Image: Apollo Bay beach on a warm busy day, Victoria, Australia taken by Alex Proimos, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en (cropped)
Image: Apollo Bay beach on a cool quiet day looking back north, Victoria, Australia taken by Mussklprozz, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en (cropped)
Apollo Bay is a relaxing beach town about mid-way along the Great Ocean Road, and a convenient place to stopover along the journey. It has plenty of motel accommodation to serve that purpose, and holiday houses and apartments for longer stays. Apollo Bay is the most southerly town of any significant size on mainland Australia.
You reach Apollo Bay from Lorne after passing along the narrowest and twistiest cliff-hugging sections of the Great Ocean Road. Beyond Apollo Bay the road turns inland deep into the lush cool forests of the Otway. From there the road heads into the dense cool forests of Great Otway National Park before emerging at Port Campbell, near the famous 12 Apostles and other great coastal rock formations from sea cliff erosion. It is an natural adventure just to get to Apollo Bay no matter which way you are arriving from.
The town of Apollo Bay itself is built at the protected end of the a long sandy bay, meaning the waves are smaller, and making it popular in the warmer months for familes with younger children to stay a few days in the many holiday houses for lease or the top quality Pisces caravan and mobile home park at the edge of town.
Apollo Bay was originally an isolated farming community, but the coast road built during the 1930s depression era as a jobs project allowed tourism to come to the town. Even with the road, Apollo Bay is still far enough from Melbourne to really feel that you have left the city life far behind. It is beyond the reach of the hoardes of day trippers that frequent beach towns closer to Melbourne.
Apoollo Bay is far from any major population centre. That makes it into its own small centre of activity with all necessary services, including two supermarkets, a cinema hall at the Mechanics Institute, golf club on the headland and a small outdoor swimming pool (though really I do not know why you'd opt for a pool over the ocean). There is also a small historical museum and evelated hill-top lookout north of town, called Mariners Lookout.
Other than a burst of action over lunch hour when the bus loads of mostly Chinese tourists on the way to the 12 Apostles stop for a meal, the town is a wholly relaxed. The peaceful surrounds of the beach, ocean, and nearby unspoilt lush fern forests and waterfalls in the Great Otway National Park to a degree attacted people looking for an alternative lifestyle. That hippie culture is reflected a little in the curio and clothes shops in town. Apollo Bay is definatley a friendly and less pretenious. We like it a lot.
There is a big foreshore reserve and playground, and long gravel running and kids bike track along foreshore dunes - the locals definately like to keep fit. And of course the highlight is the long sandy beach, that is mostly sheltered from large waves, especially the end of teh beach nearer the boat harbour breakwater.
The large boat harbour of fishing vessels is just beyond the end of the main street at the end fo the beach. There is also fish co-op there for fish and chips. If you are lucky walking along the breakwater you might see a seal or two. There are also boat tours from the harbour to look for seals, or to go out ocean line fishing.
Marengo is a suburb of Apollo Bay separated from the rest of the town by a small creek and flood plain. Marengos Reef Marine Santuary is rocky platform exposed at low tidejust offshore that is just offshore. The Great Ocean Walk is a track that goes the whole length of the coast, and the section from Marengo to Shelly Beach in the Otway forest makes a nice day walk, with sections of teh walk along the beach.
Skenes Creek is a tiny town just outside Apollo Bay, 6 kilometres away. A narrow gaps in the rocky foreshore opens into a short wide sandy beach where the tiny creek enters the sea at high tide. Pounding waves are attractive for hardened surfers, while little kids enjoy playing in the sandy pools in teh creek at the back of the beach. There are enough rocks to collect for kids to try and dam the creek. The heavy surf, short beach and wild feel gives a distinct chnage of atmosphere from the protected and long beach and much larger town at Apollo Bay. It makes a good place to spend an hour or two if holidaying for a few days in Apollo Bay.
Image: Cape Otway Lighthouse, Great Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia taken by Mussklprozz, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ (rotated, cropped))
The Great Ocean Road winds deep into the cool forests of the Otways west of Apollo Bay. The road misses the tip of Cape Otway itself. However, the lighthouse at the cape is only a 20 kilometre off on a side road and is a popular detour. The access road to the lighthouse is now bitumen.
As with all old lighthouses, this one has a story. Cape Otway marks the second most southerly point on mainland Australia. Long stretches of inacessable cliffs lined the shore for most of over 100 kilometres in either directions. There are often high westerly winds and heavy stormy seas at this latitude, known as the roaring 40s. Sailing ships from Europe bringing settlers and goods to the city of Melbourne and Geelong would need to leave the open ocean and approach the coast at this point due to the relatively narrow passage between the cape and King Island in Bass Strait - the name of the treacherous waterway that that separates mainland Australia from Tasmania.
Needless to say this combination of factors meant that numerous sailing ships were washed onto rocks and wrecked while making their final approaches towards the Port of Melbourne after having ensdured very long voyages of over three months. There are so many wrecks that the coast in known as the shipwreck coast - you can find out more about the wrecks further west at Loch Ard Gorge and the Flagstaff Hill Maratime Museum in Warrnambool.
Construction of the lighthouse on cliffs 90 metres above the sea was completed in 1848 to guide ships through the dangrerous pasasge and made it the most important lighthouse in Australia. It was the second lighthouse built on the continent, was only replaced with a modern beacon recently and is one of only a very few pre-goldrush era buildings still standing in Victoria.
Spring provides some opportunity for whale watching from the cape. There is a highview over the ocean, and the lighhouse is open to climb. The old lighthouse keeper's house is now a te room. You get the clear sense this was and still is a bleak, rainy, isolated and windswept place.
Interestingly, an area with many small dinosaur fossils wase recenlty discovered along the cliffs. A small collection is set up in one of the houses around the lighthouse. The exact location of the Cape Otway dig site at Dinosaur Cover is a secret, but we believe it is about 10 kilemtres west of the lighthouse - you will not even find the cove on a map. There is a walking track along the coast in both directions. It is suitably named the Great Ocean Walk and you could walk for days.
The entry cost into the lighthouse grounds is a bit steep at about $50 for a family, but you have come so far to get to this remote location, why would you not want to go in!
On the side road in to the Cape Otway lighthouse you will without doubt see one spot where several cars have stopped at the side of the road. There is a reason for this. They have got out to look at and photgraph the koalas in the trees. From our experience, it is an absolute certainty that at this place you too will be able to see wild koalas, and probably a couple of frog-mounth owls too.
If you have longer to linger near Cape Otway, you could take the 6 kilometre dirt road further into the forest and remoteness to Blankett Bay. It is a small rugged and rock bay with some sand on the shore. There is a forlorn looking campground here too. With less people visiting this beach, you might find some slightly larger shells to collect not already taken.
Image: Otways rainforest fern understorey, taken by RhonLee, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en (cropped)
Maits Rest is tranquil spot in the Otway forest. There is an 800m circuit walk through the misty fern forest and over babling brooks here. The car park is beside the Great Ocean Road, 30 minutes beyond Apollo Bay on the way towards Cape Otway. It makes a popular stop for a refreshing break along the drive. Definately worth the half hour break. You might even find some carniverous snails. But do not bother looking for glow worms here or anywhere else around - you have more chance finding the mythical bunyip.
Image: Houptoun Falls, Great Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia taken by Alpapad, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en (cropped)
There are a number of beautiful walks to waterfalls in the forests of the Great Otway National Park surrounding Apollo Bay. These waterfalls are much more remote and less visited than Erkine Falls near Lorne. They are specactular after good rain. They are not close to the town so you will need a car to drive to the start of the walks. Link to a PDF brochure from the Government national park authority, Parks Victoria, which includes a map of the western portion of Great Otway National Park around Apollo Bay. The map includes the waterfall locations. The better waterfalls are Triplet Falls, Hopetoun Falls, Beauchamp Falls, Stevenson Falls and Sabine Falls in that order.
Image: Otway Fly elevated forest walk, Great Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia taken by Rob Young, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en (cropped)
Otway Fly Treetop Adventures is a notable commercial tourist attraction in these parts. Deep in the cool and lush Otway rainforest, you can take in a birds eye view from the 600m tway Fly Treetop Walk understoey walkway and canopy tower view over surrounding Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and Mountain Ash trees. Cost about $25. There is also also an exilarating zip line to ride for an extra charge. otwayfly.com/ has all the details.
Image: Lake Elizabeth, Great Otway National Park near the town of Forrest, Victoria, Australia taken by Faj2323, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en (cropped)
Forrest is small town 45 minutes drive on a twisty road from Apollo Bay into the Great Otway forest. The town is the base for over a dozen mountain bike trails into the surrounding cool wet rainforest, ranging in difficulty from easy to difficult. Mountain bike hire is available in the town. rideforrest.com.au tells you all about the trails and small town.
Services in Forrest include:
Image: Lavers Hill roadhouse, Victoria, Australia taken by Chris Phutully, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en (cropped)
Lavers Hill is at a road junction with a couple of commercial services for passing motorists. It marks a high point midway along an almost 100 kilometre long twisty inland section of the Great Ocean Road that passes through dense rainorest and skirts some green hilly farmland. It makes a good place for a break from driving and to stretch legs. A few gimmicks at the roadhouse try to make the stop as fun as they reasonably can. Roadhouses like the one at Lavers Hill typify rest points along long roads in Australia that are otherwise devoid of population. Arriving here in itself giveas a sense of achievement.
Services in Lavers Hill include:
Image: Taken by Protontorniyo, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en (cropped))
No matter where in the town of Apollo Bay you are, you will not be more than a few hundred metres from the beach and the shops on the foreshore. Take care with tight bookings and steep price rises in the height of summer over Christmas and early January. Prices often double and even triple at that time. Accommodation with beach views generally costs more for what you get and books out earlier.
Campavans can park overnight for free at the forshore reserve in the public car park beside the surf life saving club building mid-way along the main street. Alternatively, some campavans stay in the public car park by the toilet block at the end of tha main street beside the golf course clubhouse.
Backpackers hostel dorm beds range roughly from $25 to $30 per night, and double rooms are twice that price at least. Most backpackers hostels are just houses in the residential area of the town.
Apollo Bay Backpackers 47 Montrose Street, Apollo Bay. Three streets back from the beach and shops. Book online or call - Telephone: 1800 113 045 Mobile: +61 0419 340 362
Apollo Bay Backpackers Lodge 23 Pascoe Street, Apollo Bay. One street back from the beach and shops. Also has apartments. Book online or 1800 157 280 freecall, or 0413 504 402 mobile or +61 3 5237 7850 phone
Apollo Bay Eco YHA 5 Pascoe Street, Apollo Bay. From $40. One street back from the beach. Book online or phone +61 3 5237 7899
Surfside Backpacker 7 Gambier St (corner Great Ocean Road), Apollo Bay. Just south from the end of the main street. Book online or phone + 61 (03) 5237 7263 mobile +61 419 322 595
Pisces is a large very well manicured Big 4 chain caravan park on the Great Ocean Road at the south end of the town overlooking the beach. Sites and cabins from budget to deluxe grade. Swimming pool. Book online or phone +61 3 5237 6749
Apollo Bay Holiday Park is in the town itself. 27 Cawood Street, Apollo Bay. Sites and cabins from standard (budget) to deluxe. Swimming pool. Towards the north end of town, one and a half streets back from the beach. Book online or phone +61 3 5237 7111
Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve and Camping Ground 70 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. At the southern edge of the town on the bank of the Barham River. Three streets walk back to the end of the main street and town beach. Sites and cabins from $85. Availability shown online with email booking and enquiry form. Phone: +61 3 5237 6577
Marengo Holiday Park Overlooking the beach just off the Great Ocean Road at Marengo, about 2 minutes drive south of Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 52376162
Skenes Creek Caravan Park 2 Great Ocean Road, Skenes Creek. Absolute beachfront. Phone +61 3 5237 6132
Apollo Bay has approximately 40 motels, serviced apartments blocks and bed and breakfasts. Generally the building amongst the shops towards the south end of teh main street are older. The further you go from the main shops heading north, the newer the buildings become as the town grew over time along the beach in that direction. Accommodation booking sites like wofit.com list them all.
Motels and serviced apartments along the main street on the forshore, or just into the side streets, listed from south to north are as follows. Sorry if we missed any.
The International Comfort Inn 4-star, approximately $200. 37 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6100.
Best Western Apollo Bay Motel and Apartments 3-star, approximately $162. 2 Moore Street, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 7577.
Iluka Motel, Restauarant and Take Away 65-71 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 (03) 5237 6531. Hearty breakfasts, snadwiches, fish and chips pizza and pasta. The accommodation has 10 budget rooms from $95.
The Beachfront Motel 3-star, approximately $159. 163 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6666.
The Apollo Apartments 4-star, spproximately $220. 169 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 1196.
Coastal Motel 3-star, approximatley $155. 171 Great Ocean Road, Apolo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6681.
Waterfront Motor Inn 4-star, approximatley 420. 173 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 7333.
The Lighthouse Keepers Inn 3-star, approximatlet $155. 175 Great Ocean Road. Phone +61 3 5237 6278.
The Dolphin Apartments 5-star, approximately $260. 2 Thomson Street, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 2000. Advertisies best rate guaranteed by booking direct.
Seaview Motel and Apartments 4-star, approximately $170. 6 Thomson Street, Apollo Bay. Phine +61 3 5237 6660
Sandpiper Motel 4-star, approximatley $170. 3 Murray Street, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6732
Also there is Beachcomber Motel and Apartments set two streets back from the beach in a residential street towards the southern end of town. 3-star, approximately $138. 15 Diana Street, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6290.
In Marengo is Marengo Motel 26 Great Ocean Road, Marengo. This is a motor inn a couple of hundred metres after the road turns inland. Phone +61 3 5237 6808
In Skenes Creek is Skenes Creek Lodge Motel. It is at the far edge of the village and approximately 6 kilometres from Apollo Bay town centre. 61 Great Ocean Rd, Skenes Creek. 3 star, approximately $180. Phone +61 3 5237 6918
Kookaburra Cottages is further back along the coast again towards Melbourne. It is a quirky rambling place overlooking the sea. 5750 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay district. Phone +61 3 5237 6825.
Search tips
If staying more than a night, also consider houes and apartments that are available for rent. They are both generally cheaper than motels and often more spacious. There are approximately 400 houses and apartments for rent in and around the town. Holiday rental prices start from around $120 per night. Prices rise sharply in the high season. Expect to pay $3,000 for a minimum one week rent in early January. Sites like stayz.com list these properties, though appreciate the webiste commission pushes up prices. Smaller local booking websites can be cheaper, and are more likely to be associated with a local real estate agency who would love it if you fell in love with the town so much that you decided to buy.
Looking for the absolute best deal you can on the websites is time consuming (and near impossibly frustrating) because:
We suggest enquiring to book at least three properties simultaneous. That way hopefully at least one owner will be bothered responding to you promptly within 24 hours. If that all becomes too annoying, just phone up a local real estate agent that manages holiday bookings and ask what they have available that best suits your needs. That way they can chase the owner for a response instead of you, they know which properties really are available for rent and everyone will be happy to avoid paying hefty website commissions.
Holiday rental wesbites
If looking for a house or apartment, you will still more than likley end up using the websites:
Image: Apollo Bay Golf Club, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia. Taken by JChris007, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en (cropped))
Sports
Apollo Bay Golf Club Nelson Street, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6474. Scenic course on the headland at the end of the main street overlooking the boat harbour and ocean in both directions. $20 green fees for 9 holes, $25 for 18 holes.
Playground and skate park on the foreshore is quite large and good fun for young kids climbing and on their fold up scooters.
Foreshore track goes along teh dunes the whoel length of teh town foreshore and a bit beyond. It is great for walking, jogging and bike riding. It gets good use, and the locals in Apollo Bay and definately a fit and healthy bunch.
Apollo Bay Swimming Pool, Costin St, Apollo Bay - phone + 61 3 5237 6155. Set in the backstreets this modest 25m outdoor pool has limited opening hours, even during the high season. It more caters for the locals and state school next door, but it is there if you want it rather than the ocean.
Apollo Bay Bowling Club Lawn bowls. 4-6 Moore Street, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6744.
Fishing and ocean boat tours operate out from the boat harbour, including to seal colonies, and for deep sea shark and tuna fishing. The operators are:
Surfboard board hire is available from a fews shops along the main street:
Scenic helicopter and flights are run by Apollo Bay Aviation from a small airstrip at Marengo going to Cape Otway and the Twelve Apostles, or even to King Island and wild Tasmania. Telford Street, Marengo. Phone +61 3 5237 7600.
Mechanics Institute Cinema is an old hall that shows films. It is just around the bend past the souther end of the shops.
Apollo Bay Gallery, upstairs at 57 Collingwood St (Great Ocean Road). Phone +61 3 5237 7572. Small artist run gallery with local contemporary art.
Senses Working Over Time (S.W.O.T.) Gallery, 1f Moore Street, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 237 1243.
Apollo Bay Museum, Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, about 1km past the northern edge of town. Limited opening hours. Phone +61 3 237 7441.
Image: Apollo Bay Hotel, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia. Taken by Mattinbgn, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en (cropped))
Supermarkets are:
Remember this is an alternative lifestyle seachange kind of hippie town on the edge of some great wilderness, so nature is top of mind, and you do not really need a plastic bag. They do not have any Foodworks anyway.
Garden Of Eden Fruit Supplies, 23 Great Ocean Road, phone +61 3 5237 6236. Really big fruit shop at the southern end of the main street.
The Apollo Bay Hotel is a big pub for casual dining, wine and beers in the middle of the main street overlooking the ocean. Live gigs most Fridays and Saturdays. Accommodation rooms also available from $110 (includes breakfast). 95 Great Ocean Road, phone +61 3 5237 6250.
Great Ocean Road Brewhouse is the other big pub in town. Live gigs most Saturday and sunday nights. Accommodation room also available, as well as backpackers dorm bed at $30 and rooms. 29-35 Great Ocean Rd , phone +61 3 5237 6240.
George's Food Court and Take Away, 111 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. This large, busy, warm, noisey, kid-friendly place has great pizza, roast chicken, nuggets and chips etc - you get the general idea.
Chris's Beacon Point is an awarded gourmet modern Greek restaurant out of town in the hills behind Skenes Creek with sweeping ocean views. There is also villa accommodation. 280 Skenes Creek Rd, Skenes Creek, phone +61 3 5237 6411
Dooley's Premiem Ice Creams hwas 2015 Australian Grand Dairy prize winner and numerous gold medals from the Royal Melbourne Fine Food awards. 89 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 7581
La Bimba (upstairs). Modern Australian. Bakery downstairs. 125 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay. Phone + 61 3 5237 7411.
Waves Cafe 143 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6401.
Bluebird Takeaway 47/49 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phoine +61 3 5237 7962.
Buff's Bar and Bistro 51 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6403.
Iluka Motel, Restauarant and Take Away 65-71 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 (03) 5237 6531. Hearty breakfasts, snadwiches, fish and chips pizza and pasta. The accommodation has 10 budget rooms from $95.
Bay Leaf Cafe 131 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay. +61 3 5237 6470. Casual breakfast and lunch cafe.Sandy Feet Cafe and Health Food 139 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6995.
Andy's Gourmet Pizzeria Wood fired pizza. 151 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6452.
Cafe 153 has quality well presentd food from local produce. Open for breakfast through to afternoon tea. 153 Great Ocean Road (corner Hardy Street), Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 1123.
Apollo Bay Fishermens Co-Op, Breakwater Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6591. Fish and chip shop at the boat harbour with outdoor seating overlooking above the boats.
The Vista Seafood Restaurant 155 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 7188.
Apollo Bay Seafood Cafe 119 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6008.
Dragon Bay Inn Chinese Restaurant 4A Hardy Street, Apollo Bay (at the entrance of the Foodworks arcade). Phone +61 3 5237 6400
Thai House 18 Pascoe Strret, Apollo Bay (one street back parallel to the main street, in teh block between the two pubs). Phone +61 3 5237 6766.
Apollo Surf Coast Chinese Restaurant 51 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay. Phone +61 3 5237 6403
Image: Apollo Bay Harbour, Victoria, Australia. Taken by Shuicai, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en (cropped))
(c) Copyright 2017, Graham Warren, Melbourne, Australia. Hits: 2292