Aire River camp grounds

Introduction

the main Aire River campgrounds are walking distance to a beach on the western part of Cape Otway near the Great Ocean Road (GOR)
there are two camp grounds near each other run by Parks Vic and each require online booking and have drop toilets but no potable water nor showers
there is also a smaller free camp much further inland at Aire River Crossing
from 1st July 2026, bookings will be managed via https://greatoceanroadparks.com.au/

check Parks Vic website for flood warnings as Sites 17 to 40 on the West camp ground are often closed due to high water which may be due to the river mouth being closed
- see https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/coc-listing#Aire-River-Heritage-River

Aire River is in the South West Fire District whereas Lorne is in the Surf Coast / Central Fire District which may have different fire danger levels
for current and forecast Fire Danger ratings, see https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/fire-bans-ratings-and-restrictions/total-fire-bans-fire-danger-ratings
if the rating is Extreme, the region is likely to become a day of Total Fire Ban, if it is rated Catastrophic - you will be required to evacuate from the camp ground and forest areas
in addition, the National Parks have fire restrictions as well as the CFA's Fire Danger Period restrictions which usually apply from Nov-April.
fires only permitted in the provided fire pits at this camp ground and only in accordance with NP and CFA rules
see also bushfire safety

3hrs (232km) from NW suburbs via Geelong and Colac
- if the Princes Fway is problematic, can also travel to Ballan then down to Colac but this adds 30min and 30km
33min (30km) west of Apollo Bay
42min (32km) SE of Lavers Hill
67min (76km) S of Colac
83min SW of Lorne

Castle Cove Lookout
Otway waterfalls:
- Triplet Falls
- Hopetoun Falls and Redwood forest
- Beachamp Falls (nearby free campground)
Otway Fly Treetop walk (commercial)
Melba Gully glow worms at dusk, Lavers Hill
Johanna Beach - wild surf beach
45min drive to Wreck Beach near Moonlight Heads - embedded anchor at low tide
The Twelve Apostles

flush toilets
- Gellibrand
- Lorne
- Wye River beach toilets
- portable toilets outside cafe at Kennett River (but locked when cafe closed ie. before 9am and in evenings) - these get very busy due to tourists
- Apollo Bay beach
- Port Campbell
- Colac
outdoor cold showers
- Lorne beach
- Wye River beach
- Kennett River beach
- Apollo Bay beach
- Port Campbell
cafe / hotels
- Lorne
- Wye River Hotel
- Wye River Cafe
- Kennett River cafe
- Apollo Bay
- Lavers Hill
- Port Campbell
- Colac
petrol
- Lorne, Apollo Bay, Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Lavers Hill, Colac, Winchelsea, Port Campbell
tourist information centre
- Lorne, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell
hardware / camping store
- small ones at Timboon, Lorne and Apollo Bay
- Bunnings at Warrnambool, Colac and Torquay

22min (17km) NW Johanna beach camp ground
- on a wild surf beach
- also run by Parks Vic and requiring booking online online bookings
54min (53km) to Princetown Recreation Reserve (bookings)
66min (69km) to Port Campbell Recreation Reserve (bookings?)

33min (30km) to commercial parks in Apollo Bay
34min (25km) to Blanket Bay camp ground, Cape Otway (Parks Vic online booking)
Bimbi Park, Cape Otway - commercial
69min (64km) to Jamieson Creek camp ground Wye River (Park Web booking) just past Wye River (which has commercial camp ground as well)

37min (23km) to the small Aire River Crossing campsite
43min (43km) to Beauchamp Falls camp ground
66min (62km) to Dandos camp ground Otways
72min (65km to Stevensons Falls camp ground Otways via Apollo Bay (80min, 72km via Lavers Hill and Beech Forest if you wish to see other falls along the way)

closest one to the beach
- “10min” walk to west end of Glenaire beach?
- 3km 45min to Glenaire Beach
fires only in the fire pits
jetty and boat access
40 camp sites, many alongside the river, some others with some shade and wind breaks
bookings