From its towering coastal cliffs to its long sandy beaches, Anglesea is a laid-back holiday town found along the Great Ocean Road. It sits on a sheltered bay by at the mouth of the Anglesea River and is home to gorgeous beaches, beautiful forests and the rugged coastal scenery of Victoria's Surf Coast.

Things to do

With a sheltered location by the Anglesea River mouth, Anglesea Beach is a great place to swim, sunbathe or enjoy a picnic on the grassy foreshore. The beach is patrolled by the local Surf Life Saving Club from Christmas to Easter, which makes it a favourite getaway for families travelling with kids.

At the end of River Reserve Road is Coogoorah Park Nature Reserve, where you'll find a network of islands linked by boardwalks and bridges. It's a family-friendly way to explore Anglesea's wetlands, with the chance to spot possums, echidnas, kangaroos and native birdlife.

Around 10 kilometres from Anglesea is Point Addis Marine National Park, where rugged sandstone cliffs overlook a long sandy beach. The cliffs are a popular launching pad for hang gliders, while local surfers love the limestone reef break. If you're lucky, you might even spot dolphins frolicking in the waves.

No trip to Anglesea is complete without a sunset dinner at Captain Moonlite. Sharing space with the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, this laid-back restaurant lures diners in with its seasonal produce, an enticing seasonal menu and sweeping ocean views.

Getting around

Anglesea sits on Victoria's scenic Great Ocean Road, between the coastal towns of Torquay and Aireys Inlet. The town is easy to navigate on foot, but if you want to explore the rest of the Surf Coast you'll need a car. From Melbourne, the drive to Anglesea takes around 90 minutes.