Five beach campgrounds near Melbourne to visit this weekend
Holiday houses by the beach are hard to find these days but that doesn’t mean a coastal stay is out of the question within easy driving distance of Melbourne.Many campgrounds run by councils, National Parks or privately get the prime beachside locations so if you can access a tent, a caravan or camper trailer here are some of the best from which to choose.
Ayre River, Great Ocean Road
This idyllic campground is just off the Great Ocean Road but well beyond the summer ruckus that is Torquay and Lorne. Ayre River is on the western side of Cape Otway and the two campgrounds (East and West) have unpowered sites for all types of campers, from swaggies to motor homes. You’ll need to book in advance, well worth it for the wide and peaceful river, a kayak ramp with access to the wetlands and it’s about a 10 minute stroll to an unpatrolled beach. The Cape Otway Lightstation, Lavers Hill and the Otway Fly are all short drives away.
Bear Gully, Cape Liptrap Coastal Park
Cape Liptrap is only 2.5 hours south-east of Melbourne yet is bypassed by many for nearby Wilsons Promontory National Park. So it has relative seclusion and the Bear Gully campground is a great place to get away from it all. Unpowered sites and non-flushing dunnies deter the glampers, but shady sites under coastal banksias, the absolute beachside location with rock pools and fishing spots all add to the allure. You’ll have to book, and bringing your own drinking water is recommended.
Mornington Peninsula Foreshore Camping
Not one campsite but three, run by the local council at Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento and strung out along the shallow bayside shore of the Mornington Peninsula. The campgrounds are famous (or notorious) for attracting families who have camped in the same site for decades, but if you want to join the fun of semi-suburban summer sand and sun, there’s a ballot and waiting list for campsites under the tea trees and right next to the beaches.
Wye River, Great Ocean Road
Nestled between the Great Ocean Road and the beach, within a short stroll of Wye River’s pub and general store, this campground is more like a holiday village with barbecues, hot water in the shower blocks and mostly powered sites. Wye River itself is a cosy hamlet with a patrolled beach and shallow inlet for the kiddies, so this is a fabulous spot for families and nomadic surfers alike.
Johanna Beach, Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road can get pretty busy, especially in summer with hordes of holidaymakers filling the campgrounds of the seaside towns. For a bit of seclusion, and a sensational beachfront location, try camping at Johanna down past Apollo Bay. There’s no power, the loos don’t flush and it’s BYO everything but the view is sensational and the somewhat wild beach attracts plenty of surfers.
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