Campervan Hire Melbourne — Great Ocean Road, Routes and Tips for 2027

Melbourne is the starting point for Australia's best-known coastal road, the Great Ocean Road, and for a loop around Victoria that links ocean, mountains and wine valleys in a week. Most campervan hire depots are in the west and north-west of the city, out towards the airport, so you set off for the coast without crossing the centre. That is a good thing, because central Melbourne, with its trams and its special right-turn rule, is no place for a first drive in a large vehicle.

The Great Ocean Road: how many days and where to stop

The road is 243 km long, from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool. Torquay is about 100 km and an hour and a half from Melbourne. The Twelve Apostles near Port Campbell can be seen in a single day, but that means more than seven hours behind the wheel. With a campervan, take three days:

• Day one: Torquay, Bells Beach, Lorne, overnight in Apollo Bay.
• Day two: Great Otway National Park, Cape Otway lighthouse and the roadside koalas at Kennett River, then the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge in the late afternoon, once the coaches have left.
• Day three: Port Fairy, or back inland on the highway in about three hours.

Three more directions from Melbourne

Wilsons Promontory (south-east). The southernmost point of the Australian mainland, about 220 km and three hours away. Tidal River campground sits right on the beach; for summer dates, sites are allocated by ballot months in advance.

The Grampians (west). Halls Gap is about 260 km away, three hours. Sandstone ranges, lookouts and kangaroos around the campground. It combines well with the Great Ocean Road into a loop of five to seven days.

Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island (south). Sorrento is an hour and a half from the city. The Sorrento–Queenscliff ferry takes campervans and puts you on the other side of the bay in 40 minutes, a short drive from Torquay. Phillip Island and its evening penguin parade are two hours away.

Where to stay overnight

In the city, plan on a holiday park; the closest to the centre is in Coburg, about ten kilometres north. Along the Great Ocean Road every town has campgrounds, and in January they are full. Campgrounds in Victoria's national parks are booked online in advance. State forests have free campgrounds with basic facilities, no power and often no drinking water.

Driving in Victoria

• Left-hand side and the hook turn. At some intersections in central Melbourne you turn right from the far left lane, because of the trams. With a campervan, simply stay out of the centre.
• Tolls. The CityLink and EastLink motorways are tolled electronically only. Ask at pick-up how they are charged.
• Wildlife on the road. Kangaroos and wombats come out at dusk and dawn. Avoid driving at night outside towns.
• Ferry to Tasmania. The Spirit of Tasmania sails from Geelong, an hour from Melbourne, and takes campervans. In summer the vehicle deck books out months ahead.

When to go

November to April is best. Summer (December–February) brings the warmest sea and the biggest crowds, especially around Christmas and in January. The weather on the coast changes fast: bring a jacket even in midsummer. Winter (June–August) is cold and wet, but the road is empty and hire rates are at their lowest.

A campervan in Melbourne through Crystalium Booker

We are still building our campervan offer in Melbourne. Send us your dates and group size through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Melbourne page for new listings. Do you hire out a campervan in or around Melbourne? List it with us.