Dandos camp ground Otways

Introduction

Dandos is a large free camp ground in a tall mountain ash forest setting on the Gellibrand River on the northern side of the Otways, south of Colac and north of Apollo Bay
no phone reception
BYO water and firewood
drop toilets
the many tall straight eucalypts in close proximity to each other would make sleeping in hammocks possible here - as long as you use tree trunk protectors - it would get you off the waterlogged ground at least!
see Youtube video:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fSmkOlwKKg

it can get very busy and noisy and feral even on normal weekends - it has a reputation drunk yobbos turning up and blasting music all night long
it is not great after heavy rain - becomes muddy and swampy - not helped by hoons in 4WDs churning the ground up
- most of the camp sites become small lagoons as the camp ground is poorly drained - I suspect mozzies could be problematic
fairly steep hill in and out which can be an issue for some with large caravans
river isn’t great for swimming
most sites are set amongst tall mountain ash trees which will severely limit sunlight which may be great in summer but very cold in winter

go mid-week for a more pleasant, quieter, fairly unique camp experience and enjoy the many birds - satin bower birds, fantails, kookaburras, etc
- BUT it is NOT amongst my favourite camp grounds due to the above issues
the 2WD well graded gravel road to nearby Stevensons Falls is quiet a pleasant drive when there are no other vehicles around

this 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.
see also bushfire safety

Stevensons Falls camp ground Otways
- 21min (11.4km) to the east along a 2WD graded gravel road - you may need offline maps to navigate it!
Lake Elizabeth camp ground
- 30min (19km); can be lots of mozzies and leeches
Beauchamp falls
- 30min (18km) via Beech Forest
- 40min (35km) via Gellibrand - better road
Johanna beach camp ground (online booking)
- 55min (55km) via Gellibrand and Lavers Hill
Apollo Bay commercial camp grounds
- ~50min (40km)
Aire River camp grounds (online booking)
- 1hr via Gellibrand and Lavers Hill
- 82min via Apollo Bay
Blanket Bay campground in Cape Otway (online booking)
- 1.5hrs either via Gellibrand and Lavers Hill or via Apollo Bay

Stevensons Falls camp ground Otways
- 21min (11.4km) to the east
Beauchamp falls
- 30min (18km) via Beech Forest
- 40min (35km) via Gellibrand - better road
Hopetoun Falls and the Redwood forest
- near Beauchamp Falls
- 44min (37km)
Otway Fly elevated tree walk
- commercial
Triplet Falls near Weeaproinah
- 41min (34km)
Melba Gully glow worms at dusk
- 47min (45km) near Lavers Hill
The Twelve Apostles
- 80min

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