Apollo Bay Holiday Houses & Accommodation

A paradise by the sea, Apollo Bay is nestled between Cape Otway and the Barham River on Victoria's spectacular coastal route, the Great Ocean Road. This seaside resort town is embraced by rolling green hills, tranquil beaches, and the magical Otway National Park.

Apollo Bay, a gateway to some of Australia’s most famous hiking trails, is the ideal base to explore the Great Ocean Walk and Otway rainforest. Apollo Bay offers safe swimming beaches, comfortable accommodation, challenging surf spots, and a boat harbour and marina that are great for fishing.

Apollo Bay's commercial centre, which boasts a variety of restaurants and cafés, lies along the Great Ocean Road with a backdrop of a grassy foreshore close to the main swimming beach. A holiday house in Apollo Bay puts nature in your backyard.

Getting to Your Apollo Bay Accommodation

Regular V/Line train services run from Melbourne to Geelong and Colac, where buses connect from the train station to Apollo Bay. You can then reach your holiday house on foot or by taxi. Alternatively, Apollo Bay is only a two hour and 30min drive from Melbourne CBD. Alternatively, it's easy to reach your Apollo Bay accommodation with your own vehicle. This also gives you the freedom to stop for photos along the way and enjoy the magnificent sights of the Great Ocean Road.

To do that, get on the Westgate then Princes Freeway out of the city, until the Torquay exit onto the Great Ocean Road. The quickest way to reach Apollo Bay, though, is to follow the Princes Freeway as far as Cape Otway Road/C135 in Mount Moriac, then go through Skenes Creek onto the B100 to Apollo Bay. For a really rewarding scenic detour, take the backroads from Torquay and descend into Lorne through the beautiful Otway rainforest.

What to eat on your Apollo Bay holiday

Apollo Bay's main road, filled with restaurants, cafés and pubs, is a great place for food and drinks. Stop in at Apollo Bay Bakery for a quick breakfast or lunch of freshly prepared sandwiches, salad rolls, roast rolls or its famous scallop pie ready to go.

Whether you're looking for delicious food, fantastic craft beer, or live music, the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse is the place for you. Specialising in local beer, cider and produce, it offers more than 15 varieties of Australian craft beers that you can enjoy alongside dishes such as chicken parmigiana.

Located on the Great Ocean Road, The Coast Restaurant serves delicious Italian cuisine and seafood platters. Its extensive menu includes arancini balls, spaghetti bolognese, chicken risotto and tomato bruschetta.

Overlooking the Bass Strait, Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant is a favourite in the region. It offers fresh seafood and Greek dishes, such as kakavia and seafood bisque.

Art and cultural heritage in Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is home to many traditional painting, art, and craft studios where you can browse and buy works directly from the artists who made them. Arts Inc., on the Great Ocean Road, aims to support and encourage emerging talents by providing a quality and affordable exhibition space for them to showcase their work. Located on Montrose Avenue, Shannons Gallery & Studio offers an extensive collection of drawings, paintings, and prints by renowned artists Pat and Mark Shannon.

Apollo Bay boasts several unique museums worth visiting. Apollo Bay Museum features collections of local memorabilia, including items used for communications between the Australian mainland and Tasmania.

Attractions and activities in Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay offers plenty of sightseeing adventures and activities. Great Otway National Park, one of Victoria's most visited outdoor sites, is traversed by the Great Ocean Walk. Encompassing over 100,000 hectares, this park features the steep Otway Ranges, beautiful waterfalls, fern gullies, and a coastline with tall cliffs and sandy beaches – make sure to bring your camera!

Nestled in the north of Apollo Bay, Marriners Lookout offers sweeping views of the region, overlooking the ocean and harbour. The Great Ocean Walk, one of Australia's most spectacular coastal hikes, covers 104km and boasts vistas of the beautiful Marengo Marine Sanctuary.

Be sure to visit Cape Otway Lightstation for the jaw-dropping panoramas from the balcony, which is 90m above the Southern Ocean. Situated within the lovely Otway Ranges and a short drive from Apollo Bay, the Hopetoun Falls are also worth a visit.

Apollo Bay's main beach, surrounded by cafés and shops at the western end of the Great Ocean Road, is ideal for families, Join surfing lessons and guided kayaking tours to catch a sight of the residents of the Marengo Seal Colony.

Events to check out during your Apollo Bay holiday

Apollo Bay Seafood Festival is dedicated to the local fishing community, fresh seafood, and the coastal town's enchanting beauty. The festival features delicious food and wine, workshops, family activities, cultural initiatives, and educational forums.

The Apollo Bay Music Festival hosts some of the best musical talent from Australia and overseas. In addition to great music, the festival includes fantastic food, craft stalls, dance and fire performances, and workshops.

Apollo Bay Writers Festival by Arts Inc. is an event for writers and readers in the Otway region. Featuring a mix of talented writers and performers from the community, the event aims to preserve and promote the region's literary culture.

Frequently Asked Questions