Skenes Creek Beach, Great Ocean Road
Skenes Creek on the Great Ocean Road offers beachside camping in reasonably safe swimming. Just watch out for the rips near the rocks.
Where is Skenes Creek Beach?
Skenes Creek Beach, Victoria, is on the Lorne to Apollo Bay stretch of the Great Ocean Road. It’s at the end of Skenes Creek, which creates a small lagoon area in the middle of the beach.
Skenes Beach hits that sweet spot of being easy to access, but not overcrowded. It’s too far out of Lorne and Apollo Bay to walk to, but there’s plenty of parking if you make the effort to drive there.
Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne
- For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
- To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
- For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
- For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
- For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
- For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.
Swimming at Skenes Creek Beach, Victoria
Swimming at Skenes Creek Beach is relatively safe, although it is unpatrolled by lifeguards. Stick to the middle – there can be nasty rips near the rock platforms at either end.
This Great Ocean Road beach gets reasonably decent swell for surfers, with waves averaging around 1.5m high according to Beachsafe.
If you don’t want to get in the ocean, then there’s always the option of fossicking for shells in the creek and lagoon.
Skenes Creek Beach camping
What makes Skenes Creek Beach a bit unusual, however, is that you’re allowed to camp right next to it. The Skenes Creek Foreshore Caravan Park is between the Great Ocean Road and the beach. This means you can walk straight from your tent onto the sand without having to cross a road.
Facilities at the Skenes Creek caravan park are pretty basic, however. There are laundry facilities, barbecues and an amenities block, but not much more than that. Powered and unpowered sites are available, costing from $46 per night.
Skenes Creek is also where you turn off for several attractions inland from the Great Ocean Road. You’ll need to head up the Skenes Creek Road for Otway Fly, Hopetoun Falls in Beech Forest, Stevensons Falls and Lake Elizabeth.
Other beaches worth investigating on the Great Ocean Road include Bells Beach, Lorne Beach and Johanna Beach.
7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.
More Victoria travel
What is the Melbourne to Singapore flight time?
Take the Arthurs Seat Eagle cable car from Dromana to the Enchanted Adventure Garden and Arthurs Seat State Park.
Play golf at the prestigious Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Bentleigh East.
What are the best Cape Schanck walks on the Mornington Peninsula?
Camping at Skenes Beach on the Lorne to Apollo Bay drive.