A slower sort of town
Anglesea is the first town you hit on the Great Ocean Road after Torquay, about 18 km and 20 minutes away. It's smaller and quieter, built around a river that winds down to the beach, with heathland and bush pressing in on every side.
It's also where you go to see kangaroos. Lots of them. Around 300 eastern greys live on the Anglesea Golf Club, and the club runs short tours out among them. Add a paddle on the river, a swim at the patrolled beach and an hour at the playground, and the kids have had a big day without you driving very far at all.
It's close enough to do in a morning or an arvo. You can be back at Holyday House for lunch, or stay down there and come home in time to light the fire.
Kangaroos at the golf club
The Anglesea Golf Club on Golf Links Road is home to around 300 eastern grey kangaroos. They graze on the fairways, lie about under the trees and mostly ignore the golfers. Volunteers run 25-minute guided tours in open-air electric vehicles that seat up to 13, so you get close without anyone walking up to the mob.
Prices
The club's site lists $20 per adult (12 and over), $8 per child under 12 and $46 for a family of two adults and two kids. Prices can change, so check before you go.
Booking
You can book online up to 24 hours ahead, or just turn up and get on the next tour with room. Check in at least 15 minutes early. In school holidays we'd book. The club's number is 03 5263 1582, and groups bigger than 24 need to contact the office.
When tours don't run
Tours don't run on Christmas Day or on Victorian public holiday mornings. Total fire ban days, strong winds or temperatures above 37°C can cancel a tour, with pre-booked tours refunded. Check the club's schedule before you set off.
Tips
Bring a hat and something warm. The carts are open, and the wind off the coast can be rude in spring. The kangaroos are wild, so stay in the vehicle and don't try to feed them.
The river and Coogoorah Park
The Anglesea River runs right through town before it meets the sea next to the main beach. It's flat, shallow and calm, which is the whole point. Visit Great Ocean Road lists canoe and paddle boat hire on the river, which makes for a gentle first paddle with little kids. Go Ride a Wave runs paddleboard lessons and night kayaking on the river too; our paddleboarding and kayaking guide has the details. Hire is seasonal, so check with the operator for current days and prices.
Upstream, Coogoorah Park is a riverside reserve with boardwalks, bridges over the wetlands, bush paths and jetties for a fish. The playground's the big draw. It was rebuilt around a big wooden ship inspired by the Inverlochy, which was wrecked off this coast in 1902, and it's got climbing, slides and enough pirate stuff to keep kids busy for longer than you planned. There are barbecues and picnic spots, too, so bring lunch. Coogoorah Park is now managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.
From the bridge you can wander the riverside path past the caravan park and all the way down to the river mouth and the beach.
The beaches
Anglesea Main Beach
About 400m long, right beside the river mouth. Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club patrols it over summer, so this is the one for a family swim. Stick between the flags. The river mouth itself isn't patrolled, and the water there can move more than it looks.
Point Roadknight
At the western end of town, tucked in behind a rocky point. It's sheltered and usually gentle, which is why beginner surfers and families like it. It's also a known hooded plover breeding ground, and Surf Coast Shire lists it as an environmentally sensitive area where dogs aren't allowed.
Point Addis
Between Torquay and Anglesea, down a turn-off from the Great Ocean Road. Big cliffs, a long beach and a lookout that's good for whales in season. Treat it as a look-and-walk beach, and check Beachsafe before you think about a swim.
Photo: William Watt,
courtesy of Visit Victoria 
Photo: William Watt,
courtesy of Visit Victoria Bikes and the bush
Anglesea Bike Park
On Camp Road, with parking on site. Surf Coast Shire says it was Victoria's first professionally designed mountain cross (4X) track, about 400 metres of mounds, rollers and jumps, plus a dirt jump area and a skills course with log rides. It shuts when it's raining or heavy rain's forecast, and reopens once the track dries. Call the council on 03 5261 0600 if you're not sure. Our mountain biking guide has the Eumeralla trails and more.
The heathland
The Anglesea heath, around town and back towards Point Addis, became part of the Great Otway National Park in 2017. It's one of the richest wildflower areas in the state, with a huge number of orchid species. Spring (roughly September to November) is when it's at its best, so if you're here now, go for a walk and look down. Being national park, it's no dogs.
The Surf Coast Walk
The Point Addis to Anglesea section runs through the heath and along the cliffs. Get someone to drop you at Point Addis and walk into town for lunch. The Surf Coast Walk guide has distances for every section.
Bringing the dog
Anglesea's pretty relaxed about dogs, but the rules change by beach and by season. In town, Surf Coast Shire says dogs need to be on a lead in public places unless there's a signed off-leash area. On some of the popular beaches, timeshare rules over summer and Easter keep dogs out of certain areas between 9am and 7pm. Dogs are never allowed in playgrounds (so not in the Coogoorah Park playground), national parks or environmentally sensitive areas like Point Roadknight.
The council's Anglesea dog regulations map shows exactly where's where, and the signs at each beach entrance are the final word. Our dog-friendly Torquay guide covers the beaches closer to home, including off-leash Whites Beach, 400m from the house.
Putting a day together
With kids, we'd book the first kangaroo tour you can get, then head into town for the playground and a paddle on the river. Lunch at Coogoorah Park or in town, then the main beach for a swim if it's patrolled. If you've got older kids with bikes, swap the swim for an hour at the bike park.
Without kids, start with the Point Addis to Anglesea walk, have lunch, then carry on another ten minutes or so to Aireys Inlet and the Split Point Lighthouse. Either way, you're about 20 minutes from the house the whole time. If you drive an EV, Surf Coast Shire has a public charger (on the Chargefox network) at the Anglesea Community Hub on McMillan Street, and you can also top up from the outdoor 10A power point back at the house (you'll need a long cord, and we can lend a charger if you ask).
Anglesea day trip FAQ
How far is Anglesea from Torquay?
About 18 km, or roughly 20 minutes on the Great Ocean Road.
How much is the Anglesea kangaroo tour?
The golf club lists $20 per adult, $8 per child under 12 and $46 for a family of four. The tour takes about 25 minutes. Check the club's website for current prices and times.
Do the kangaroo tours run every day?
Most days. They don't run on Christmas Day or Victorian public holiday mornings, and extreme fire or weather conditions can cancel a tour.
Is Anglesea beach patrolled?
The main beach next to the river mouth is patrolled by Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club over summer. Swim between the flags. The river mouth isn't patrolled.
Can I take my dog to Anglesea?
Yes, with care. Dogs are on a lead in town, kept off some beaches between 9am and 7pm over summer and Easter, and never allowed in playgrounds, the national park heath or Point Roadknight. Check the Surf Coast Shire map and the beach signs.
What else is there for kids?
The ship playground at Coogoorah Park, paddle boats and canoes on the river (the canoe hire says it runs all year), and the bike park for older kids. Our family guide has more.
Travelling with kids? The family holiday guide has the rest. Heading further along? Our Aireys Inlet village guide covers the coast and places to eat, while the Split Point Lighthouse guide has the tower details. There's also a day in Lorne, koalas at Kennett River or the full three-day Great Ocean Road itinerary. Want a base 20 minutes up the road? Check dates and send us an enquiry.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Kangaroo Tours — Anglesea Golf Club
- Kangaroo Tours at the Anglesea Golf Club — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Anglesea Main Beach — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Anglesea — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Coogoorah Park Playground — Surf Coast Shire
- Anglesea (Coogoorah Park) land transfer — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Anglesea Bike Park — Surf Coast Shire
- Anglesea Heathlands — Victorian National Parks Association
- Where to walk your dogs — Surf Coast Shire
- Council managed EV charging — Surf Coast Shire