Where to stay Great Ocean Road

You’ll need more than a day to experience the vast beauty of the Great Ocean Road. And to do so, you’re going to need somewhere to stay.

For those who linger a little longer, the region will reward with magical towns, coastal scenery and natural bushland as far as the eye can see.

Rest your head at one of these beauties and you’ll awake fresh as a daisy, ready to explore the Great Ocean Road.

Where to stay in Torquay

Set on the pristine shores of Zeally Bay Beach, the Wyndham Resort is a failsafe option in Torquay – the coastal town is also considered the first stop along the Great Ocean Road. Stay in one of the stylish guest rooms or spacious apartments, most with patios or private balconies. The outdoor swimming pool is the property centrepiece, flanked by resort chairs and tables aplenty.

Twilight Glamping brings the concept to a whole new level of convenience. Their pop-ups provide unique luxury getaways along the Great Ocean Road – all you have to do is pick a spot. Once you land on a location, Twilight Glamping will set up their luxe bell tents before you arrive and pack it all up after you leave. All tents feature single or queen beds, crisp linen, cushions, rugs and fans – just the right amount of luxury needed for a hassle-free camping trip.

You’ll find the RACV Resort within easy reach of Torquay and Jan Juc beaches. It is renowned for its well-polished and welcoming coastal hospitality and consistently over-delivers on expectations. The rooms are resort-style with plenty of modern character to boot.

RACV Torquay — RACV is renowned for its well-polished and welcoming coastal hospitality.

Where to stay in Aireys Inlet

Many disregard Aireys as just another pit stop between Anglesea and Lorne, but its bevy of accommodation options make it worthy of a night or two stay.

The Big4 Holiday Park is a great budget option with both cabin and camping facilities. The vast grounds are packed with amenities, including a children’s playground, outdoor swimming pool and private bathroom with a shower. There are also barbeque facilities for campers and kitchen facilities in the cabins.

Romantics flock to Aireys Inlet Getaway for an indulgent home away from home. Set among two-and-a-half acres of native gardens, these villas cater to a variety of group sizes. They are also the only accommodation in Aireys Inlet with both a swimming pool and outdoor heated spa, plus a tennis court.

Bristlebird is for those who dream of a modern seaside home. This chic four-bedroom property wouldn’t be out of place in the Hamptons (Long Island’s playground for America’s rich and famous). In summer there’s a vast shaded deck for entertainment, plus several nearby surf beaches, bike trails and coastal walks all offering stunning views of the Great Ocean Road.

Where to stay in Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is one in a long line of unassumingly beautiful towns found along the Great Ocean Road – with every kind of accommodation you could want, plus a few extra.

The Apollo Bay Holiday Park puts you right among the action, allowing you to stay right along the coastline of Victoria’s southwest. The cabin and campsite facilities are nestled among bushland, fronting both the beach and the river.

If being perched on the Apollo Bay hillside is more to your taste, Point of View villas is an aesthetically-pleasing paradise. Each of the five properties provide the perfect escapist location, with timber floors and exposed roofing truly setting the Art Deco scene. Unwind in a Jacuzzi bath overlooking the pristine Bass Strait and surrounding farmland.

Hostels are great for local travellers who value clean, simple lodgings at an affordable price. The YHA delivers on all this, but a stay here feels more in line with a funky hotel than a hostel Their Apollo Bay eco arm features two spacious lounges, two kitchens, outdoor balconies and a rooftop deck with beautiful views. Various room types are available including four multi-share, twin/double and family sizes.

Where to stay in Beech Forest

The three-bedroom Otway Cottage can accommodate up to six people, providing a cosy, clean and comfortable option for groups to enjoy. Sitting high atop the Otway Ranges, use the cottage as a base camp to explore the beautiful sleepy hollow of Beech Forest. Unwind in front of the fireplace and enjoy the picturesque surrounds; the Otway Fly Treetop Walk, Triplet waterfalls, Beauchamp and Hopetoun waterfalls, and magical rainforest walks are all within reach.

Unwind in front of the fireplace and enjoy the picturesque surrounds.

Where to stay in Anglesea

To truly drink in the stunning scenery of Anglesea, camping is the only way to go. Eumeralla Scout Camp is set high on the cliffs, offering spectacular views of both the beach and township. Alongside cabins and dorms, there are an array of bush camping sites allowing you to sleep under the stars. Bush walks and mountain bike tracks are also on hand, as is the famous Bells Beach just around the corner.

Boutique AirBnb 100 Steps to the Beach is our pick for special occasions. The bungalow-style retreat was purpose-built for couples, providing a colourful oasis metres from the ocean. The interior décor is kitsch and coastal, while the native garden comes with an undercover lounge area and idyllic hanging chair.

100 Steps to the Beach airbnb — 100 Steps to the Beach is our pick for special occasions.

Great Ocean Road Resort has seven room types to choose from: one, two, or three-bedroom studios provide the ideal base camp for endless outdoor adventures, granting a clean, modern oasis for you to retreat back to. The recreational facilities also excel, with a tennis court, gym, pool, spa and salon all provided onsite.

Where to stay in Cape Otway

Australia’s oldest lighthouse has guided sailors safely to shore since 1848, and you can spend the night inside it. The Cape Otway Lightstation sleeps up to 16 in four renovated bedrooms and has a beautiful old-style wood stove and open fire place.

Cape Ottway lighthouse — Sleep inside Australia’s oldest lighthouse.

The unique Bimbi Park serves first as an accommodation provider, with quirky campsites, onsite vans, bunk rooms, standard and deluxe cabins all set among sheltered manna gum woodland. Sleep under the watchful eye of koalas, and spend your days horse riding, ebike riding and rock climbing. By night, retreat back to the grounds to enjoy the perks of an on-site outdoor theatre, which showcases free feature films and shorts during the peak holiday periods.

Where to stay in Lorne

Lorne is a great place to base yourself along the Great Ocean Road – and the accommodation in the area is quite affordable, considering you’re basically getting million-dollar views wherever you stay.

Qdos Arts , a culturally-rich retreat on Victoria’s southwestern coast, is a study in pure aesthetics. Luxury Japanese-style tree houses serve as accommodation, sleeping two people each.

Qdos is Lorne’s first contemporary art gallery, and it serves as a cultured escape from city life. There are seven gallery exhibitions a year, showcasing significant members of the Australian and international arts community.

Three minutes away from the town centre, you’ll find Allenvale Cottages : a hideaway cabin that is perfect in making you feel a million miles away civilisation. Brimming with vintage furniture and books, this spot appeals to families seeking a low-key country retreat with plenty of outdoor space. It also shines in both summer and winter.

La Perouse is Lorne’s answer to a charming French seaside escape. This small hotel has been kitted out to the nines, with extra attention paid to a luxury-inclined traveller – think linen bathrobes, Aesop bath products, Apple TV and electric blankets. Each of the white-walled rooms have north facing private verandas, outdoor baths and ocean views.

Alternatively, get a front row seat to Lorne’s natural beauty by way of the Foreshore Caravan Park . It’s divided into four different sites that cater to all types of campers – including dog friendly, river, park and ocean sites. Visit the website to find the site that best caters to your needs.

Where to stay in Port Fairy

There’s a reason Port Fairy was named Wotif 2019 Australian Town of the Year. This coastal paradise is home to one of the busiest fishing ports in Victoria, and is considered the last (but not the least) stop on the Great Ocean Road.

Take in some of the town’s nautical beauty at The Merrijig Inn . This cosy historic bed and breakfast feels a little otherworldly, packed with quirky accents, and it’s perfect for a gastronome. Dine on home grown produce and savour a cooked breakfast in the sunny, garden-facing atrium. Opt to stay in their iconic Attic Room, overlooking Port Fairy’s picturesque wharf.

Filled with old school coastal charm, Ocean Ridge Retreats will quickly feel like home. These self-contained cottages are only two minutes from the town centre and are spread out along 1.5 acres of land. For an additional fee, guests can choose to book the Swim Spa Room where the luxury hot spa pool is located.

Drift House is a luxury option. Contemporary restoration of a classic two-storey 1850s bluestone manor with luxurious finishes, a delicious locally-sourced breakfast hamper, and designer touches aplenty. It isn’t for the budget-friendly, but if you splash some cash you’ll get to experience the 5-star private pool out on the deck.

Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

walking trails in the Yarra Valley — You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy — Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy — A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate , I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate — Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

kangaroos in Yarra Valley — Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

the Yarra Valley vineyards — Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway — The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

Playing there

the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley — Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art . Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

Eating and drinking there

Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station — The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Where to stay on the Great Ocean Road