You can even get your surf on without dipping a toe in the water. At the Australian National Surfing Museum, you'll find a wealth of information on the history and culture of the sport. For a closer look at the area's natural splendor, you can head to the scenic Great Otway National Park, where you'll find more than 103,000 hectares of campsites, hiking trails and beachfront boardwalk. Keep an eye out for koalas here, too – the park's known for a sizeable population of them, and you can also spot whales, dolphins and countless bird species throughout the park.
Beaches you sought and beaches you shall have – the Great Ocean Road is nothing if not a paradise for waterfront recreation. The eastern half of the road runs along the Surf Coast, where you can find plenty of scenic spots to catch some gnarly waves, and surf festivals are an annual event. Bell's Beach is a popular destination for surfers of all skill levels, while advanced wave-chasers can find more adrenaline-pumping breaks along the ominously named Shipwreck Coast further west. Back on land, the Great Ocean Walk offers more than 110 km of beachfront trails.
Although it spans more than 200 km, the climate along the Great Ocean Road is fairly consistent – a temperate oceanic climate that offers warm, dry summers and cooler, wetter winters. Summer highs along the highway range from 22 to 25 degrees between January and March, while winter temperatures range from lows of 5 or 6 to highs around 14 degrees from June through August. A major destination for summer visitors, you'll have the best luck finding low-cost Great Ocean Road vacation rentals during the slower, cooler winter months.
Great Ocean Road travels by many kid-friendly locations for memorable experiences. Holiday homes are available near places like Grampians National Park, a vast parkland with striking sandstone mountain ranges and wildlife, and Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, a visitor’s centre with native artefacts and didgeridoo performances. Kids will also like Broken Head, a secluded beach with stairs carved into the cliffs and calm, sheltered waters.
Couples can enjoy many romantic places along Great Ocean Road. Holiday homes are available near places like the Cape Spencer Lighthouse, a striking lighthouse with sweeping views over dramatic cliffs, and Griffiths Island, a small island with a lighthouse and a colony of shearwater birds. You could also visit Reed’s Lookout and the Balconies for views of Victoria Valley.
Our 2021 accommodation listings offer a large selection of 2,495 holiday rentals near Great Ocean Road. From 2,109 Houses to 147 Cottages, find unique holiday homes for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends. The best place to stay near Great Ocean Road is on HomeAway.