APOLLO BAY BEACH AND FORESHORE
A long, east-facing beach with a flat foreshore path of around 3.5 km running beside it. Sheltered swimming, patrolled in summer by Apollo Bay Surf Life Saving Club.
Swim between the flags in patrol season.
A LOCAL'S GUIDE
THINGS TO DO IN APOLLO BAY
We've been on the main street since 2000, so we get asked this a lot. Here's what we tell people: beaches and surf in town, rainforest and waterfalls in the Otways behind it, and koalas and a lighthouse down the cape.
IN TOWN
Everything here is walkable from the shop.
LEARN TO SURF ON THE MAIN BEACH
The bay's sheltered aspect makes it one of the friendliest places on the Great Ocean Road to catch your first wave.
We do surfboard hire from the shop.
THE HARBOUR
A working fishing port at the eastern end of town. Boats usually unload in the afternoon, and you can buy fish straight off the boats at the Fishermen's Co-op.
SATURDAY MARKET
Local produce and crafts on the foreshore on Saturday mornings.
A SHORT DRIVE
Up to 20 minutes from town.
MARINERS LOOKOUT
A five-minute drive up the hill behind town for the best view over the whole bay. Free, and worth it at sunrise.
MARENGO AND THE MARINE SANCTUARY
Walk the 5 km return beach track from town to Marengo. The Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary sits just offshore, and fur seals often haul out on the reef.
MAITS REST RAINFOREST WALK
A 30-minute boardwalk loop through a fern gully in the Great Otway National Park, about 15 minutes west of town. Step-free.
MARRINERS FALLS
A 30-minute return walk to a small waterfall in a fern-filled gully, about 15 minutes from town.
HALF-DAY TRIPS
Between 30 and 45 minutes from Apollo Bay.
CAPE OTWAY LIGHTSTATION
Mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse, at the end of Lighthouse Road. Allow around 90 minutes on site.
Drive Lighthouse Road slowly in the late afternoon. It's one of the best places in the country to see wild koalas.
OTWAY WATERFALLS
Hopetoun Falls (a short, steep walk to a 30 m cascade), Triplet Falls (a 1.5 km rainforest loop) and Beauchamp Falls (a longer walk to a bigger drop). Do two in a morning.
OTWAY FLY TREETOP WALK
A steel walkway around 25 m up in the rainforest canopy, with a spiral lookout tower above that. Allow about 90 minutes.
KENNETT RIVER
About 25 minutes east towards Lorne. Good for spotting koalas in the gums, and a fun little surf break at the rivermouth.
WALK THE GREAT OCEAN WALK
Apollo Bay is the eastern starting point of the 100 km-plus Great Ocean Walk to the Twelve Apostles.
APOLLO BAY TO MARENGO
5 km return. Easy, along the beach.
MARENGO TO ELLIOT RIDGE
Around 12 km return. Moderate, with coastal heath and big ocean views.
APOLLO BAY TO CAPE OTWAY
Around 32 km, usually done over two days with a campsite stop.
BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT
Check the Apollo Bay surf report and weather, grab a board from our surfboard hire, or pick up a fleece, sunnies or a YETI for the drive. We're at 141 Great Ocean Rd, open 7 days. Parking and directions.
Opening hours, tracks and road conditions change. Check with Parks Victoria or the operator before you go.