Princetown Recreation Reserve

The Great Ocean Road is open for visitors, and we’re open too.

Princetown Recreation Reserve is located on the Great Ocean Road just over 2.5 hours from Melbourne, it is adjacent the Gellibrand River and close to the Princetown Wetlands and Princetown Beach. 

Just 6 kilometres east of the Twelve Apostles, the Princetown Recreation Reserve is one of the closest camping locations to the Port Campbell National Park making it the ideal base for sightseeing the highlights of the Great Ocean Road including Lock Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps and the Twelve Apostles. It is also near the last section of The Great Ocean Walk, making it a great place to stay for hikers.

The Princetown Recreation Reserve offers powered and unpowered sites in a natural setting with kangaroos grazing within the reserve. Guests can enjoy clean, basic amenities, playground, tennis courts, sports/recreational area, BBQ facilities, and everything needed for a comfortable and laid-back camping experience.

If you are travelling the Great Ocean Road with your pet, dogs are welcome year-round on our dog-friendly campsites.

There is no shortage of things to do during your stay. Fishing, hiking, canoeing and wildlife spotting are popular activities for campers at the Princetown Recreation Reserve. Princetown Beach offers a wild and beautiful coastal setting and is better suited to walking and sightseeing than swimming, due to strong ocean conditions.

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 Princetown

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? 

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 Princetown on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria

The tiny village of Princetown is surrounded by the Gellibrand River and Princetown Wetlands. It is an ideal place to relax and take things a bit slower on your holiday.

Located on the Great Ocean Road, bordered by both the Great Otway National Park and Port Campbell National Park, Princetown is one of the closest towns to the Twelve Apostles (perfect for viewing the Twelve Apostles at sunrise or sunset). It also connects to the Great Ocean Walk via a picturesque wetland boardwalk which is the perfect spot for a picnic, fishing or kayaking.

The Gellibrand River flats around Princetown are also one of the best places on the Great Ocean Road to see wild Eastern Grey Kangaroo grazing at sunrise and sunset.

Popular Things to Do in Princetown

Outdoor & Beach Activities

• Walks along Princetown Beach
• Moonlight Head and Wreck Beach
• Gellibrand River Estuary
• Snorkelling and diving in the marine parks
• Fish and kayak in the Gellibrand River
• Little Penguin watching at Twelve Apostles or Loch Ard Gorge
• Seasonal whale watching (May to September)
• Wildlife spotting

Scenic Walks & Nature Experiences

• Princetown Wetlands Boardwalk - Boardwalk through tranquil wetlands with birdlife and river views.
• Great Otway National Park - explore spectacular rainforest, waterfalls and wildlife.
• Great Ocean Walk – a spectacular long-distance trail linking Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles.
• Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail - weave your way through tall forests, rolling farmland and wetlands from the coastal village of Port Campbell to the foodie hub of 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 Arch (previously London Bridge)
• Gibson Steps
• The Grotto
• Bay of Islands
• Childers Cove

Family-Friendly Attractions

• Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park
• Wildlife Wonders
• Otway Fly Treetops Adventures
• 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 near the Twelve Apostles

Stay close to the coast at the Princetown Recreation Reserve, a relaxed and dog-friendly campground near the Gellibrand River and only minutes from the Twelve Apostles.

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
• Port Campbell - gateway to Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge
• Apollo Bay – rainforest adventures & seafood
• Skenes Creek – coastal town known for beach walks and fishing.