Great Ocean Rd Recommended Campsites

[Phatboy]

Hey, sorry, bit off topic here, but didn't know where else to post this Vic-specific question.

Couple of mates and I are planning a Xmas long weekend camping/fishing/hiking trip (eg., with tents) along Great Ocean Rd. Any suggestions about good campsites for tents, preferably next to rivers and with showers? We haven't been camping on GOR before and we suck at fishing. I spent 2 days googling this stuff, but the Parks Victoria websites of course don't give a good idea which ones are good and which ones aren't. I heard Cumberland River is awesome, nestled between amazing beach and rainbow trout-laden river, but that got booked out quicker than expected.

Thanks guys.

[kyekye]

I don't think it's really what your after but the apollo bay youth hostel is really nice. About $30 each a night with shared bunk bed rooms. Really modern and clean. Shared bathrooms and communal kitchen/living area. I went about 2 years ago and I from what I remember you could walk to the beach.

[R31Nismoid]

Good luck mate.

All the caravan parks i know of are booked years in advance for the xmas/new year period.

A great one is the Skenes Creek caravan park (10mins before apollo bay) ... but like i said, you'll be extremely lucky to get in there as all the camp sites are VERY popular that time of year.

There are a couple in Marengo as well that are larger (5mins past apollo bay), but same deal.

You had better be calling tomorrow

[xALmoN]

I dont know about tents, but its gonna be really cold at night, since its by the sea, the drop in temperature around 2am is going to be more pronounced.

But fishing, I caught 1 aussie salmon off the apollo bay piers.

Cumberland river seems really really good eh?!

Then again, maybe camping ain't such a bad idea after all. But the fishing doesn't sound too fantastic, try the saltwater side, i reckon its gonna be more productive than catching tiny rainbow trout.

Edited December 10, 2009 by xALmoN

[180Roman]

usually if you don't book before September, you have a tough chance of getting a place.

xmass holiday time is chokers down the coast

[oncall]

you better off going to the Murray along the Murray river, or towards that way. heading up to lake Eldon with the boys from work camping for the weekend! the boys reckon its not a bad drive either!

[Phatboy]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

It is quite frustrating that all the campsites (apart from Blanket Bay) in the National Parks operate on a first-in first-served basis. There is no booking system, and not even a phone line to ring to find out if all the sites at a particular place are taken. This means I'd have to drive to each of the 30 odd sites individually to personally check it out. Would be ok if they were all on GOR, but in many cases it is up to an hour's detour on windy back roads to get to them. Looks like I will try my luck on a few of the main ones, then bite the bullet and stay in a caravan park if those are taken.

[xALmoN]

won't a caravan park be more fully booked?

[West]

Good luck getting any camp sites this time of the year.........even with the free one you'll need to rock up early to secure a spot.