Loch Ard Gorge
Best Beach · VIC
Tourism Australia's Best Beach 2022, No. 5.
Laying on the golden sands of this secluded beach, hemmed in by towering limestone cliffs, you could be forgiven for imagining you were on a film set, or shipwrecked on some distant shore.
And for good reason. This beach of otherworldly feel has been the scene of both, and is one of the great tourism drawcards along the iconic Great Ocean Road. Loch Ard Gorge is a tear-shaped inlet encircled by ancient 30m high cliffs carved out over millennia by the mighty energy of the Southern Ocean. This 100m lay of fine southern sand is reached by seven flights of around 100 stairs and is one of the few patches of beach on this stretch of the Great Ocean Road able to be reached from the carparks above. Tucked deep beneath the towering coast within the Port Campbell National Park, this is one of Australia’s most spectacular and alluring beaches, an enchanting sandy chasm enclosed in a natural amphitheatre of ochre-hued cliffs and blue-jewelled water. The raging sea bursting through the narrow opening is a sight to behold, but its wild waves, steep drop off and cold water make it unsafe for swimming. Nearby Port Campbell, under three hours drive from Melbourne, offers a great patrolled beach.
⚠️ Ocean conditions can change quickly and rips can form even on calm days. Only swim at patrolled beaches, and supervise children at all times.