non-commercial camp grounds within 2 hours of Geelong Ferry to Tasmania

see also:

• photography and camping main index page
• camp grounds in Victoria
• my favourite non-commercial camp grounds for tents in Victoria
• non-commercial camp grounds for tents within 2 hours of Melbourne
• non-commercial camp grounds for tents 2-4 hours from Melbourne
• non-commercial camp grounds for tents more than 4 hours from Melbourne
• campgrounds near Melbourne accessible by public transport

• many travellers catch the ferry from Tasmania to Geelong (Spirit of Tasmania) and then need to find a camp site, unfortunately there are very few free or cheap camp grounds in the region within 1 hour, and this page collates these as well as those up to 2 hours from the Ferry terminal (off-peak)
• in addition, there are many commercial camp grounds especially along the coast

• Inverleigh
  • free; 30min from Geelong ferry; free camping available on the other side of the bridge (but next to highway and not great ambience - best for RVs and campervans) and also down along the Barwon river both easy walks into the town, it's got good facilities.
• Steiglitz Brisbane Ranges
  • 32min from Geelong ferry; online bookings via Parks Vic; ~250m elevation in valley;
• Winchelsea RV camp
  • free; alongside the Barwon River near township but NO TENTS allowed - RVs must be self-contained;
  • perhaps the BEST free option for caravans to access the eastern part of the Otways as Tanners Rd and Hammond Rd camps are not really suitable for caravans
  • 36min from Geelong ferry
• Tanners Road Bend campground Otways, NW of Anglesea
  • free; 42min from Geelong ferry 180m elevation; one of the few free camps near the beach - ~21km, 22min drive to Anglesea or slightly more to Pt Addis;
  • lots of walk/horse/bike tracks; horse yards; dogs on leash;
  • drier and warmer than Hammonds but not as nice an ambience
  • ~7km gravel road from Anglesea direction;
• main Hammond Rd camp ground, Wensleydale, Otways
  • nice overnighter quiet small camp for tents or campervans near Airey's Inlet
  • 56min from Geelong ferry
  • 16 sites which require booking online with Parks Vic; 360m elevation; 8km gravel road from Bambra, ~9km of gravel road to Aireys Inlet
  • nicer than Hammond Rd North or Tanners Rd due to some Telstra internet access, small dam, grassed areas and plenty of sunlit areas to dry out gear but requires booking online which you can do when you get there if you are with Telstra
  • nicer camp ground with a small non-potable water hole, main tent sites have raised wooden platforms to dry out tents and gear;
  • no dogs allowed
  • 16min, 13km from Aireys Inlet
  • NOT for caravans or large rigs
  • bookings
• Hammond Rd North, Wensleydale, Otways
  • free; 280m elevation;
  • 12 separate vehicle sites; nice overnighter small free camp;
  • dogs allowed; 3min drive Nth of main camp ground; ~10km gravel road from Bambra, ~11km of gravel road to Aireys Inlet
  • NOT for caravans or large rigs
  • 18min to Airey's Inlet
• Werribee River camp ground, Spargo Creek, north of Ballan
  • free; NO facilities, No toilets - bush camp
  • 1hr from Geelong ferry via Ballan; firepits but no toilets; ~590m elevation; 15min from Ballan; ~7km gravel road 2WD;
  • very large open grassy area plus nice areas amongst trees; mineral spring but maybe contaminated;
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-vXZeC8QCs

• Smythesdale Gardens
  • 1hr 13min from Geelong ferry via Meredith and Buninyong or via Inverleigh and Rokewood
  • huge camping area with water taps (not permitted in central fenced area); donation (at Smythesdale Roadhouse or Post Office); playground, camp kitchen, microwave, toaster, fireplace, one free electric BBQ, powerpoints; caravan dump point; lots of room for caravans and RVs; dogs on leash;
  • walk to shops, pub;
  • Contact Bill on 0409 145 267 or Dennis on 0418 503 938 for shower code
  • 53km Ballarat Skipton Rail Trail runs right alongside this campground
  • Rainbow Bird Trail walk; Woady Yaloak River Trail walk;
  • 21min drive from Ballarat; 1.5hrs from NW suburbs via Warrenheip, Mt Clear;
  • https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/565/smythesdale-gardens/
• Lake Tooliorook, Lismore
  • 1hr 18min from Geelong ferry ?$10/n
• Green Hill Lakes Reserve Ararat
  • 2hrs 8min from Geelong ferry via Ballan; free camp up to 5 days
  • can get very dusty when windy

• Steiglitz Brisbane Ranges
  • 32min from Geelong ferry; online bookings; ~250m elevation in valley;
• Inverleigh
  • free; 30min from Geelong ferry; free camping available on the other side of the bridge (but next to highway and not great ambience - best for RVs and campervans) and also down along the Barwon river both easy walks into the town, it's got good facilities.
• Tanners Road Bend campground Otways, NW of Anglesea
  • free; 42min from Geelong ferry 180m elevation; one of the few free camps near the beach - ~21km, 22min drive to Anglesea or slightly more to Pt Addis;
  • lots of walk/horse/bike tracks; horse yards; dogs on leash;
  • drier and warmer than Hammonds but not as nice an ambience
  • ~7km gravel road from Anglesea direction;
• Hammond Rd North, Wensleydale, Otways
  • free; 280m elevation;
  • 12 separate vehicle sites; nice overnighter small free camp;
  • dogs allowed; 3min drive Nth of main camp ground; ~10km gravel road from Bambra, ~11km of gravel road to Aireys Inlet
  • NOT for caravans or large rigs
  • 18min to Airey's Inlet
• main Hammond Rd camp ground, Wensleydale, Otways
  • nice overnighter quiet small camp for tents or campervans near Airey's Inlet
  • 56min from Geelong ferry
  • 16 sites which require booking online with Parks Vic; 360m elevation; 8km gravel road from Bambra, ~9km of gravel road to Aireys Inlet
  • nicer than Hammond Rd North or Tanners Rd due to some Telstra internet access, small dam, grassed areas and plenty of sunlit areas to dry out gear but requires booking online which you can do when you get there if you are with Telstra
  • nicer camp ground with a small non-potable water hole, main tent sites have raised wooden platforms to dry out tents and gear;
  • no dogs allowed
  • 16min, 13km from Aireys Inlet
  • NOT for caravans or large rigs
  • bookings
• Meredith Park, Lake Colac
  • free; 63min from Geelong ferry; flush toilets, long narrow camping along northern foreshore, gets very windy, close to Otways, thefts from cars is problematic so ensure all valuables are locked away and out of view.
  • 10min by car to Colac
• Lake Burrumbeet foreshore campground
  • free; 83min from Geelong ferry via Meredith and Buninyong
• Lake Elizabeth Otways
  • 77min from Geelong ferry; 200m elevation bookings
  • lots of mozzies and leaches as one might expect
• Stevensons Falls camp ground Otways
  • free; 84min from Geelong ferry via Birregurra; 150m elevation;
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbiX-T4ND7Y
• Jamieson Creek camp ground Wye River near Wye River
  • 87min from Geelong ferry
  • lovely overnighter Parks Vic campground with ocean views and near beach but requires online Parks Vic bookings
• Dandos camp ground Otways
  • free; 104min from Geelong ferry via Colac; 111m elevation; nice river access (Gelibrand River)
  • very large campground, so can get noisy and busy; can get swampy/muddy after heavy rains;
• Beauchamp Falls camp ground
  • free; 108min from Geelong ferry; 452m elevation; tends to be cold and often shrouded in cloud/fog;
  • camping area is on a level perch with a westerly outlook over plantations; Gravel sites for RVs and grassed areas for tents. Toilets and picnic shelter;
• Johanna beach camp ground
  • 2hrs 5min from Geelong ferry, on a wild surf beach; Parks Vic bookings;
• Aire River camp grounds
  • 2hrs 11min from Geelong ferry; Parks Vic bookings;

• Lerderderg campground
  • 79min from Geelong ferry including 22min 12.5km on gravel 2WD dry weather road;
  • toilets, fireplaces; ~530m elevation;
  • this new campground replaces O'Brien's Crossing camp area which is now only a day visitors area
• Firth Park, Trentham
  • 75min from Geelong ferry; not great site, very cold; elevation ~700m;
• Ambler Lane campground Lerderderg
  • dry 4WD or hike in only; no wood fires; no potable water;
  • 72min from Geelong ferry
• Redesdale Hotel
  • 3 night max; fire pits; 111min from Geelong ferry
• Glenlyon Rec Reserve
  • 86min from Geelong ferry; 570m elevation; toilets; donation;
• Mt Beckworth Cork Oaks, Clunes
  • camp sites are ~400m elevation; Mt Beckworth hits 629m;
  • 105min from Geelong ferry
• Slaty creek camp ground Creswick
  • 81min from Geelong ferry, good for panning for gold; ~520m elevation;
• Campground One, Creswick Regional Park
  • nice creek but may be dry in summer
  • NB. campgrounds 2 and 3 no toilets, campground 3 have to cross a creek
• Leanganook camp ground Mount Alexander
  • 115min from Geelong ferry; ~650m elevation - similar temperatures as Woodend/Kyneton;
• Warburton's Bridge campground near GlenLuce
  • 102min from Geelong ferry near Vaughan Springs
  • approx 300m elevation
• Mt Franklin Reserve
  • 84min from Geelong ferry, near Daylesford, inside a volcanic crater - very cold in winter!
  • 550m elevation in crater; Mt Franklin hits about 620m elevation;
• Maldon Mt Tarrengower Butt's Reserve camp ground
  • 114min from Geelong ferry

• Wombat state forest region mainly 4WD
  • Wombat trail camp
  • Countess track 4wd
  • Hayden Track site
  • Clear water creek
  • Rock creek
  • Margaret's Corner, Amblers Lane Track
  • Balt camp, Blakevile
• Werribee River camp ground, Spargo Creek, north of Ballan
  • 1hr from Geelong ferry via Ballan; firepits but no toilets; ~590m elevation; 15min from Ballan; ~7km gravel road 2WD;
  • very large open grassy area plus nice areas amongst trees; mineral spring but maybe contaminated;
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-vXZeC8QCs
• Colbrook Reservoir just Nth of Ballan in Wombat State Forest
  • https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/509/colbrook-reservoir/
  • 56min from NW suburbs; 4WD or hike access by rough, uneven dirt tracks, which will be muddy in wet weather - no signs, you will need GPS!
  • stunning dam wall on SW side creating a great waterfall when overflowing; bushwalking, swimming, fishing, bush camping, and photography;
  • Free camping is permitted at Colbrook Reservoir and the surrounding bush - there are a couple of clear areas which are great for camping on the shore of the reservoir, on the opposite side to the dam wall.
• Hunts Bridge Camping Area, Morrisons SW of Ballan via Mt Egerton
  • https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/562/hunts-bridge-camping-area/
  • 55min from Geelong ferry; shallow river for swimming; lots of sites for tents and RVs; fire pits;
  • on weekends, can be young disrespectful locals who leave broken glass and steal from cars.
• Dollys Creek campground, Morrisons SW of Ballan via Mt Egerton
  • just Sth of Hunts Bridge
  • 1hr 10min from NW suburbs; above a bend in the scenic shallow creek (may be dry in summer), walks, firepits;
  • 13km bushwalk loop but need an app to navigate ¹⁾; no mobile reception;
  • https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/564/dollys-creek-campground/

• Winchelsea RV camp
  • alongside the Barwon River near township but no tents allowed - RVs must be self-contained;
  • perhaps the BEST free option for caravans to access the eastern part of the Otways as Tanners Rd and Hammond Rd camps are not really suitable for caravans
  • 36min from Geelong ferry