Blanket Bay Campground

A yellow tent is nestled amongst native coastal vegetation.

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Blanket Bay Campground

Blanket Bay Campground is the perfect family escape. Located on the eastern coast of Cape Otway, campers and day visitors can make the most of the seaside location and wander inland to look for koalas.

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The often calm waters off the ever-so-popular Blanket Bay Campground are protected by an intertidal reef. This small beach is sheltered by the high hills of Cape Otway. Explore the unique underwater life found within these intertidal rockpools. Bring a snorkel to get a better glimpse!

Katabanook Walk leads inland from the campground. The short walk meanders along a fern-laden trail shaded by tall, twisted Manna Gum trees.

Blanket Bay also serves as an overnight stop along the iconic Great Ocean Walk. If prepared properly, you may choose to follow the trail west to Parker Hill. Or if you are an experienced walker and can car shuttle, continue on to Cape Otway Lightstation.

Blanket Bay Campground is very popular during school holidays and requires advanced bookings and payments year-round. Peak season release dates apply for summer, Labour Day long weekend and Easter long weekend.

Blanket Bay Campground contains 22 unpowered campsites, each accommodating up to six people. All campsites are suitable for tents, and some sites cater to camper trailers, campervans or small recreational vehicles. Please note that Blanket Bay Campground is unsuitable for caravans. Visitors are advised to supply their own water and firewood.

Things to do

 
Two friends fish off the back a boat on a misty morning on Lake Eildon.

Fishing

In quiet lakes and gently flowing rivers, in the pounding surf or in the depths beneath your boat – the waters of Victoria’s parks and reserves offer some prize catches.
A woman with a large hiking pack takes in the view from Blanket Bay Campground.

Great Ocean Walk

The Great Ocean Walk extends just over 100km between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles near Princetown. The spectacular walk weaves its way through tall forests, coastal heathlands, wild rocky shores, river estuaries and windswept cliff-tops presenting amazing views.
A man in a red wetsuit and a women with the top half of her wetsuit undone follow two men in to the surf on the Morning Peninsula.

Surfing

Learn to surf from beaches dotted along the coast or for experienced boarders ride the ultimate wave at ocean back beaches or famous Bells Beach.
The lighthouse at Cape Otway in the Otway National Park.

Cape Otway and Apollo Bay

Breathtaking coastlines, dramatic cliff faces, deep valleys of tall forest and fern-clad gullies, and spectacular waterfalls all feature here in Cape Otway and Apollo Bay.

How to get there

Blanket Bay Campground

When you're there

Close to Blanket Bay Campground, Cape Otway sits at the southern tip of Victoria's western coast - where the Southern Ocean meets Bass Strait. The Cape Otway Lightstation stands as testimony to the area's shipwreck history, rugged rocky shores and beaches, tall forest and the long distance Great Ocean Walk segments passing close by. Download the Apollo Bay and Cape Otway visitor guide to get the most out of your visit.

Blanket Bay Campground

Summer is the busiest time of year due to the coastal access to camp. Enjoy a picnic by the beach and explore rock pools at low tide.

Need to know

Blanket Bay Campground

Accessibility

The campsites closest to the beach are the most accessible as they are on flat ground and close to toilet facilities and taps. There is also vehicle parking very close to these campsites on level ground with a compacted gravel surface.

The most accessible sites are sites 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21. All of these are within 40 metres of the toilets. There are ocean views from some of these sites.

Access to the beach from the campsites is via two paths with many steps. Best access to the beach for wheelchairs and strollers is via the boat ramp located within walking distance from the campground. There is a separate designated camping area at Blanket Bay for users of the Great Ocean Walk. These sites are not accessible for wheelchairs.

There are four standard toilet cubicles and a unisex accessible toilet.They can be accessed by the campground service road or by a level compacted gravel path leading from some of the campsites.

The entrance to the toilet cubicle is approximately 870mm wide with an inward swinging door. The door has a turnstile locking mechanism. There is ample room for manoeuvrability in the cubicle and there are two types of toilet roll dispensers. Railing is on the left side of the cubicle wall and extends behind the toilet. The cubicle also has a bench seat.

The wash basin is found outside the toilet cubicles and is accessible for wheelchairs. It has a knob handle cold water tap and a stainless steel mirror. There is no mains power in this toilet or the campground. Water for camp use can be accessed from a tap on the rainwater tank near the vanity basin. There is another tap within the campground, however it is less accessible than this one.

Be prepared and stay safe

  • Fires are only permitted in the shared fireplaces provided.
  • Fuel stoves or gas barbecues are preferred for cooking.
  • Bring your own drinking water and firewood.
  • Firewood collection is not permitted in national parks.
  • Come and enjoy the peace and quiet – please, no generators.

Blanket Bay Campground is in the Great Otway National Park in the South West fire district. Bushfires can occur during the warmer months. It is your responsibility to check current and forecast weather conditions. Campfires cannot be lit on days of Total Fire Ban, however gas cookers can be used for preparing food.

Check the Fire Danger Rating and for days of Total Fire Ban at emergency.vic.gov.au, on the Vic Emergency App or call the Vic Emergency Hotline 1800 226 226.

Change of Conditions

Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

  • Aire River East Campground (Aire River Heritage River, Great Otway National Park)

    Aire River East campground Temporary closure

    Aire River east campground is temporarily closed due to wet conditions making the area unsuitable for camping.

  • Great Otway National Park

    Delayneys Track Closed

    Delayneys Track is closed until further notice.

    Lifejackets Required For Rock Fishers from March 1, 2022

    A two-year trial of new laws that require rock fishers to wear a lifejacket at high-risk locations will commence on 1 March 2022.
     
    For Great Otway National Park this includes:
    • Artillery Rocks, west of Lorne
    • The rock platform opposite Sheoak Falls, south of Lorne
    This factsheet includes maps of the affected areas.
     
    Fines apply if you don’t wear a lifejacket at these sites.
     
    To find out more, visit Victorian Fisheries Authority 

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

    Erskine Falls Lower Lookout Closed

    Erskine Falls lower lookout is closed until further notice. Access to the base of the waterfall is no longer open due to unsafe conditions. Erskine Falls can be viewed from the top lookout which looks across to the top of the falls. Straw Falls is also inaccessible from the Erskine Falls carpark due to this closure. Erskine Falls walking track is still open from the Lorne township up to the base of Erskine Falls. 

    Great Ocean Walk - Wet and Muddy conditions

    As a result of ongoing rain in the Great Otway National Park over autumn and through winter 2023, conditions of the track on  the day 1 and day 2 sections of the Great Ocean Walk are advised to be very wet and muddy. 

    The Elliot Road section of walk is particularly unfavourable, and heavy conditions are anticipated to be ongoing until late Spring 2023.

    South West District Weather forecast

    Attachments: GOW May 2023 (540KB)

    Great Ocean Walk - walking event

    • A permitted walking event from Cape Otway in the Great Otway National Park to the Twelve Apostles in the Port Campbell National park will be taking place on the Great Ocean Walk on Saturday 28 & Sunday the 29 October 2023.
    • The group of approximately 100 walkers will be walking in small groups of 10 starting from around 9am at the Cape Otway Light station.
    • The group has booked and is staying overnight at the Johanna beach campground, on Saturday 28 October.
    • No Great Ocean Walk campgrounds are being used, including at the Johanna Great Ocean Walk camp site.
    • The group will be shuttled from Johanna Beach to Moonlight Head to finish their walk on Sunday concluding at the Twelve Apostles in the Port Campbell National Park approximately 3pm.
    • The event is weather dependant.
    • For more information or concerns please call 131963.




  • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

    Seasonal road closures 2023

    Seasonal road closures apply to areas within and tracks bordering this park from 15 June 2023. See MapshareVic for locations of the closures. Visit the seasonal road closures page for more information.

  • Sharps Campground (Great Otway National Park)

    Sharps Campground Permanently Closed

    Due to environmental and safety risks, Sharps campground will be permanently closed from Thursday 22nd December 2022.

    For more information please see attached fact sheet.

  • Cora Lynn Campground (Great Otway National Park)

    Cora Lynn Campground Closed

    Due to environmental and safety risks, Cora Lynn campground is permanently closed. 

  • Other issues

    Blanket Bay - Bush Rats

    Following the success of our fox and feral cat management programmes population numbers of Rattus fuscipes have grown again in the Blanket Bay campground area of the Great Otway National Park.  
     
    The combination of less predators and conducive weather conditions has allowed a population to return that campers at Blanket Bay should be cautious of.
     
    The Bush rat has some specific features that can help you distinguish it from similar rats.
    ·         It has pointed head and rounded ears.
    ·         Its tail is smaller than the rat's body.
    ·         Another key feature is their front teeth - they are chisel-shaped with hard yellow enamel.
     
    These native rodents are known to scavenge on campers’ food, gnawing through tents to get to uncontained foodstuffs.
     
    Native bush Rats are protected wildlife in the National Park and may form part of your camping  experience while camping at Blanket Bay. 

    Attachments: Native vs Non-Native FS (779KB)

  • Maits Rest Rainforest Walk (Great Otway National Park)

    Maits Rest Carpark- bus access

    Maits Rest Carpark is suitable for small coaster buses only. Large buses or coaches are advised to use Melba Gully walk track near Lavers Hill.

  • Melba Gully Day Visitor Area (Great Otway National Park)

    Melba Gully - Large bus access

    Melba Gully Walk Track and picnic area is accessible for large coaches. Toilet facilities are available on site

Similar experiences

 
A car camping set up at Aire River East Campground in the Great Otway National Park

Aire River East Campground

This campground is situated within the Great Otway National Park located on the banks of the Aire River Estuary. This area is home to a magnitude of native and migratory bird species as well as an abundance of fish species making it a great place to go bird watching, fishing, swimming and canoeing
A family camps on the shores of Aire River in the Great Otway National Park

Aire River West Campground

This campground is situated within the Great Otway National Park located on the banks of the Aire River Estuary. This area is home to a magnitude of native and migratory bird species as well as an abundance of fish species making it a great place to go bird watching, fishing, swimming and canoeing.
A couple in their thirties play with their dog at Johanna Beach Campground next to their tent and campervan.

Johanna Beach Campground

Nestled between coastal sand dunes, a lush, grassy hinterland and a prime surf beach, the dog-on-lead friendly Johanna Beach Campground has everything you need for an unforgettable seaside camping experience. Take in the salty ocean vistas, go surfing, fishing or hike a section of the Great Ocean Walk.

Thurra River Campground

This campground is located in coastal woodland between the river and the ocean near Point Hicks. This is a popular spot for families to relax on hot days.
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