Swimming

Swim at some of Australia's best beaches in the Great Ocean Road region. Find kilometres of clean, golden sand and gentle waves, or powerful surf for the initiated, at scenic beaches all along the coast.

Torquay to Apollo Bay

Some of the best swimming beaches along the Great Ocean Road include Torquay’s beautiful Norfolk Pine-lined front beach, which offers a quiet protected foreshore and the nearby Fishermans Beach. Anglesea’s main beach is a wide sandy expanse beside the Anglesea River and attracts both swimmers and surfers, and just around the bay is the long sweeping arc of Point Roadknight beach. The shallow, protected waters are safe for children, making it another popular spot with families.

The sheltered two-kilometre beach at Lorne is safer than most on the coast and is bordered by lawns, gum trees and picnic and barbecue facilities. At Wye River there is another beautiful sandy beach at the mouth of the river with a lush forest backdrop and at Apollo Bay the wide, crescent-shaped sandy beach with its protected waters provides another safe and popular swimming beach.

Great Ocean Walk

Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road has a wide, crescent-shaped sandy beach. Protected waters make it excellent for swimming and popular with families. Lifesavers patrol in summer and there are plenty of surfing options nearby.

Nestled in the Otway National Park, Blanket Bay is a protected beach that adjoins the Blanket Bay Camping/Picnic area. There are lots of great rockpools for children to explore at either end of the beach. Take care when swimming because this unpatrolled beach can get choppy and may have rips. Off the Great Ocean Road, about 35 kilometres from Apollo Bay.

Looking for a place to take a dip in the Twelve Apostles region? Head to Port Campbell’s sheltered stretch of beach for a safe spot to cool down.

Westward

Most beaches along the western end of the Great Ocean Road are only suitable for experienced swimmers and surfers, as they boast large swells, rips and strong currents. However, Warrnambool and Port Fairy offer a chance of beach swimming during the warmer months.

Warrnambool's beachfront is backed by grass covered dunes and extends three and a half kilometres from the breakwater on the west side to Point Richie in the east. The beach is moderately safe with the occasional rip, so it is recommend swimming is done between the flags at all times.

The white sandy beach at Port Fairy stretches for nearly six kilometres, tracing an arc from Reef Point in the east to the southside harbour entrance. Swimmers are advised to avoid the northern end of the beach, where rips can be very intense, and always swim between the flags in the patrolled section.