This is a no-nonsense guide to making a coastal road trip in Victoria with your dog go without a hitch, covering everything from beach access to leash regulations. Can you take the Great Ocean Road with your dog? In short, yes. But where you can let him off the lead or put his paws in the sand will be dictated by the town, the season and the foreshore in question.
I am Elowen Sullivan and my experience of many a family outing with an insistent terrier has taught me that a fine beach is of little value if your dog cannot partake of it in safety and within the law. There are places where dogs are permitted off-leash for a time; in others you must have a lead on at all hours or face being turned away over the Christmas period. Some are next to marine or wildlife preserves and there is limited access. For more detail, see the dog-friendly sections of the walk.
Best Beaches For A Coastal Stop
Travellers will find the broad expanse of a beach in the vicinity of a township more to their liking than the coves of a national park under tight protection. They are where you will get better parking, water and toilets and see clear signage before your dog makes for the surf.
But the coast is fickle. Make sure to read the sign at the entrance when you arrive, hold your dog in near the car park and picnic tables and do not be taken in by the appearance of calm water on an unpatrolled beach.
Quick Beach Comparison
| Area | Beach Or Access Point | Best For | Important Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torquay | Point Impossible Beach | Open space for a long walk | Seasonal restrictions, off-leash boundaries |
| Torquay | Torquay Front Beach | Town facilities and easy access | Time limits, crowds and where you can swim |
| Torquay | Whites Beach | A quieter stroll | What the local signs say about access |
| Anglesea | Anglesea Main Beach | Cafés and a morning walk | Rules in the surf and holiday traffic |
| Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven | Foreshore areas | A bit of sandy exercise and a short stop | Dog access is beach dependent |
| Lorne | Designated foreshore | To have some beach and town time | The river mouth, crowds and leash rules |
| Apollo Bay | Urquhart Bluff and the town beach | An extended break on the road | Tides, wildlife and any official notices |
From Torquay to Allansford the Great Ocean Road is some 243 km but most with a dog in tow put in more miles with fuel and food stops and the odd tennis ball that has gone astray. Do not think of it as one long dog beach, rather a succession of local ones.
Torquay And Anglesea
For dog-friendly travel these two make the most straightforward start. You will find the foreshore set up well in both towns, along with roads to get there and shops to put in a new lead or poo bag and have some breakfast. Being popular with surfers they also draw their share of children and bicycles. A well-behaved dog at home can turn into a furry pinball on a busy surf beach.
Beaches in Torquay
On the western side of Melbourne few are as practical as Point Impossible Beach. The open nature of it is good for a dog wanting to stretch his legs yet you should respect the dunes and any fragile vegetation and check the designated area for dogs.
Then there is the Torquay Front Beach, handy for a walking break in close proximity to the shops. The downside is the traffic. Put a lead on in the café and car park and do not think a wide patch of sand means you can let go of it.
Whites Beach is an option for something less hectic, weather and swell permitting. If it is school holidays get in early. Once the beach is as packed as sardines your dog will not have much room and neither will you for parking.
Walking in Anglesea
The main beach is easily come by and the town is right there, so it is a good place for a morning. Before you unclip the lead, note the boundary and time signs. Conditions on one part of the foreshore may differ from the next and Victorian rules are subject to the season.
There are strong currents and tides at Anglesea. Do not be tempted to throw a ball into the breakers and then have to mount a rescue, particularly if the dog is small or old or has the confidence of a brick but does not swim like one.
Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven And Lorne
One gets a more forested, rugged feel on the part of the route that goes from Aireys Inlet via Fairhaven to Lorne than at the eastern end. This is the kind of place for a traveller in the mood for coastal views and a leisurely day with brief beach stops as opposed to one long off-leash outing.
You will find access is not so straightforward in the vicinity of river mouths, rock platforms, cliffs or where there is protected vegetation. Do not put your dog on a lead and then make a shortcut of it through the bush or dunes; wait for a sign to indicate you can and then stick to what is marked.
Short Stops in the Aireys Inlet area
To break up the drive into something more manageable, Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven are fine. Make sure to park where you should and see if the track is being used by cyclists or pedestrians on foot. Bring some water, a tap is not to be found at all beach entrances.
Visitors are drawn to the Split Point Lighthouse but be aware the coastal tracks have their share of narrow paths, steep edges and steps. A walk on the beach might be in order even if the track or attraction is not, and dogs are to be kept in hand at lookouts and along the cliff top.
Lorne and Dogs
As an overnight stop Lorne has its practicalities, offering accommodation, food and the coast. But do not take your cue from the other dog walker when it comes to the beaches; seasonal rules and the Erskine River may be factors. I was guilty of thinking the rules were not so strict on a quiet winter beach on an early trip down the coast. They were. An empty beach does not make them optional and you do not need to see a ranger for the restriction to hold.
Apollo Bay Dog Beaches
Before the road heads west to the Otways, Apollo Bay is a sensible place to put in a longer stop. The town has the services and outlooks to go with its accommodation, yet any conditions posted at a beach must be heeded by your dog. Do not just put in a hasty toilet stop, make it a proper rest. Have the dog cool off and have a drink before you face the crowds and winding roads ahead.
O’Donohue Road and Urquhart Bluff
For a change of pace these can be quieter alternatives, weather and surf permitting and in keeping with local access rules. They have a certain remoteness about them compared with the main town beach so be sure to have a lead, waste bags, drinking water and a first-aid kit to hand.
Remoteness is no guarantee of safety. Be on the lookout for snakes in the warmer months, waves coming in quick, rocks that are slick and sand that will overheat a dog. Put distance between your dog and wildlife and do not let him chase after a bird or seal.
The Otways and taking care of wildlife
Koalas, wallabies and birds are to be seen in the landscape around Otway Forest Park. Parks Victoria has some sections under its management where dogs will be barred. Just because you have made a beach stop does not entitle you to take your dog into every reserve or forest track.
When you get to the 12 Apostles and Port Campbell National Park you should have sightseeing plans that do not involve the dog. National parks and reserves tend to be restrictive, so put in a break at pet-friendly lodgings or have one person see to the dog while the rest of you head to the attraction. Official guidelines on dog access clarify seasonal and location-specific beach rules along the Great Ocean Road.
Beach Access Rules
The off-leash beaches available to Great Ocean Road visitors are a matter for the local councils and the signs they put up. In one town you may have a beach where off-leash is allowed at certain hours, another that is a no-go for dogs in season and one where a lead is de rigueur.
If in doubt, refer to the Victorian Government’s official pets and animals page for public-place guidance and check the council’s map and signage.
What The Signs Mean
“Off-leash” is not an invitation for your dog to run in on swimmers or disregard a recall; he must be under control. “Prohibited” means no entry. Councils will employ different maps or coloured zones and impose time or seasonal limits, particularly over Christmas. If you are not sure, put the sign in front of the camera and err on the side of caution until you have verified the rule.
Safety At Unpatrolled Beaches
The Great Ocean Road has its share of unpatrolled beaches. Before a swim, one should look at the tides and swell, the wind and how the access tracks are. A dog is in danger of being pulled off rocks by the current or cut by broken shells and other debris in the sand.
It is wise to have some fresh water on hand for your dog to be had from rather than the ocean; salt water will put them off their feed. And there is no need for the back seat to become a mobile beach with a wet, sandy dog. A towel and something to cover the seat is inexpensive insurance.
Walks and what to see in the vicinity
You will make the most of a road trip with your dog if you mix in some time on the beach with rest and a walk about town. Do not leave the dog in a parked car with the windows down, the coastal weather has a way of turning and the inside of the vehicle can get hot in a hurry.
Stick to the parts of a walk where the signs say dogs are welcome, do not presume that any old national park trail or well known waterfall is open to them. Put in a call to your accommodation for the nearest place to take the dog that is above board, instead of putting stock in an online pin.
Then there is the matter of expectation versus reality
You may think to put in at every viewpoint with your dog, but in reality a lot of the big draws are in protected areas or too crowded for a dog to be at ease. Or you might assume a pet-friendly room is free rein for the dog. In fact there can be restrictions on the furniture, the garden or leaving the dog to its own devices. It pays to enquire as to cleaning fees and noise rules and whether the dog can be left alone.
A plan for the coast
With a sensible itinerary the dog is not in the car for long stretches and breaks are more of a given. The route is for the confident sort who can deal with the surf, leads and stairs and whatever the rules are; not for a dog that panics in traffic or chases after wildlife.
One day on the road
- Make an early start in Torquay, 45 to 90 minutes should do it for a walk and to dry off after checking the beach signs.
- Head to Anglesea for a break in the town or on the beach, give yourself time to park at weekends and in the school holidays.
- Lunch and a controlled walk at Aireys Inlet or Fairhaven and on to Lorne provided the dog is taking the drive in his stride.
- If fatigue is setting in, turn back or put up at a pet-friendly place instead of making your way to Apollo Bay in the dark.
Should you want to do the whole of Torquay to Apollo Bay in a day, factor in more than the driving time would suggest. There are roadworks and surf to check, toilet and meal stops and the winding roads can upset a dog’s stomach. Keep to a light meal before you go and have a crate or good harness at the ready.
What to pack
- A lead (and a spare), a proper fitting harness, council registration and id.
- First-aid, food, medication, waste bags and a collapsible bowl for the fresh water.
- Some form of seat protection, a torch for when you arrive in the evening and means to check for ticks and protect paws.
Budget accordingly for fuel and parking and the like. Pet rooms are few and far between in summer so many find they put out more for accommodation than they thought. Towns and the holiday season will see prices vary, so get the full figure including any pet or cleaning surcharge before you book.
Questions on the beach
Travellers are often caught out by these. The answer is usually to be found in the local conditions and the signs, so have the phone to hand for the council and do a once over when you get to the beach.
Dogs on the Great Ocean Road?
They can, but the rules of the road, the reserve and the national park apply. Restrictions will be in force around marine sanctuaries and the like.
And the beaches?
Some will have you on-leash, some at certain times only and some not at all. Have a word with the signage at the entrance, come Christmas time especially.
The most dog-friendly?
Depends on the dog. For open space there is Point Impossible Beach, for facilities the Front at Torquay or the Main in Anglesea. See what the crowd is like and the off-leash situation first.
Off-leash in Victoria?
In designated spots and at times yes. But you still have to be in control and the sign is what matters.
Near the 12 Apostles?
Do not count on getting into the Port Campbell National Park or the visitor area. Look at the Parks Victoria information and make other arrangements if it is a no-go. Plan for the town and signed public spaces.
Easier on the coast
Treat each beach as having its own set of rules and the Great Ocean Road is fine with a dog. Use the services in Lorne or Apollo Bay, keep the protected areas clear of dogs and use off-leash zones where you can see the sign.
My rule of thumb: enough time for the dog to make of the stop what he will, carry water and read the sign. A little organisation of that kind staves off most of the drama on the coast and you can be left to ponder the mozzies and if the bakery has closed.
