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Just south of Geelong, Torquay is located on Zeally Bay—keep going south across the Bass Strait from here and you’ll reach the western tip of Tasmania. The seaside town is a great destination for beach-loving campers, especially surfers and hikers. Torquay is on the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road, so is a good alternative starting/ending point to Geelong. Find caravan parks right beside the beach.
On the western tip of the Mornington Peninsula, the town of Sorrento and the Point Nepean National Park are separated from Geelong and the western towns of Port Phillip by a narrow channel. Ferries depart from Queenscliff, a half-hour drive south-east of Geelong, every hour, and take about 40 minutes. Bike or hike along the beautiful coastal landscape of the national park, or dine and shop in Sorrento. There’s a foreshore campsite in the town.
Geelong is a year-round destination, with hot summers and mild, often wet winters. Campers can enjoy driving the Great Ocean Road at any time of year, but camping will be most comfortable in the cooler spring or autumn. For beachside camping in Geelong or nearby Torquay, Sorrento, and other coastal towns, summer is the best time, but make sure to book your spot in holiday parks in advance.