Why You Should Stay in Apollo Bay for the Great Ocean Road

Driving down the Great Ocean Road is just one of those things you need to do when in Victoria. Visitors to Melbourne and locals alike rarely miss the opportunity to see the beaches and coastal attractions along it on the stunning Surf Coast. If you’re planning such a trip and wondering where to stay on the Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay is the answer. 

Desperate for a long weekend away last year, I booked a few nights accommodation at Apollo Bay. Having grown up going down the coast as a kid, I knew the Great Ocean Road a little, but not so much Apollo Bay. Turns out, this peaceful town was exactly what I needed for a low season getaway.

With a stay in Apollo Bay, you’ll have no problems experiencing everything that makes the Great Ocean Road so popular. Apollo Bay is just one of the region’s main coastal towns, but the way it ticks all the boxes makes it the easy pick for where to stay. To show you why you should base yourself there, here are my reasons why I loved my time there.

So Many Apollo Bay Accommodation Options

Suggesting you stay in Apollo Bay wouldn’t make much sense if there was nowhere to stay. One of the most useful things is that there is actually a wealth of accommodation at Apollo Bay. Hotels, motels, apartments, cabins – take your pick.

For my visit, I stayed at Sandpiper Motel Apollo Bay and it comfortably met my needs. If you’re not familiar with Australian motels, they’re actually usually quite well-done and nice. My Apollo Bay motel room had a nice little balcony with seating and lots of trees to make it feel secluded. The only downside, if I’m nit-picking, was the creaky floorboards from the room above.

But there are many places to stay in Apollo Bay, giving you flexibility in terms of budget, location and amenities. Most Apollo Bay hotels and apartments are walking distance from the main road, although I did drive in one evening to avoid icy winter rain.

Finally, for caravanning and camping in Apollo Bay, there’s just the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve in the town itself. But there are two nearby options just outside town as well, BIG4 Apollo Bay and Marengo Family Caravan Park.

The Small Town Vibe

But the benefit of staying in Apollo Bay isn’t just that there are hotels and apartments there. What I really enjoyed about the town was its laidback atmosphere. Walking around, it felt much more like a gentle coastal town compared to the likes of Lorne.

No doubt, going in August strongly contributed to how quiet Apollo Bay was for me. Still, I can’t imagine it ever being as busy as Lorne or Torquay even at the peak of summer.

To be clear, I found the town calm and quiet, but certainly not empty and deserted. There’s actually a healthy range of cafes, restaurants and pubs in Apollo Bay. Even in low season, I was finding plenty of places for food with only a few places closed until the return of summer. Apollo Bay seems to strike that balance of quiet but not too quiet, so I have no qualms about returning in the off season next time.

Proximity to The Twelve Apostles

There’s no question what the most popular reason is to travel down Victoria’s surf coast. The Twelve Apostles are one of the most famous attractions in the state. Tourists from Melbourne drive hours each way, even on day trips, to see the iconic rock formations. From Apollo Bay however, the Twelve Apostles are just 1 hour 20 minutes away by car. Yes, you’ll need a car.

Now, Port Campbell is the closest town to the Twelve Apostles. But staying there means an even longer drive to get there, and it’s quite small. Apollo Bay, on the other hand, is closer to Melbourne, not that much farther from the Apostles, and it’s quite a big larger. The Twelve Apostles also aren’t the only attraction nearby, giving you more choice of what to do in Apollo Bay, but we’ll get to that soon.

Things to Do in Apollo Bay

I think it’s fair to look at Apollo Bay mostly as a place to return to after a day away sightseeing. But there are one or two things to do in Apollo Bay if you don’t want to go far.

One thing well worth doing is heading up to Mariner’s Lookout. This viewpoint north of town is set within farmland and offers complete coastal views from the hilltop paddocks. Being able to look right up the Surf Coast and spot all its little beaches is quite a special thing. It’s a steep drive up to the lookout, so walkers and cyclists beware!

The waterfront of Apollo Bay has its own charms to explore. A path through the park behind the beach is home to Apollo Bay’s signature cypress trees. It’s a really nice spot for an afternoon stroll before going in town for dinner. Then there’s the Apollo Bay Golf Club if that’s your thing, which occupies the eastern headland behind the harbour.

Close to Waterfalls and the Otways

The coast isn’t the only place on the Great Ocean Road full of places to visit. Just turn your attention inland for more, specifically, Great Otway National Park. This dense patch of forest is home to lots of nice nature walks, like the easily accessible one at Maits Rest. It’s so nice to be able to trade in beaches and cliffs for temperate rainforest just like that.

And in that rainforest is the Otways’ secret weapon – waterfalls. Yes, there are one or two waterfalls in the region by the coast, but they’re few and far between.

Instead, head north of Apollo Bay into the countryside and you soon have a huge selection to choose from. Popular favourites include Beauchamp Falls and Hopetoun Falls, while others such as Triplet Falls require more of a walk to reach. The waterfalls also make going to Apollo Bay in winter a much more interesting prospect, as that’s when they tend to be at their most impressive.

Had you stayed in Apollo Bay before? Where was your accommodation at Apollo Bay and how was it? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.