Johanna beach camp ground

Introduction

the Johanna beach campground is a very short walk to a wild surf beach on the western part of Cape Otway near the Great Ocean Road (GOR)
25 camp sites run by Parks Vic and each require online booking and have drop toilets but no potable water nor showers
online bookings however, from 1st July 2026, bookings will be managed via https://greatoceanroadparks.com.au/

Johanna 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

just under 3hrs (227km) 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
42min (44km) west of Apollo Bay
17min (15km) SE of Lavers Hill
60min (70km) S of Colac
94min (89km) 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
39min drive to Wreck Beach near Moonlight Heads - embedded anchor at low tide
The Twelve Apostles

flush toilets
- 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) SE to Aire River camp grounds
42min (44km) to commercial parks in Apollo Bay
46min (37km) to Blanket Bay camp ground, Cape Otway (Parks Vic online booking)
Bimbi Park, Cape Otway - commercial
81min (76km) to Jamieson Creek camp ground Wye River (Park Web booking) just past Wye River which has commercial camp ground as well

31min (18km) to the small Aire River Crossing campsite
37min (37km) to Beauchamp Falls camp ground
60min (56km) to Dandos camp ground Otways
73min (66km) to Stevensons Falls camp ground Otways via Lavers Hill and Beech Forest