Living the Slow Travel Life on the Great Ocean Road
For the past four months, we’ve been living along Australia’s iconic Great Ocean Road, not living in a campervan or trying to squeeze in all the sights along the coast, but in a much slower, more grounded way. We arrived at the start of winter, house-sitting our way through the colder months while saving for our upcoming trip to India.
Instead of rushing from one attraction to the next, we settled into local life on the Great Ocean Road this winter. We spent our days homeschooling and joining local homeschool groups, finding secret locals spots for amazing coffee and cake, and soaking up the rugged beauty of the coastline without the summer crowds. It’s been a completely different experience from our usual fast-paced travel, and one we’ve come to love.
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Why Winter on the Great Ocean Road Surprised Us
Most people picture the Great Ocean Road in summer, with long road trips, stunning beaches, crowds, and ice creams. But winter along this stretch of Victoria’s coastline has its own magic.
- The scenery is just as spectacular (if not more so). The crisp clear mornings, dramatic waves, and empty beaches gave everything a wild, peaceful atmosphere.
- Tourist hotspots like Lorne were almost empty, letting us truly enjoy the view without battling tour buses.
- Accommodation and house-sitting opportunities were easier to find, and we felt more welcomed by the locals who had more time to chat in the off-season.
Yes it was cold – not my favourite climate, and often the weather reminded us of UK, but getting to know an area that’s normally overflowing with tourists, in the off season, has really allowed us to feel at home here and explore the Great Ocean Road in winter without the traffic and crowds of summer.
Housesitting: How We Lived Here for Free
One of the biggest reasons we were able to stay so long was through housesitting. Over the four months, we looked after a few different homes (and pets!) in small coastal towns along the Great Ocean Road.
Housesitting has become one of our favourite budget family travel hacks. Not only does it save us money on accommodation, it also lets us live like locals – shopping at the local store, walking the same beach every day, and getting to know an area we wouldn’t normally have found if we’d stayed in hotels.
We’ve loved housesitting and there are so many opportunities all along the Great Ocean Road. We landed some sits for a few days but most lasted a few weeks. We took care of beautiful homes in Torquay, Jan Juc, Ocean Grove, Anglesea and Geelong, and looked after some beautiful dogs and cats. Having that stability and grounding as we stayed in the area, meant we were able to feel like we had a home on the Great Ocean Road – a base to explore but all the home comforts we needed after a long day.
For families saving for future travels (like we are for India), it’s an amazing way to slow down expenses without stopping the adventure.
Homeschooling on the Road
Even while travelling, homeschooling doesn’t stop, but it looks very different here. We joined a local homeschool group that meets weekly for meetups, playdates, and Jai even got to perform in the regional school performance at The Geelong Arts Centre with the local homeschool group.
It’s been so good for Jai to make friends and for us to connect with like-minded families living a slower, more intentional lifestyle. And there is a huge homeschooling community to in Geelong/Surfcoast area. We’ve had activities scheduled every day and Jai has got the opportunity to meet plenty of local kids.
Our rhythm here has included relaxed mornings, long walks on the beach, library visits, and day trips sprinkled in between. Winter has a natural slowness to it that suited us perfectly.
Our Favourite Great Ocean Road Winter Attractions
Even though we were living slowly, we still explored plenty of the Great Ocean Road’s highlights and hidden gems, many of which were extra special in the quieter days of winter:
- Lorne – almost no tourists at this time of year (not like in the summer months). Great shopping and cafes – perfect for an afternoon wandering the main streets followed by a quick visit to the Lorne Hotel for a bite to eat and glass of wine.
- Great Otway National Park – lush rainforest walks like Hopetoun Falls, Triplet Falls, and the Redwoods were magical, although very muddy!
- Kennett River Koalas – we spotted a couple of koalas high up in the trees in the wild without tour groups crowding around.
- Geelong – a nice change of scenery from the coast, with great shopping and lovely seafront
- Local beaches – while it was too cold for swimming, walking on empty beaches in Anglesea, Torquay, and Lorne felt soul-soothing. One of our favourites was Point Addis beach and lookout – absolutely stunning and virtually no-one else there
- Cafés and winter fires – one of our favourite things has been warming up in cosy local cafés after windswept walks.
Reflections: What 4 Months Taught Us
These months have reminded us why we travel slowly in the first place. Slow travel isn’t about ticking off sights, it’s about living and experiencing an area without rushing through. We found community, connection, and rhythm in a place that most people only pass through in a few days.
By house-sitting and keeping costs low, we were able to save for our next big adventure while still living somewhere beautiful. And now, we can get ready for our trip to India knowing we’ve recharged and built up our savings again for Asia.
