Johanna

About Johanna

Johanna is a small coastal locality along the Great Ocean Road in south-western Victoria, situated approximately 35 kilometres west of Apollo Bay within the Colac Otway Shire. The locality covers around 37 square kilometres of coastal farmland and hinterland terrain where the Otway Ranges meet the Southern Ocean, roughly 200 kilometres south-west of Melbourne via the inland route through Colac. With a 2021 Census population of 85 residents, Johanna is a sparsely settled community that swells considerably during holiday periods as visitors flock to its renowned surf beach and scenic surroundings. The landscape is defined by dramatic clifftops, rolling green hills, and sheltered river valleys running down to the sea.

Johanna is best known for Johanna Beach, a wide, west-facing surf beach regarded as one of the finest in Victoria for experienced surfers, with powerful beach breaks rolling in off the Southern Ocean. The beach also serves as a campground within Great Otway National Park and is a key section of the Great Ocean Walk, attracting hikers seeking dramatic coastal scenery. Seasonal accommodation such as Johanna Seaside Cottages draws visitors year-round, and the surrounding national park provides opportunities for wildlife spotting, birdwatching, and bushwalking. Residents and visitors alike rely on Apollo Bay to the east for everyday services including supermarkets, fuel, schools, and medical facilities.

Johanna falls under postcode 3238 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Polwarth (Western Victoria) electorate.

Nearby Suburbs

• Glenaire, VIC 3238
• Hordern Vale, VIC 3238
• Lavers Hill, VIC 3238
• Aire Valley, VIC 3237
• Beech Forest, VIC 3237
• Carlisle River, VIC 3239