Port Campbell Recreation Reserve

Port Campbell Recreation Reserve is located just over 2.5 hours from Melbourne, in the heart of Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road. Set in a natural bush setting, the park offers a classic Great Ocean Road camping experience with close and easy access to the region’s most famous attractions.

The reserve is only a short walk from Port Campbell Beach, the jetty, and the town’s cafés, restaurants and shops, making it a convenient base for exploring the Great Ocean Road coast. It’s also just a short 11km drive to Port Campbell National Park, providing one of the closest camping to iconic Great Ocean Road landmarks including Loch Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps and the Twelve Apostles.

With a large number of powered and unpowered campsites and a range of amenities and recreational facilities, Port Campbell Recreation Reserve is a great option for family-friendly camping holidays. The park offers plenty of space for caravans, campervans, tents and motorhomes, and features a camp kitchen and communal fire pit to enhance your stay and create memorable evenings under the stars.

Travelling the Great Ocean Road with your dog? Dog-friendly campsites are available year-round, making Port Campbell Recreation Reserve a great pet-friendly camping option.

Bookings are essential and can be made online or by phone to secure a site, especially during peak times.

Discover all the best things to do in Port Campbell.

When you stay at our Great Ocean Road Parks, your camping fees not only go into maintaining the campground, they are also reinvested back into the magnificent Great Ocean Road coastline in which you are staying. Your fees will go towards maintaining a wide range of public facilities, assets and infrastructure and vital coastal projects that protect and preserve the stunning Great Ocean Road coastline for future generations.

Looking for more inspiration? Read our Blog for the top things to see and do along the Great Ocean Road, including hidden gems, scenic lookouts and local food stops, whether you’re travelling with kids, with dogs, solo or by season.

Top things to do in Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria

A visit to Port Campbell during your Great Ocean Road journey is a must. Located just over three hours from Melbourne, this colourful and lively seaside village is sheltered by dramatic limestone cliffs and lined with iconic Norfolk Pines.

Port Campbell captures the nostalgic charm of classic Australian summer holidays. Visitors can relax at waterfront restaurants and cafés, browse local shops, or stroll out along the Port Campbell Jetty to watch waves crash against the rugged coastline.

With so many things to do in Port Campbell, the village is also the gateway to some of Victoria’s most spectacular coastal scenery, including the world-famous Twelve Apostles and the stunning landscapes of Port Campbell National Park.

Popular Things to Do in Port Campbell

Outdoor & Beach Activities

• Port Campbell beach and Shelly beach
• Snorkelling and diving in the marine parks
• Fish at Port Campbell jetty
• Little Penguin watching at Twelve Apostles or Loch Arc Gorge
• Wildlife spotting

Scenic Walks & Nature Experiences

• Great Ocean Walk – a spectacular long-distance trail linking Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles.
• Port Campbell Discovery Walk & Scenic Lookout - Short coastal walk with panoramic views near Port Campbell.
• Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail - weave your way through tall forests, rolling farmland and wetlands from Port Campbell to Timboon.

Iconic Great Ocean Road Attractions

Discover the dramatic coastline of Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park, home to some of the most spectacular rock formations along the Great Ocean Road, including:

• Twelve Apostles
• Loch Ard Gorge
• London Bridge
• Gibson Steps
• The Grotto
• Bay of Islands
• Childers Cove

Family-Friendly Attractions

• Port Campbell Playground
• Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park
• Glow worms at Melba Gully
• Scenic helicopter flights over the Twelve Apostles

Food & Local Experiences

• Follow the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail
• Explore the Otway Harvest Trail
• Visit Great Ocean Road Cheese World
• Stop at 12 Apostles Brewery

Historic Landmark

• Cape Otway Lightstation

Where to stay close to the Twelve Apostles

Stay close to the coast and camp at one of the closest caravan parks to the Twelve Apostles at the Port Campbell Recreation Reserve, a relaxed and dog-friendly campground in the heart of town.

Looking for more inspiration?

Read our Blog for the top things to see and do along the Great Ocean Road, including hidden gems, scenic lookouts and local food stops, whether you’re travelling with kids, with dogs, solo or by season.

Nearby Towns to Explore

• Marengo - reef, seals and rainforest walks
• Princetown – wetlands and wildlife
• Apollo Bay – rainforest adventures & seafood
• Skenes Creek – coastal town known for beach walks and fishing