Towing the Great Ocean Road: What to Expect and How to Set Up Your Rig

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most iconic drives, but it asks more from your tow rig than a typical coastal trip. Steep descents, tight bends, changing surfaces and stop-start tourist traffic all put your setup to the test, especially if your loading or braking response is slightly off.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid it. It means you should prepare properly.

If you’re planning a Great Ocean Road caravan trip, this guide covers what to expect behind the wheel, the sections worth knowing in advance, and how to set up your rig for smoother, more controlled towing.

Answer Summary

• Yes, you can tow a caravan on the Great Ocean Road, but some sections are far more demanding than others.
• The biggest challenges are steep descents, tight bends, narrow sections and tourist traffic that can force sudden braking.
• Your electric brake controller should feel smooth and balanced, not grabby, delayed or pushy downhill.
• Weight balance matters more on winding roads, so check in advance how your rig behaves.
• Plan your pace, use lower gears early and choose caravan-friendly stops where you can reset before the next section.

Why the Great Ocean Road Demands More From Your Towing Setup

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most popular road trips, especially during school holidays. But with a caravan, it demands more from your setup than flatter, straighter routes. Elevation changes, tight curves and heavy traffic combine in a way that quickly exposes weak points.

On flatter highway runs, a slightly off-balance van or average brake setup can feel manageable. On the Great Ocean Road, those same issues show up much faster. You’re more likely to feel the trailer pushing on descents, pulling through bends or reacting poorly to sudden changes in speed.

That is why preparation matters here. A stable, well-matched setup helps you:

• hold a steady line through corners
• reduce brake strain on descents
• avoid sharp corrections in traffic
• tow with more confidence and less fatigue

This is also why the road suits a calm towing style. It is not a route to rush. A good setup, sensible speed and smooth inputs will do far more for safety than trying to keep up with lighter vehicles.

What the Road Is Actually Like: Steep Grades, Hairpins and Tourist Traffic

The road is a mix of scenic open stretches and more technical driving sections where your focus needs to stay high.

Some parts feel straightforward, especially where the road opens up and the terrain softens. Other sections are far more demanding, with tighter turns, steeper climbs and descents, and limited room to recover if you enter a bend too quickly.

What towing a caravan on the Great Ocean Road actually feels like:

• repeated braking zones rather than long, uninterrupted cruising
• narrow coastal lanes with limited shoulder space
• bends that come one after another, especially in hilly sections
• slower tourist traffic particularly on weekends or school holidays
• lookout areas and town entries where vehicles suddenly slow or stop

If your rig feels unstable or hard to control, pay attention to it. It usually points to one of three things:

• braking response needs adjustment
• load distribution needs improvement
• you need to slow the overall pace of the drive down

Key Sections to Know Before You Tow

These are the main segments worth understanding before you tow. The table gives you a practical overview so you can pace the trip and know where your setup is likely to be tested most.

This route summary helps you decide when to stop, when to reset, and when to expect the road will require more patience and brake control.

How to Set Up Your Brake Controller for Hilly Terrain

Your brake controller should be set so the caravan helps slow the whole rig smoothly, especially on descents and before tighter bends.

This is where an electric brake controller matters. On a complex and varied road like this, the key is balanced and proportional braking. The right setup helps the van stay controlled behind the vehicle without pushing, dragging or reacting too sharply.

A well-set brake controller usually feels like this:

• the van brakes in proportion with the tow vehicle
• stops feel straight and smooth
• downhill braking feels controlled, not pushy
• the trailer does not grab or jerk at low to medium speeds

If you are using an Elecbrakes brake controller, this is where the practical advantage of app-based adjustment helps. You can fine-tune the braking response to suit the terrain and the tow vehicle and how the van is loaded. You can also save preset profiles for different towing conditions, making it easy to switch between setups without starting from scratch. On roads with repeated climbs and descents, that flexibility matters.

Weight Distribution and Load Checks Before You Leave

Weight distribution and tow ball weight directly affect stability on winding roads like this. How you position heavier items in the caravan can change braking behaviour, steering feel and overall control.

As a simple guide, keep heavier items low and close to the axle, avoid loading too much weight at the very rear, and check how the rig sits once fully packed – small adjustments here can make a noticeable difference to how the caravan tracks on the road.

In addition to the numbers on the scale, take a moment to look at how your rig is actually sitting.

Start with a quick walkaround:

• Does the van sit level, or nose up and awkward?
• Does the rear of the tow vehicle look overloaded?
• Do the tyres look evenly loaded side to side?
• Does the hitch height look right once everything is packed?

Then move to the practical checks.

Tyres – read the wear, not just the pressure

• Centre wear → likely overinflated
• Edge wear → likely underinflated
• One-sided wear → possible alignment or suspension issue
• Feathering or uneven tread → signs of scrub or instability

Also check for cuts, bulges or debris in the tread.

Battery – test it under load

Switch on something meaningful (lights, fridge, accessories) and watch how the voltage responds. A quick drop or slow recovery can point to a battery that will struggle on a stop-start run.

Coupling – check it’s tight and secure, not just connected

The coupling should lock firmly onto the tow ball with no looseness. Try moving it by hand – there shouldn’t be noticeable play or rattling. Look for wear marks or looseness that suggest it’s been shifting under load.

Driving Tips for Towing the Great Ocean Road Safely

The safest way to tow the Great Ocean Road is to plan your speed early and keep your movements smooth. That means braking progressively, accelerating gently and avoiding sharp steering corrections.

Brake before the bend, not in it

Reduce your speed before entering a corner. Braking hard while already in a bend can unsettle both the tow vehicle and the caravan.

Use lower gears early on descents

Don’t wait until speed is building too quickly. Selecting a lower gear earlier helps control speed and reduces the chance of overworking the brakes.

Leave more space than usual

Tourist traffic can build abruptly around lookouts, town entries and photo stops. A longer gap gives you more time to slow down smoothly rather than brake sharply.

Let faster traffic go when it is safe

You don’t need to tow to someone else’s schedule. If traffic builds behind you, use safe pull-over opportunities and reset the pace.

Avoid common caravan towing mistakes

• entering descents too quickly
• braking late into bends
• overcorrecting with your steering
• towing with poor load balance

Minimising these kinds of mistakes means challenging parts of the road feel more manageable and enjoyable.

Where to Stop: Caravan-Friendly Parking and Rest Areas

There are caravan-friendly places to stop on the Great Ocean Road, but it pays to think in terms of practical reset points as well as just scenic stops.

If you are towing, the best stops are the ones that give you room to slow down, turn easily and leave without stress. Some lookouts and smaller roadside bays can be tight once the route gets busy, especially if you are towing a larger van.

Useful places to plan around include towns and larger stop points:

• Torquay
• Lorne
• Apollo Bay
• Port Campbell
• Warrnambool

These are generally better places to refuel, take a proper break, check your rig after a technical section, and find easier parking than a cramped roadside bay.

The most reliable places to park a caravan on the Great Ocean Road are designated caravan parks, official campgrounds and larger signed parking areas rather than improvised roadside stopping.

This is also where trip timing matters. Arriving earlier in the day often gives you more room to choose a site, park easily and avoid the pressure of manoeuvring in crowded areas late in the afternoon.

FAQ — Towing a Caravan on the Great Ocean Road

Can you tow a caravan on the Great Ocean Road?

Yes, you can tow a caravan on the Great Ocean Road. The route is manageable with the right setup, but some sections are narrow, winding and hilly, so smooth braking, sensible speed and good load balance matter.

What not to do when towing a caravan?

Don’t rush descents, brake late into bends or ignore how the van feels behind you. Most towing problems start when drivers react too late instead of preparing properly and staying in control of their speed.

Where to park a caravan on Great Ocean Road?

Use designated caravan parks, campgrounds and larger signed parking areas in towns such as Apollo Bay, Port Campbell and Warrnambool. Smaller scenic bays can be awkward for longer vehicles, especially during busy periods.

What are common towing mistakes to avoid?

Common mistakes include poor brake controller setup, bad weight distribution, towing too fast for the terrain and making sudden steering or braking inputs. These issues tend to show up faster on the Great Ocean Road than on flatter highways.

What is the 85 rule for caravans?

The 85 rule is a commonly used towing guideline that suggests the loaded caravan should be no more than 85% of the tow vehicle’s kerb weight. It is a conservative stability guideline rather than a legal rule, and it should be considered alongside your vehicle and caravan manufacturer limits.

Tow the Great Ocean Road With Confidence

You can tow the Great Ocean Road confidently, particularly when you’ve planned and prepared effectively.

This is a route where your setup needs to work with you. If your braking is balanced, your load is well managed and your driving inputs stay smooth, you’ll feel more in control and enjoy your journey. If those basics are ignored, the same road can feel tiring very quickly.

Set your rig up well. Read what the road is telling you. Make small adjustments early. That’s how you make sure you get the most out of one of Australia’s most iconic drives.