How to get to Apollo Bay
Drive routes, V/Line bus options, parking, and EV charging — everything you need to plan the journey to the Great Ocean Road's best overnight base.
Two routes from Melbourne
From Melbourne to Apollo Bay there are two practical routes — the scenic coastal route (slower, beautiful, the trip itself) and the inland Princes Highway (faster, useful for return legs). The smart approach is to take the coast outbound and the highway return.
Route 1: Coastal (recommended outbound). M1 west out of Melbourne to Geelong (~1 hour). Continue south past Geelong onto the Surf Coast Highway (B100) through Torquay (1.5 hours total). From Torquay, follow the Great Ocean Road through Bells Beach, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, and into Apollo Bay (3 hours total). This route includes Memorial Arch, Split Point Lighthouse, the Lorne pier, and the cliff-hugging stretch south of Lorne — the most scenic 45 km on the entire road.
Route 2: Inland Princes Highway (useful for return). M1 west to Geelong, continue Princes Highway (A1) through Colac, then south on the C155 (Colac–Forrest Road) and finally on the C155 / B100 to Apollo Bay. Total: 175 km / about 2.5 hours, no scenic stops. Use this on the way home from a multi-day trip.
The coast route adds 30–60 minutes of driving time but adds the Surf Coast — a non-negotiable part of any first-timer's experience. For a 3-day trip the standard structure is: coast out (Day 1), Apollo Bay base (Days 1-2), inland highway home (Day 3). Reverse it for sunrise photographers who want first light at the Apostles on Day 1.
Distances along the way
- Melbourne CBD → Geelong: 75 km, 1 hour
- Geelong → Torquay: 25 km, 25 minutes
- Torquay → Bells Beach: 6 km, 10 min (detour)
- Torquay → Anglesea: 10 km, 12 min
- Anglesea → Lorne: 35 km, 50 min
- Lorne → Apollo Bay: 45 km, 1 hour
- Apollo Bay → Cape Otway: 25 km / 35 min (12 km detour off the road)
- Apollo Bay → Twelve Apostles: 95 km, 1 hour 30 min
Realistic Melbourne-to-Apollo-Bay with stops: 4–5 hours including coffee at Lorne and photo stops along the cliff section.
Worth stopping for on the way
- Bells Beach — 6 km detour from Torquay, 15-min cliff-top stop. Bells Beach guide.
- Memorial Arch — 10-min photo stop at Eastern View. Memorial Arch guide.
- Split Point Lighthouse — Aireys Inlet headland, 45-min walking loop. Lighthouse guide.
- Lorne pier — coffee on Mountjoy, walk the pier. 30 minutes.
- Kennett River — koala spotting on Grey River Road, 20 km east of Apollo Bay. 30-minute detour.
- Cape Patton Lookout — best cliff-top view between Lorne and Apollo Bay. 5-min stop.
V/Line public transport
V/Line operates a daily coach service from Melbourne that terminates at Apollo Bay. The journey involves a Geelong train connection (Southern Cross to Geelong, ~1 hour) and then a coach (Geelong to Apollo Bay, ~3 hours), totalling about 4 hours door-to-door. Cost is roughly AU$35–45 one way.
Booking is via vline.com.au or the V/Line app. The frequency depends on the day — typically 1–2 services daily. Verify current timetables before booking; service can be reduced on Sundays and public holidays.
The downside of arriving by V/Line is being car-less in Apollo Bay. Cape Otway (12 km off the highway), the Otway Fly (45 minutes inland), and most of the Otway hinterland are not reachable on foot. From town you can walk the foreshore, visit the harbour, swim at the main beach, eat at every restaurant on Great Ocean Road — but the bigger Otway experiences need wheels. Bus travellers should plan around staying central or hiring a car for a day from Apollo Bay (limited availability — book ahead).
Where to park in Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay is generally easier for parking than Lorne — most central spots are free and unlimited, with multiple large foreshore lots.
- Great Ocean Road central — free, often time-limited (typically 2 hours).
- Foreshore north (near surf club) — free, unlimited, large lot.
- Foreshore south — free, unlimited, near harbour walking access.
- Apollo Bay Harbour — free harbour-side parking.
- Side streets — Pascoe Street, Diana Street, Hardy Street — mostly free.
In peak summer (December–January), central spots fill by mid-morning. Use the foreshore lots — 5–10 minutes' walk to anywhere in town.
Charging in Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay is well-equipped for EVs but slower than Lorne (no fast DC charger).
- Tesla Destination Chargers — at multiple accommodation properties (verify with your booking).
- Chargefox AC — at the foreshore.
- Closest fast DC — Lorne Tesla Supercharger (8 stalls), 45 minutes east.
For EV travellers driving the full Great Ocean Road, top up at Apollo Bay before continuing west. The Otway and Shipwreck Coast sections have sparser charging infrastructure than the Surf Coast.
Getting to Apollo Bay FAQs
- How long is the drive from Melbourne to Apollo Bay?
- About 3 hours direct via the Great Ocean Road (190 km from Melbourne CBD). Add 30-60 minutes if you stop at Bells Beach, Memorial Arch, Lorne for coffee, or pull over at viewpoints — most travellers take 4-5 hours total. Via the inland Princes Highway (175 km, 2.5 hours direct) you skip the entire scenic experience but save time.
- What's the best route from Melbourne to Apollo Bay?
- Outbound: M1 west to Geelong, then south on the Surf Coast Highway through Torquay, then the Great Ocean Road through Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne to Apollo Bay. This is the trip itself — every Surf Coast town, the Memorial Arch, Bells Beach, Split Point Lighthouse. Return: same route or the inland Princes Highway via Colac. Most travellers take coast out, highway back.
- Can you take public transport from Melbourne to Apollo Bay?
- Yes — V/Line operates a daily coach service that runs from Melbourne (with a Geelong train connection) to Apollo Bay. The trip takes about 4 hours door-to-door. Cost is roughly AU$35–45 one way. The service runs 1–2 times per day; check vline.com.au for current timetables. You'll be car-less in Apollo Bay, so plan to stay central.
- Where can you park in Apollo Bay?
- Most parking in Apollo Bay is free. Great Ocean Road has free time-limited parking through the centre of town (typically 2 hours). The foreshore car parks (north and south of the surf club) offer free unlimited parking. Holiday park guests park within their accommodation. The harbour has its own free car park. In peak summer (December–January) the central spots fill by mid-morning; arrive early or use the foreshore lots.
- Are there EV charging stations in Apollo Bay?
- Yes. Tesla Destination Chargers at multiple accommodation properties (verify with your booking). Chargefox AC charger at the foreshore. The closest fast DC charging is at Lorne (Tesla Supercharger, 8 stalls, ~45 minutes east). For the Great Ocean Road's western leg (Otways → Twelve Apostles), top up at Apollo Bay before continuing — charging is sparser west of here.
- How long is the drive from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles?
- About 90 minutes / 95 km via the Great Ocean Road. The road heads inland from Apollo Bay through Lavers Hill before re-emerging on the coast at Princetown. The most scenic stretch of the entire drive. Allow 2 hours if you're stopping at Maits Rest, Cape Otway, or Lavers Hill on the way.
- Is Apollo Bay accessible by motorhome or caravan?
- Yes, comfortably. The Princes Highway and Surf Coast Highway are easy. The Great Ocean Road from Lorne to Apollo Bay has tight bends but is well-engineered for all vehicles — keep to the speed limit, use the slow-vehicle pull-offs. Multiple foreshore caravan parks (Apollo Bay Holiday Park, Pisces) accommodate large rigs. Skenes Creek (6 km east) has additional caravan options.
- Can you fly to Apollo Bay?
- There's no commercial airport in Apollo Bay. The closest is Melbourne Tullamarine (3 hours' drive). Avalon (near Geelong) is about 2 hours' drive away and occasionally has Jetstar flights from Sydney and Brisbane. Most travellers fly into Melbourne and drive.