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.

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.

But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.

Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.

Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.

Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat , now one of the largest estates.

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

the Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. — The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate , whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor , who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will , who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.

Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”

the vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.

Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods . “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.

Come for the wine, stay for the food

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.

For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.

the Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.

The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.

Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield , embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House .

Eating there

Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument , which also has a sculpture park.

Drinking there

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds .

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens , hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.

purple flowers hanging from a tree — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Where to stay on the Great Ocean Road