Blanket Bay Campground

Blanket Bay is one of the most photogenic campgrounds on the Great Ocean Road, tucked among manna gum forest at the eastern edge of Cape Otway — a three-hour drive from Melbourne. Twenty-two unpowered sites face a sheltered cove; you wake up to the sound of waves through the trees and koalas sometimes wander through camp at dawn. It's also a popular stop on the Great Ocean Walk, so the campground sees a steady mix of car campers and through-hikers.

Getting there#

Drive from Melbourne: approximately 3 hours via the Princes Freeway and Great Ocean Road. From Apollo Bay, continue west on the Great Ocean Road for about 15 km, then turn south at Lighthouse Road towards Cape Otway. About 6 km along Lighthouse Road, turn left onto Manna Gum Track and follow signs to Blanket Bay.

• From Apollo Bay: about 30 km, 45 minutes
• From Melbourne CBD: about 220 km, 3 hours
• From Geelong: about 145 km, 2 hours

The final stretch is unsealed — Manna Gum Track and the access road are gravel and can be slow in wet weather. Standard 2WD cars manage in dry conditions, but the campground is unsuitable for caravans. Camper trailers, campervans, and small RVs are fine. Check road status with Parks Victoria after rain.

Mobile reception is patchy in the Cape Otway area — Telstra works in some spots, others have nothing.

Sites and facilities#

22 unpowered campsites, each accommodating up to 6 people. Check-in is 2pm, check-out is 11am.

On site:

• Non-flushing toilets (drop toilets)
• Picnic tables
• Beach access from the campground

Bring with you:

• Drinking water and cooking water — none on site, and no creeks suitable for treating
• Firewood — collecting is prohibited; bring your own
• Fuel stove
• Wet-weather gear — the Otway coast catches frequent showers
• Headlamp — the gum forest blocks moonlight, the campground is dark at night

Dogs are not permitted. Caravans are not suitable.

Nearest town and supplies#

Apollo Bay (~30 km, ~45 minutes) is the supply town for the eastern Cape Otway camps:

• Full supermarket (FoodWorks)
• Multiple cafes and bakeries
• Fuel
• Fishing supplies and outdoor gear
• A small hospital for medical issues

For a bigger shop, Geelong (~145 km, ~2 hours) is the major centre. There are no useful supplies between Apollo Bay and Blanket Bay — Cape Otway itself has only the lighthouse precinct (a tourist attraction with limited cafe options).

The pragmatic plan: stock up in Apollo Bay on the way in, including any fuel. Once at Blanket Bay, the next supply trip is a 90-minute round trip on partly-unsealed road.

What to do at Blanket Bay#

• The beach itself — a sheltered cove with rockpools, snorkelling, and reasonable swimming on calmer days. Currents can be strong; check conditions before swimming with kids.
• Great Ocean Walk — Blanket Bay is a designated camping stop on the multi-day Great Ocean Walk. Day walks east towards Parker Hill or west towards Cape Otway are excellent.
• Cape Otway Lightstation — about 10 km west, one of Victoria's most significant heritage sites. Open daily; small entry fee.
• Koala spotting — the manna gums in and around camp host one of Victoria's most reliable koala populations. Look up. Dawn and dusk are best.
• Snorkelling and rockpooling — the cove has good rockpools at low tide.
• Fishing — beach and rock fishing are productive (Victorian recreational licence required).

Best time to visit#

• Summer (December–February) is peak — sunny, warmer water for swimming, busy. School holidays book out months ahead.
• Autumn (March–May) is mild and quiet — good walking weather, koalas active, fewer crowds.
• Winter (June–August) is cold and wet but atmospheric. The cove can get spectacular surf during southern swells. Bring serious wet-weather gear.
• Spring (September–November) is variable but often beautiful — wildflowers along the Great Ocean Walk, returning whales offshore in October–November.

Easter, Christmas/January school holidays, and any long weekend on the Great Ocean Road book out months ahead.

Can't get a booking?#

Blanket Bay's combination of beach, gum-forest setting, and Great Ocean Walk traffic means popular weekends are gone the day they release. Cancellations do happen — particularly when forecasts deteriorate.

Set up a free CampWatch alert and we'll text you the moment a Blanket Bay site opens up. No app, no account — just your phone number.