Apollo Bay was my first overnight stop on the Great Ocean Road proper. After a long day of limestone landmarks and an unsettling drive through the fire-affected Otways, I was ready to stop. The town stretches along the seafront, with motels and places to eat beside the road, a huge beach in front and wooded hills behind.
Fires had disrupted travel that summer, and much of town was closed when I arrived. I didn’t get to explore as much as I’d hoped, but I enjoyed the evening I had. This guide covers my own stay alongside the places I’ve researched for a return visit.
Apollo Bay is the Great Ocean Road’s natural halfway overnight, a relaxed seafront town with a massive beach, a brewhouse worth an evening, and the Otways rainforest on its doorstep.
Apollo Bay makes a convenient overnight stop after the Twelve Apostles and the drive through the Otways. Lorne is roughly an hour further east, so staying here leaves time the following day for a walk or wildlife stop before continuing along the coast.
It was the end of my first day on the Great Ocean Road proper, and I was glad I hadn’t planned to drive further. I could leave the car at the motel, walk to the beach and find dinner without another journey.
Apollo Bay also has a working fishing harbour, which gives you somewhere to explore beyond the main street. If you stay longer, the town is a useful base for trips into the Otways, although some outings take you back west before you continue towards Lorne.
Apollo Bay grew around coastal shipping, timber and fishing before becoming a Great Ocean Road holiday stop. Its history begins much earlier on Gadubanud Country, where shell middens record a long Aboriginal presence along the coast.
Whalers were among the early European arrivals, with a station at Point Bunbury. The bay took its name from a vessel called Apollo, which sheltered here during a storm, and the settlement was also known as Krambruk before adopting its present name.
The Otways made travel overland difficult, so ships carried supplies and connected the town with the wider region. The steamer Casino served this coast for decades before sinking at Apollo Bay in 1932, with the loss of ten lives.
The Great Ocean Road was completed that same year, changing how people and goods reached the town. Fishing continued, and the harbour remains part of everyday life rather than simply a place for visitors to walk.
Apollo Bay is busiest during the summer holidays and long weekends, when people staying locally share the main street with coaches and road-trip traffic. Book accommodation ahead for those periods, particularly if you want to stay close to the beach. A little over a thousand people live here year round, and summer multiplies that several times over.
A short visit can coincide with the lunchtime rush, while staying overnight gives you more time to explore once some of the through-traffic has moved on. That doesn’t guarantee a quiet January evening, but it means you aren’t trying to fit everything around a parking space and a meal.
Winter is generally quieter, although weather and shorter opening hours can affect your plans. Check the local events calendar for your dates; if you’ve seen the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival, it’s currently on a hiatus as the Apollo Bay Harbour undergoes a $10.2 million redevelopment (forecast to finish in 2027).
My own visit was unusually quiet because of the fires. I enjoyed having space, but the closures meant I saw a very different town from the one most summer visitors experience.
Apollo Bay Beach is a long curve of sand directly in front of town, close enough to the shops and motels for an easy walk before dinner. From the Coastal Motel, it took me about five minutes to reach it.
After a day spent looking down at the ocean from clifftops, I was pleased to be beside it for a change. There was plenty of room to wander, with the hills behind town still in view from the sand.
The foreshore path is another option if you don’t want to walk on the beach. Follow it along the front and towards the harbour, then head back to the main street for something to eat.
For swimming, check that lifesavers are on duty and stay between the red and yellow flags. If there are no flags on the beach, the lifeguards aren’t there. Currents can occur along the beach, not just near river mouths, so don’t choose a spot simply because the water looks calm. The smaller Mothers Beach by the harbour is more sheltered, but children still need close supervision and conditions should be checked on the day.
Do not swim with kids on the North of the bay where swells & rips build. Try to avoid the working harbour and any dredge zones.
You can still walk around parts of Apollo Bay Harbour during its redevelopment, but the Fishermen’s Co-op harbour shop is temporarily closed. For seafood, look for its pop-ups in town rather than heading down expecting fish and chips on the old deck.
The harbour remains a working port, with fishing boats and views back across the bay towards the Otway hills. Construction is expected to continue until mid-2027, so access will look different from older photographs and travel guides.
The breakwall and Mothers Beach remain accessible, with signs directing walkers around the construction area. Mothers Beach car park is closed, so park in town or use the open car park at Point Bunbury.
Follow the signed routes and keep clear of the fenced works, slipway and depot. You can still enjoy the view across the water, and seals are sometimes seen around the boats, although the old viewing deck has been removed.
While its harbour building is closed, the Co-op has been operating temporary outlets in town. Recently listed locations include fish and chips at 18 Pascoe Street and fresh seafood at 57 Great Ocean Road. Confirm the addresses and opening hours before setting off, as these arrangements may change.
The Co-op is still somewhere I’d like to try on a return visit. Fish and chips beside the fishing boats appeals, but that will have to wait until the harbour terrace reopens. In the meantime, you could pick up food in town and combine it with a separate harbour walk.
The redevelopment includes an upgraded Co-op building, a larger outdoor terrace and the return of the wet fish market. A new viewing deck above the rebuilt operations depot is planned, along with improved pedestrian links, parking and public toilets.
The $12.61 million project is expected to finish in mid-2027, although completion dates can change. For visitors, the main appeal will be more space to sit, eat and look across a harbour that still works for its living. Until then, come for a walk and check the temporary food options before you arrive.
I was glad to find the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse open during my stay. With a restaurant and a large beer garden, it gave me somewhere to eat and spend the evening when many other places were closed.
After a long day of driving, I wasn’t looking for anything elaborate. A meal, a drink and a short walk back to the motel suited me well. If you’re interested in trying beers from the region, check the current drinks list or ask what’s available.
When I visited, they had Prickly Moses on tap (XPA, lager, seasonals) plus other craft beers/ciders. The food is a pub bistro with parmas, steaks, burgers, and fish ‘n’ chips.
During my dinner and pint at the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse, I met some other travellers going in the other direction. They told me to go to Maria Island when I got to Tasmania – an adventure well worth the excursion.
For other options, I researched the Apollo Bay Hotel, Apollo Bay Distillery and Chris’s Beacon Point. The first two are in town; Chris’s Beacon Point is up in the hills near Skenes Creek, so you’d need to arrange the journey as well as book dinner. I didn’t eat at any of them and can’t compare them from experience.
If you’re visiting in January and have a particular place in mind, book ahead. Otherwise, check what’s open along the main street before it gets late.
Apollo Bay Bakery is well known for its scallop pie. Mine was easily the best pie I had on the Great Ocean Road, and sitting outside with a coffee was a lovely way to start the morning before driving on.
I had arrived just as the bakery opened, where a giant stuffed koala was lounging in the shop. With my pie and coffee, I took a seat at one of the tables outside and watched Apollo Bay wake up. I was glad I’d left time for breakfast rather than eating on the road.
For a one-night road-trip stop, I’d choose somewhere central so you can walk to the beach and dinner. I stayed at the Coastal Motel, and its location worked well after a long day in the car.
The beach was about five minutes away, with places to eat closer still. Being able to leave the car until morning made the evening easy.
There are several types of accommodation to compare, depending on how long you’re staying:
Central motels: Practical for a brief stop when you want parking and a short walk to meals. The Coastal Motel suited me, but compare the room facilities as well as location.
Apartments: Worth considering if you'd like a kitchen or more space during a longer stay. Check the individual apartment's facilities before booking.
Holiday parks: Options for cabins, caravans and camping, including the BIG4 park. Check the distance into town if you intend to walk to dinner.
Hillside BnBs and cabins: An alternative if you would prefer a forest setting or a view over the bay. Factor in driving to meals and shops.
Marriners Lookout or Maits Rest could fit into a shorter morning, while Wildlife Wonders offers a guided wildlife outing. Cape Otway Lightstation and Otway Fly need more time and are better planned as separate trips.
I couldn’t explore these places during my visit because fires had affected access to the Otways. The options below are researched for a return trip. Check official road and park updates before setting off, and remember to include the journey from town when judging what you have time for.
Before you enter the forest, open VicEmergency and VicTraffic, then Parks Victoria closures, and the Bureau of Meteorology. It is unsafe to travel if the apps show Watch and Act or Leave Now, a Catastrophic fire danger rating, a closed B100 or park, or flood and landslip alerts. Do not attempt to do a back-road detour through the Otways.
Marriners Lookout offers views over Apollo Bay after a short uphill walk, while Maits Rest is a rainforest circuit west of town. Either is worth considering if you have a little time before continuing east.
For Marriners Lookout, allow for the drive uphill, the walk and some time at the top. Wet ground or low clouds may affect the visit. After rain the steep track is slippery and not worth a fall. In low cloud or fog the lookout has no view, which is one of the only reasons to climb it…pray for a dry window!
Maits Rest takes you among tree ferns and tall forest. The walk itself is short, but it isn’t in town, so leave time to drive there and back. On a west-to-east trip, it may fit more conveniently before you arrive in Apollo Bay, provided access is open and you have daylight left.
Consider Wildlife Wonders if you’d like a guided walk focused on native animals and the Otways landscape. It gives you the help of a guide rather than relying entirely on your own wildlife-spotting skills.
It’s one of the activities I’d look at first on a return visit. I had little luck spotting koalas on this trip, so I’d appreciate someone who knows where to look and can explain what we’re seeing. If you’d rather walk independently, Maits Rest is another way to spend time in the forest, although it offers a different experience.
You can visit either from Apollo Bay, but leave at least half a day for the outing rather than squeezing it in before checkout. They are in different locations, so choose according to your interests and the rest of your route.
Cape Otway Lightstation is an option for coastal views and history. Check admission and which areas are open before travelling. The tower climb is often shut for heritage conservation, not only for bushhire. The entire area can close on Catastrophic fire days or when Great Otway National Park is shut. Grounds, cafes and other buildings may stay open at a reduced ticket — check lightstation.com the morning you go.
The approach road is known for koala sightings, but only stop where you can park safely without obstructing traffic.
Otway Fly offers treetop activities inland. The Treetop Walk is a 600 metre elevated walkway with a 47 metre spiral tower, usually open 9am to 5pm, with the last entry at 3:30pm. The zipline is a separate 2.5 hour guided tour. You need to be at least 125 cm tall, over 5 years of age, and not weigh over 117kg. Otway Fly is closed on Christmas day, and the zip also stops in lightning or high wind.
Both involve heading back towards places west of Apollo Bay. If you’re driving east to Lorne, consider whether they fit better on your arrival day or deserve an extra night.
Guided kayak trips visit the waters around the Marengo seal colony near Apollo Bay when conditions allow. The operator does not allow children under 10 – ensure you also fit their other criteria before booking.
This is another outing I didn’t get to try, but would consider on a longer stay. It would be good to spend some time on the water after seeing so much of it from the road.
Allow for the full activity time, including meeting the guide and getting ready, rather than just the time paddling. Keep the schedule flexible in case sea conditions lead to a cancellation, and follow the guide’s instructions around wildlife.
Kennett River is further east on the way to Lorne, so you can save that stop for the onward drive rather than make a separate trip from Apollo Bay.
Yes. An overnight in Apollo Bay gives you time for the beach and dinner after the western sights, with the coastal drive to Lorne left for the next morning. Stay longer if you want to explore the Otways without fitting everything around checkout.
For me, the convenience was a large part of the appeal. My motel, the beach and somewhere to eat were all close together. I didn’t need to organise much once I’d arrived.
The fishing harbour gives the town another point of interest beyond the beach, and somewhere I’d spend more time on a return visit. My own evening was too unusual to promise that summer nights are always quiet here, but I was glad I’d stayed rather than carried on driving.
Check road conditions, book ahead for busy dates and choose a central room if you want to explore on foot. Apollo Bay is also a convenient place to sort out fuel and supplies before the next part of your trip.
Allow time to stop properly: After a day of sightseeing, dinner and a beach walk may be enough. Leave the longer outings for another morning or add a night.
Check official travel updates: Fires, floods and landslips can affect access through the Otways and along the coast. Follow current road and emergency advice rather than assuming an inland detour is open.
Keep the direction of travel in mind: Cape Otway and Maits Rest are west of town; Kennett River and Lorne are east. Group your stops to avoid unnecessary return journeys.
Check opening hours: Particularly outside peak season, don't assume every restaurant or attraction will be open when you arrive.
Leave the car and walk If you're staying centrally, the beach and main street are close together. Check parking time limits if you're using a street space.
One night works for a beach walk and an evening in town, while a longer stay gives you time for nearby activities. The B100 between Apollo Bay and Lorne is about 45 kilometres, taking between 50 to 60 minutes; 40 minutes is possible with no stops or traffic.
One night is enough for a brief road-trip stop. I’d consider two if you want to explore the Otways, take a wildlife tour or go kayaking without rushing between activities.
Allow roughly an hour to drive from Apollo Bay to Lorne along the Great Ocean Road. The route winds along the coast, and stops at Kennett River or viewpoints will add to the journey.
You can walk along the beach or foreshore, have dinner in town or spend the evening at the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse. I went to the Brewhouse during my stay, when many other businesses were closed because of the fires affecting the region.
Apollo Bay breaks up the journey between the western landmarks and the coastal drive to Lorne, with a beach and places to eat close to central accommodation. After the day I’d had, I was ready to stop there.
I didn’t see it in an ordinary summer week, and there was plenty I couldn’t do. Even so, I enjoyed my evening at the Brewhouse and having the beach a few minutes from the motel. Next time, I’d give myself another night and explore some of the Otways I missed.
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