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UPDATE COVID-19: Please see COVID page below for the latest travel restrictions from Victoria
5 Reasons to visit the Great Ocean Road in winter
It may be tricky to travel far at the moment, but you can most certainly start dreaming of wintry nights by the fire, and days spent on the open road. So dreamers, this one's for you
The temperatures are dropping and there's no better time to hit the open road. Discover the beauty of the Great Ocean Road, without the tourists. Need more reasons to head out? We've got 5!
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THERE’S FEWER PEOPLE AROUND
It’s a no brainer that people don’t want to leave the house in the middle of winter, so take advantage of it! All those gorgeous lookouts are refreshingly crowd-free, and the number of tour buses parked on the side of the road drop dramatically. This also means not having to stand on your tippy toes to see over people’s heads at the 12 Apostles and not having people in the background of your shot at Loch Ard Gorge. That’s a major win if you ask us. -
RAINFORESTS COME ALIVE
The Great Ocean Road literally goes through Great Otway National Park on the way to the 12 Apostles, so you have absolutely no excuse not to turn off the road and head inland towards some of the most lush and green scenery you’ll ever see. Better yet, if it’s raining, just duck into the rainforest and go for a stroll – the towering trees and ferns will protect you from the rain. Plus, the abundance of rain that hits Victoria every winter leads to raging waterfalls. The thundering sound of the water will leave you in awe and feeling kind of insignificant – in a good way. -
GET COSY BY THE FIRE
Grab a glass of wine or a hot chocolate and snuggle up by the wood fire heater in Apollo Bay Eco YHA’s lounge room for a night of relaxation. After a day of exploring the Great Ocean Road, there is no better way to warm up! Plus hostel dog Amber might come by for some pats and cuddles, giving you all those warm and fuzzy feelings inside. -
GO WHALE-SPOTTING ON THE COASTLINE
From June to August, whales swim along the coast of the Great Ocean Road to migrate to warmer waters. Keep an eye out for flags along the coastline as you drive as they mark that there have been regular sightings of whales in that spot. Pull over and cross your fingers for a sighting. -
SLEEP IN
Seeing the 12 Apostles at sunrise is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their life. Thankfully in the middle of winter, the sun rises a lot later than it does in the middle of summer, which means you can spend those extra hours staying warm and snuggly in bed. If you are staying at Apollo Bay Eco YHA or Port Fairy YHA, it takes about an hour to drive to the 12 Apostles, so make sure to give yourself enough time to see the show.
Ethical
YHA is a not-for-profit organisation. This doesn’t mean we don’t make money – it means we’re constantly re-investing back into our hostels to meet the needs of our guests.
Green
It’s easy being green when you stay with YHA – our hostels are packed full of energy-efficient and water-saving features like solar panels, rainwater tanks and recycling facilities.
Loyal
With some of Australia’s best hostels located in 80 destinations around the country, why would you want to stay anywhere else?
YHA is a member of Hostelling International