Accommodation Guide for Cape Otway Holidays
So, you’re planning to embark on the Great Ocean Road and visit the southernmost point of Cape Otway? Awesome! As you know, this trek has many elements to consider, from choosing your route, the length of your trip, and what to pack. And, most importantly, where will you stay?
Across the Great Ocean Road’s 243-kilometre stretch there are farm stays and campsites, self-catering options and luxury lodges — and everything in between. Here, we’ll look at a range of Cape Otway accommodation for plenty of comfy, cool places to stay in between your walk.
At Walk91, we want you to enjoy your epic adventure without having to sweat the small stuff. That’s why we offer bag transportation between your planned stops and a transport service for walkers to reach their accommodation.
After a day of walking, hop on in and we’ll take you to your accommodation in Cape Otway and other points along the trip.
If you’re still deciding on your Great Ocean Walk route, we’d love to help you plan your journey. Our husband-and-wife team has been helping folks enjoy the trail we helped build since 2002. Check out our Customised Great Ocean Walk Small Group Tours and feel free to get in touch!
Enjoy the Quiet of Bimbi Park, Cape Otway
After a long day of walking, what better way to unwind than amongst the tall manna gum trees far from the hum of traffic? At the secluded Bimbi Park in Cape Otway, there is accommodation to suit every budget, from standard and powered campsites to bunk rooms, plus standard or deluxe cabins.
There is also room for on-site vans if you’re driving the Great Ocean Road rather than walking. Wildlife lovers will especially enjoy Bimbi, which means ‘place of many birds’.
There are more than 70 types of birds living in the park, so visitors can identify their calls between the trees before drifting to sleep.
As well as comfortable sleeping options, the park also offers an outdoor theatre for movie-watching under the star-studded skies. The park is also home to several curious mammals. Let’s see how many koalas, wallabies, and kangaroos join you for a film!
Meet the Locals in Shearwater Cottages, Cape Otway
Just a five-minute drive from Cape Otway’s famous lighthouse sit the Shearwater Cottages. These cottages offer a secluded, wildlife-rich setting with all your home comforts. The cottages are pet friendly, too, so you can bring the whole family to this Cape Otway accommodation.
Surrounded by the Great Otway National Park, the vista as you wake up in these cottages is unparalleled. You’ll be surrounded by trees populated with koalas and can see the distant ocean.
Shearwater is a breath of fresh air for a restful stop between hiking the Great Ocean Road.
Step Into History and Stay at Cape Otway Lightstation
Cape Otway is a natural beacon for any walker on the Great Ocean Road and so is the landmark that marks this spot.
The Cape Otway Lighthouse is Australia’s longest-serving lighthouse and dates back to 1846.
If you’re a secret seafarer or want to soak up beautiful sunsets, visitors can stay overnight in the historic lightstation, a heritage accommodation built for Cape Otway’s Lightkeepers in 1859.
This unique Cape Otway accommodation offers several rooms, including the lighthouse cottage, lodge, or studio.
Snuggle Up at Blanket Bay Near Cape Otway
Blanket Bay is a rustic camping and picnic area located 35km from Apollo Bay, on the eastern coast of the Great Otway National Park. If you want to get back to basics, Blanket Bay is for you. The site contains 22 unpowered campsites, each accommodating up to six people.
The unpatrolled beach is a lovely place to unwind. Enjoy the waves lapping against the shoreline and investigate the rock pools at either end of the beach.
Be careful while swimming, as the waves can get choppy and there are no lifeguards on the beach.
This site is quite spartan and Parks Victoria advises visitors to supply their own water and firewood. So if you are looking for a supported walk, Walk91 do have an option you might like to consider!
Blanket Bay is also designed for campers in cars and on foot and is unsuitable for caravans.
Apollo Bay
After visiting the Great Otway National Park, many visitors choose to stay at Apollo Bay, just a 30-minute drive from Cape Otway, nestled in the foothills of the Otways. There are several motels and bed and breakfasts on the waterfront, as well as campsites.
Skenes Creek Foreshore Caravan Park is just 6km north of Apollo Bay along the coast. This beachfront campsite offers powered van sites and grassed camping sites. The campsite also allows on-site barbecues, making Skenes Creek a chill place to unwind on a long summer night.
For something a little closer to the town, visitors can stay at Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve. This campsite is located beside the football oval, near the golf course, and alongside the Bahram River.
It offers several camping locations and a small number of basic ensuite cabins.
Great Otway National Park is a glorious expanse of flora and fauna in Victoria.
From towering eucalyptus and manna gum trees and lush rainforests to idyllic beaches and varied wildlife, this stretch of the Great Ocean Walk is a great place to stay and soak up the views.
If you’re still uncertain what route you’d like to take, check out our Self-Guided Great Ocean Walk Tours for a selection of walks. However you’d like to experience the Great Ocean Walk, we offer a range of existing walks, but we can also design a custom walk depending on your needs.
We hope our whistlestop tour around some of Cape Otway’s accommodation has given you an insight into this wonderful stop on the Great Ocean Walk. If you’d like assistance in contacting any of the places listed, get in touch! We’re happy to help you at any stage of planning.