an easy 12-minute drive from Lorne.
Enjoy the fantastic location and access to plenty of attractions within the area.
How to get to Sharps Campground
Starting at Lorne, take Allenvale Road until reaching an intersection where you will need to turn right at Sharps Road. Follow along Sharps Road for about 1 km until you reach the campground.
Facilities
Closest town: Lorne
Dogs: No dogs or pets allowed
Water: You will need to bring your own drinking water
Toilets: Yes, Long drop toilets
Firepits: No
Picnic tables: Yes
Things to do at Sharps Campground
Visit the waterfalls within the area, such as Henderson Falls, Won Wondah Falls, and Sheoak falls. Additionally, enjoy an 8.5km trek along the Canyon hike. On the other hand, close by is the Sheoak picnic area, a spectacular spot to enjoy lunch and a walk.
Stevensons Falls Campground
Stevensons Falls campground is a brilliant, well-kept camping site located within the Great Otway National Park. Furthermore, this Great Ocean Road free camping site is roughly 30 minutes north of Skenes Creek.
How to get to Stevensons Falls campground
Starting from Skenes Creek, take Skenes Creek Road and follow route C119 for about 23km. Then, take a left on Upper Gellibrand Road, be sure to follow the road along the left, avoid going straight on Barramunga-Roadknight Road. Later, take a right on Stevensons Falls Campground track and, you have arrived at your destination.
Facilities
Closest town: Skenes Creek
Dogs: Dogs are permitted on a leash (Watch out for snakes)
Water: You will need to bring your own drinking water
Toilets: Yes, Long drop toilets
Firepits: Yes, you will need to bring your own firewood.
Picnic tables: Yes
Things to do at Stevensons Falls Campground
Take a walk and visit Stevensons Falls; the trail is roughly 2km. Visit the Forrest Brewing Company, located in Forrest. The drive is only 15-minutes, and relatively easy to visit.
Moreover, enjoy a paddle at Lake Elizabeth – a truly picturesque setting.
Aire Crossing Campground
Free camping on the Great Ocean Road has never been better than the Aire Crossing Campground. Moreover, enjoy a few days away in the blissful paradise of this serene location. This peaceful Great Ocean Road free camping site is a quiet retreat, with six campsites available.
How to get to Aire Crossing Campground
From Apollo Bay, head south along the Great Ocean Road for about 37km. Then, take a right on Aire-Settlement Road, continue along until reaching Aire Crossing Track, where you will need to turn right. Follow the road until you reach the campground.
Facilities
Closest town: Apollo Bay
Dogs: No dogs or pets allowed
Water: You will need to bring your own drinking water
Toilets: Yes, Long drop toilets
Firepits: Yes
Picnic tables: Yes
Things to do at Aire Crossing Campground
Consider visiting Triplet Falls, which is a 14-minute drive north of the campsite. If you’re up for a bit of adventure, take a drive up to the Otway Fly treetop adventure park and enjoy a tour amongst the treetops.
Also, head down to Aire river to catch dinner for the night, a great spot to find trout.
Dando’s Campground
The campground has plenty of grass perfect for tent camping or to enjoy a ball game. Besides, there are twenty campsites available.
Take advantage of the fantastic location by enjoying some time fishing or by appreciating your surroundings.
In addition, the campground has easy access for 2WD, but keep in mind the roads can get extremely muddy during wet weather. Also, enjoy easy access to 4WD trails.
How to get to Dando’s Campground
Beginning at Skenes Creek, take Skenes Creek Road for about 22km. Take a left on Upper Gellibrand Road, then left onto Barramunga-Roadknight Road. Afterwards, take a sharp left onto Ridge Road and a left onto Bridge track. Lastly, turn right onto Dando’s Road and, you will arrive at the campground. This drive is roughly 43 minutes.
Facilities
Closest town: Skenes Creek
Dogs: No dogs or pets allowed
Water: You will need to bring your own drinking water
Toilets: Yes, Long drop toilets
Firepits: Yes
Picnic tables: Yes
Things to do at Dando’s Campground
Firstly, head to Stevensons falls and enjoy the mesmerising landscape. Spend time with family or friends around the campfire (Don’t forget to bring marshmallows!). Later, wander down to the Gellibrand river for an afternoon of fishing.
Read more: The Best Great Ocean Road Campsites
Big Hill Campground
Big Hill Campground is in Benwerrin, roughly 11.3km from Lorne. This cheap Great Ocean Road camping site is easily accessible by all vehicles, but there are limited campsites.
Nonetheless, there’s a total of thirteen campsites, seven of those campsites are tent only and six campsites are available for camper vans and caravans.
While this campground isn’t a free campsite site, its low cost per site starts at $13.70 AUD per night.
Camping on the Great Ocean Road is the perfect idea for an Australian holiday. Moreover, this convenient Great Ocean Road camping site is a sublime place for a single night stopover.
How to get to Big Hill Campground
Starting at Lorne, take a left onto Deans Marsh Road via the roundabout. Then, follow Deans Marsh Road for about 11km. Take a right onto Big Hill Track then, you will arrive at the campground on the right.
Book your stay at Big Hill Campground
Facilities
Closest town: Lorne
Dogs: Dogs and pets are not permitted at this campsite
Water: You will need to bring your own drinking water
Toilets: Yes, Long drop toilets
Firepits: Yes, 5 firepits are available. You will need to bring your own firewood.
Picnic tables: Yes
Please note: No generators are allowed at this campsite
Things to Do at Big Hill Campground
Since this campground is closeby to Lorne, there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the area. Visit Straw falls and hike to Erskine falls, one of the most well-known waterfalls along the Great Ocean Road.
Additionally, spend a few hours hiking from Pennyroyal falls to Terrace falls. This loop is 12.2km but can be reduced by walking back after visiting Terrace falls.
Also, time can be spent exploring the surrounds of the campground, as it’s nestled within the Great Otway National Park.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, the Great Ocean Road and Otway National Park are home to plenty of fantastic camping locations, paid or free.
Nonetheless, free camping on the Great Ocean Road requires a little bit of travel to reach, however, they are all well worth the journey.
Enjoy being submerged in nature, which may sometimes feel far from civilisation. However, still close to all of the brilliant surf beaches. If you ask me, I’d have to say that it’s the best of both worlds!
Are you planning a free camping trip along the Great Ocean Road? Have any of these campsites caught your eye? Where do you plan to visit?
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