The Great Ocean Road in Victoria is known for having several amazing beaches. Bells Beach near Torquay is one of the world’s great surfing beaches, while Loch Ard Gorge near Port Campbell offers dramatic rock formations. Meanwhile, beach towns such as Lorne, Apollo Bay and Warrnambool will fight over who has the best stretch of sand.
Take the Great Ocean Road slowly, however, and there are some stunning beaches that most visitors never come across. Johanna Beach is a classic example of this. It comes just after the Great Ocean Road has hit the coast again after cutting across Cape Otway. But once the Great Ocean Road hits the coast at Glenaire, it jags back in again towards Johanna and Lavers Hill.
How to get to Johanna Beach
Once you hit Johanna, branch left down the Red Johanna Road for one of the best secret Great Ocean Road beaches. The track follows the Johanna River down to Johanna Beach, where you’ve got good odds on not encountering another soul.
If you do see someone, it’ll probably be a hardy walker. One of the campgrounds on the Great Ocean Walk is at Johanna Beach.
Johanna Beach camping
The Johanna Beach Campground, run by Parks Victoria, is basic. There are no showers or flushing toilets. But this sort of simple accommodation is a key part of the Great Ocean Walk experience.
Johanna Beach is a beautiful, wild beach, with sand bluffs climbing up to 100 metres high behind it. The Johanna River empties into the Southern Ocean through the middle of the beach, and the surf crashes in from the south-west.
Surfing at Johanna Beach
The 3.6km long beach is frankly dangerous for swimming. There are several rips, and there are no lifeguard patrols. But Johanna Beach is famous for surfing.
The World Surfing Championships have been held here in the past, and there are left and right hand breaks to tackle. The swell is consistently big here – expect 1.5-metre waves and hope for up to three metres. They break at the beach, too, rather than further out. Johanna Beach is one of Australia’s great beach breaks.
If you’re not a surfer, you may have to be content with paddling and admiring the view. Either way, if you want a beach that feels like a special find away from the herd, Johanna Beach in Victoria is it.
Johanna Beach and campground: key visitor information
Information sourced from Parks Victoria and Great Ocean Road Parks. From 1 July 2026, campground bookings are managed via greatoceanroadparks.com.au. Camping fees are currently half price across all Parks Victoria campgrounds until July 2027. No campfires are permitted at Johanna Beach under any circumstances. Always check for current fire restrictions before visiting.
| Question | Information |
|---|---|
| How do I book Johanna Beach Campground? | From 1 July 2026, bookings are managed via greatoceanroadparks.com.au. Advance booking is essential. |
| How much does it cost to camp at Johanna Beach? | Standard Parks Victoria camping fees apply. Fees are currently half price until July 2027 under the Victorian Government’s camping incentive. Check greatoceanroadparks.com.au for the current per-night rate before booking. |
| What facilities are at Johanna Beach Campground? | 25 grassy, unpowered sites. Toilets (including one accessible unisex toilet), non-potable (untreated) water on site. No showers, no flush toilets and no potable drinking water — bring your own. |
| Are campfires allowed at Johanna Beach? | No. Campfires are strictly prohibited at all times. Bring a fuel stove for cooking. |
| Are dogs allowed at Johanna Beach? | Dogs on leads are permitted at the drive-in campground. Dogs are not permitted at the hike-in campground or on the beach itself. |
| Can caravans access Johanna Beach Campground? | No. The campground accommodates tents only. Caravans and campervans are not permitted. |
| Are there two campgrounds at Johanna Beach? | Yes. The main campground is at sea level with 25 drive-in sites. There is also a smaller elevated hike-in campground on a ridge above, with around eight sites for Great Ocean Walk hikers, composting toilets and untreated rainwater. |
| Is Johanna Beach safe for swimming? | No. The beach is unpatrolled, has multiple rips, and can have very large surf. Swimming is not recommended. |
| How do you get to Johanna Beach? | Turn left off the Great Ocean Road at Johanna onto Red Johanna Road (or Blue Johanna Road from the other direction). Both roads are sealed but winding. Note that some mapping apps may route vehicles via an unsealed logging road — take the signed routes. |
| Can you see whales from Johanna Beach? | Yes. Humpback and Southern Right whales can be spotted from the beach and campground between July and September. |
Things to do near Johanna Beach
Lavers Hill – A short drive inland from Johanna Beach, this small township at the top of the Otway Ranges offers access to the Otway Fly treetop walk, with an elevated walkway and zipline through the rainforest canopy.
Moonlight Head – A short drive east along the Great Ocean Road, this remote headland marks the western boundary of the Shipwreck Coast and offers clifftop views over a notoriously wild section of Victoria’s coastline.
Cape Otway Lightstation – Around 35km east via the Great Ocean Road, this is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia (1848), with guided tours, koala spotting in the surrounding gum trees and dramatic Southern Ocean views.
Childers Cove – A short drive east of Johanna, this spectacular sea cave and coastal reserve is one of the best-kept secrets on the Great Ocean Road, with dramatic rock formations and a short walk down to the cove.
Aire River campground – For those continuing along the Great Ocean Walk, the Aire River campground lies to the east of Johanna Beach and offers a similarly wild and remote setting beside a river mouth.
More Victoria travel
Other Victoria travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Why the Great Ocean Road is Australia’s classic road trip.
- A series of wildlife encounters on the Great Ocean Road.
- What to expect at Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool.
- Lorne attraction guides: Teddy’s Lookout, Lorne Beach and Sheoak Falls.
- Take surfing lessons at Anglesea Beach.
