I haven't done the GOR myself (but hope to one day) but have seen a few posts saying that the towns located along there frown on free/cheap/showground camping, but other seasoned GOR travellers would best advise you.
Have you checked on Camps 6?
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
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We did the GOR earlier this year and believe me free spots are few and far between. I saw a few people pulled in just past port Cambell but other than that nothing. We stayed at the Warnambool showground for $20 a night, not flash but cheaper than c/ps
If you are not travelling in the summer there are a couple of foreshore parks still left and these are cheaper than private caravan parks. In summer they are allocated on a ballot system. Same down Mornington Peninsula.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Sorry Tracy and Kim Nothing cheap or free down that way....The councils and their Lap Lap boys are right onto anybody that even stops too look at the Ocean.....Such a shame too........
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I always leave my camping area cleaner than I found it.
seems to me the more touristy a place is the less free/cheap camping there is. I always find that the further inland and more isolated you get the more you are welcomed. I have done the great ocean road 3 times now and although bautiful I have been less than inpressed with the supply of goods and services. cheers blaze
We've traveled the GOR twice before & will be down there early Oct.
Last time we stayed on the lake at Colac (I hear that its full again). We did day trips from there.
This time we will stay at Port Fairy for a few days & drive the west half on day trips.
We'll then pull the van across the Princess highway to Queenscliffe (stayed there B4 .. very pricey) or Torquay or maybe Anglesea & day trip the eastern half from there.
We are then well placed to get an early ferry across to Sorento.
When choosing our stop overs our main consideration is the aspect/view. SWMBO prefers CPs even though we are self sufficient for 3 or 4 days.
We didn't like the coast CPs on the GOR ... maybe because they were chock a block & full of out of control kids at the time. Although Colac is a bit of a drive away I was great on the grass beside the lake.
Having said that I be watching this thread for other opinions.
Check out Johanna beach camp ground, there is a fee but I think it is reasonable. We have just come back from doing the GOR with our new van but we didn't stay there as too wet. We based ourselves in warrnambool for 5 days and then worked our way east staying in Apollo Bay, Anglesea and Queenscliffe and also got one of the early ferrys which is cheaper. regards Jimsiron
Cupie - it is the Princes Highway - male road,not female. Great Ocean Road is pretty commercialised - so what you are doing sounds llike the way to go - when you get off the ferry and look around there - head towards the Westernport Bay side - can be a bit cheaper - and I think you can camp at the Berwick showgrounds.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Can recommend the Gardens Caravan Park in Port Fairy (Council run), Hopkins River CP which is close to Warrnambool, Wye River CP (either the Council run or the Big 4), definatly the Riverside CP in Anglesea, St Leonards CP (privately run) and friends have stayed at the showgrounds in Geelong. Portarlington is a nice spot too. There is some free camping at Skenes Creek, is low lying so I would not be too sure of the condition going in and out at the moment.
If you want to stay somewhere and do day trips we used to stay at Forrest CP was a very pretty area and reasonably priced, but that was many years ago, may be worth a look.
We have stayed at the van park in Port Campbell a couple of times. Nice new amenities and quite a pleasant place for a couple of days. From memory the tarrif last time we were there, earlier this year, was $27pn, so not really a cheapie but then nothing is along the GOR
Theres camping at the showground (or footy oval) in Princeton, on the Eastern end of the GOR. BUT, if the river is up because its blocked by a sandbar, or after heavy rain, you'd be paddling.
The ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento crosses Port Philip Bay, near the Rip, which is where ships enter or leave the bay, it can be really rough through there - but worth the ferry ride to get up close.
Along the way, you will usually see heaps of other craft on the water, and on the Sorrento side you go past some of the huge houses at Portsea - including Lindsay Fox's place with his private helipad out front. People like Harold Holt (drowned PM) had a house there, and heaps of others - some of them are amazing, and this is the only way to see them - usually got big fences or hedges on the roadside. Sorrento is a nice village with good shopping, and lots of touristy things -good museum at the end of the main street, and you have access to the Back Beach, which is on Bass Strait, lots of rock pools, couple of good walks to lookouts etc.
You can also drive out to Portsea to the old quarantine station, there is a walk that takes you right to the rip, or bike ride if you like. The back beach at Portsea is where Harold Holt drowned (actually Cheviot Beach-which was on restricted land, don't know if it still is). When you land in Sorrento - take a look at the pier, the crossways bit at the end is where they landed a huge shark years ago - took up half the length of the pier - I walked on the sharks back - a lifesaver had been taken by a shark, and they caught this one, but there was no evidence it was the one who took the lifesaver. Just a bit of trivia for you.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Vic If you are wanting to get from the Bellarine Peninsula to the Mornington Peninsula, to save going all the way around through Melbourne, take the ferry from Queenscliffe to Sorrento. Takes about 40 minutes and a lot easier to get to places like Philip Island etc. It beats the long drive through the city of Melbourne anytime.
Yes blue Johanna beach is Okay if you can put up with the flies..Huge monsters There are a few Dairy farms there.....There are toilets and water and a fee it used to be free...But the councils love a Dollar.....think there may be something at lavers Hill
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I always leave my camping area cleaner than I found it.
We stay at Wantirna when we have to go to Melb. It was $25pn earlier in the year. You have to book though as there isn't usually any availble sites just off the cuff, although you could get lucky I suppose.
The other one we stayed at when we couldn't get into Wantirna was Doncaster. It was winter time then and it was rather damp but has probably dried out somewhat now. Same price as above.
Vic If you are wanting to get from the Bellarine Peninsula to the Mornington Peninsula, to save going all the way around through Melbourne, take the ferry from Queenscliffe to Sorrento. Takes about 40 minutes and a lot easier to get to places like Philip Island etc. It beats the long drive through the city of Melbourne anytime.
HW, we did that, at the time there was a special on for caravans if you got on the first two boats out of Sorrento, was a early start for the day
We are at the Wantirna Caravan park, great location, off to see Melbourne today.
Thank you for the recommendation.
Tracey and Kim
Glad you like the park T & K. Good base near to most things. don't forget to catch the bus to Knox City. One of the biggest shopping centres I have ever seen. Oh, there is a trash and treasure market just a few hundred yards up from the park every Saturday (well within walking distance) and they start at 7am I think and go till 1 and by 1.30 the old drive in theatre where it is held is vacant So be early if you are going to go.
Had a great day in city, we are going on our way tomorrow, making our way to Newcastle, well not all in one day, will stop halfway, but thank u for the shopping mail tip will look that up next time we are this way.
