Travel Ideas - Apollo Bay.

Apollo Bay is a 3 hour drive from Melbourne via Geelong and the Great Ocean Road. The town is located in the base of Otway National Park, and there are plenty of things to see and do. To get the most out of Apollo Bay and surrounds you really need to spend a few days.

Accommodation  

While at Apollo Bay we stayed at Jan's Dream which ranges from $160 - $260 per night depending on length of stay. The house has an upstairs master bedroom with ensuite, lounge, meals and kitchen. Downstairs has Bathroom, laundry, 2 bedrooms and rumpus room with beds. The highlights of this property is the upstairs BBQ area on the balcony, 2 TVs and a good sized kitchen with dishwasher.


Suggested Activities in Apollo Bay

There is a great playground on the Esplanade at Apollo Bay. It has a number of slides and is suitable for pre-school and older kids. Apollo Bay is a fishing community so make sure you take a walk down the pier to find out about day trips at Apollo Bay Fishing & Adventure Tours - 16 Seymour Crs, Apollo Bay. 

Day Trips - Apollo Bay to 12-Apostles to Port Campbell

Take a drive along the Great Ocean Road to the 12-Apostles or stop off at Princetown and to enjoy a Helicopter flight which will take you over the 12-Apostles, London Bridge and the Bay of Islands. 

If driving, on arrival you can stop for a light refreshment at the tourist information centre and it then take a 500m walk along a path to experience the spectacular views (as shown).

Continue by taking a drive along the Great Ocean Road to Port Campbell. Once there park at the beach car park. Take a stroll along the beach, have a swim or take a walk on the Port Campbell Discover Walk. To do this you will need to follow the signs from the car park. There is also a great pub for lunch or dinner looking over the view as shown. 

 

Suggested Day Trip - Option 2 - Maits Rest

Drive along the Great Ocean Road into the Otway Ranges and stop off at Mait's Rest, a 30 minute drive from Apollo Bay. From there you can do a 40 minute round trip along the Boardwalk or an 8 hour trip into the National Park. The walk takes you into the rainforest and is a great example of what the park has to offer. Look out for this tree. Three trees have grown into one, it is really amazing.

Option 3 - Mariner's Falls 

Mariner's Falls is a 30-40 minute drive out the back of Apollo Bay.  If you choose to take the shorter walk at Mait's Rest then you still have plenty of time to see this waterfall before returning to Apollo Bay. Otherwise you can take this trip on another day. 

The walk takes around 1 hour to complete and involves crossing a number of stepping stones along the way. You will need good walking shoes and a waterproof coat in cold conditions. Take some water and light snacks with you so that you can stop for a while at the base of the waterfall. This is a must see but not suitable for pram access so be sure to carry your little one, it is well worth the effort.

Safety Tips for travelling in the area

For short walks take good walking shoes, waterproof jacket (sunscreen if hot), water and some light food. For longer walks always let someone know before you go, take above items, a whistle and a map of the area. Always make sure you keep on the tracks as some of the cliffs are unstable and it is easy to get lost in the thick rainforest.