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Great Ocean Road
Wild koala in eucalyptus tree at Cape Otway along the Great Ocean Road
Apollo Bay activities

Things to do in Apollo Bay

Two days' worth of attractions in town and within an hour's drive — the working harbour, Cape Otway koalas, the Otway forest, the Great Ocean Walk.

Where to stay Apollo Bay overview
The shortlist

What you should not skip

Apollo Bay sits at the gateway to two completely different landscapes — the working coastal harbour, and the deep Otway rainforest behind. Most travellers underestimate how much there is to do within 60 minutes of town. The strict shortlist:

  1. The Cape Otway drive — 12 km of manna-gum forest with near-guaranteed wild koala sightings, ending at mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse. Half-day commitment.
  2. Mariners Lookout — 5 minutes' drive uphill behind town. The aerial-style view of the entire bay. Best at sunrise.
  3. The Apollo Bay harbour at 4pm — fishing boats unload daily. Pick up cooked seafood from the Co-op.
  4. Maits Rest Rainforest Walk — 30-minute boardwalk loop through soft tree-fern gully on the way to/from Cape Otway.
  5. The Otway Fly Treetop Walk — 600-metre steel walkway 25 metres above the canopy, 45 minutes inland.

Below: the full breakdown by activity type — from a 30-minute foreshore walk to a 32-kilometre Great Ocean Walk thru-hike.

In town

Within walking distance

  • Apollo Bay foreshore promenade — paved path runs the full 3.5 km of the bay. Flat, dog-friendly outside summer hours.
  • Apollo Bay harbour — the working fishing port at the eastern end of town. Visit at 4–5pm when boats unload.
  • Apollo Bay main beach — patrolled in summer, sheltered swimming, body boarding.
  • Apollo Bay Markets — Saturday morning foreshore market (8am–1pm) with local produce and crafts.
  • Apollo Bay Brewing Co — local craft brewery on the eastern edge of town. Tasting paddles, bistro food.
  • Apollo Bay Eco Centre — small free centre with rainforest and marine exhibits, good for rainy hours.
  • Mountain to Sea sculpture trail — outdoor sculpture path running through town, free to explore.
Just out of town

Within a 30-minute drive

  • Mariners Lookout (5 min) — short uphill walk to the best aerial view of Apollo Bay. Free, sunrise-best.
  • Marriners Falls (15 min) — 20-metre cascade in a small Otway gully. 30-min return walk.
  • Maits Rest Rainforest Walk (15 min) — 30-min boardwalk loop through tree-fern gully. Step-free.
  • Cape Otway Lightstation (35 min) — historic precinct, plus the koala drive on the way in. Full guide.
  • Triplet Falls (35 min inland) — 1.5 km loop walk through deep Otway rainforest.
  • Hopetoun Falls (35 min) — short steep walk to a 30-metre cascade.
  • Beauchamp Falls (45 min) — bigger walk into the Otway rainforest, 60-metre falls.
  • Otway Fly Treetop Walk (45 min) — elevated walkway above the canopy. Full guide.
Apollo Bay fishing harbour with crayfish boats and seafood co-op
The working harbour at the eastern end of town. The Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-op opens to the public for off-the-boat fish and chips most afternoons.
Walking

Walks and hikes from Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is the eastern trailhead of the 110 km Great Ocean Walk. Even if you're not thru-hiking, several day sections start from town:

  • Apollo Bay to Marengo — 5 km return, easy beach foreshore walk.
  • Marengo to Elliott Ridge — 12 km return, moderate, coastal heath and ocean views.
  • Apollo Bay to Shelly Beach (one-way) — 17 km. Arrange a shuttle return.
  • Apollo Bay to Cape Otway thru-hike — 32 km, 2 days. The classic Great Ocean Walk section.
On the water

Surfing, swimming, fishing

  • Apollo Bay main beach — patrolled summer, gentle waves, family-friendly.
  • Marengo Beach (3 km south) — gentler still, good for toddlers.
  • Surfing — best at the western end of Apollo Bay main beach on south-west swell. Beginner-to-intermediate.
  • Fishing charters — half- and full-day trips from the harbour for snapper, gummy shark, bluefin tuna in season.
  • Land fishing — harbour wall, Marengo rocks. Bait at Apollo Bay Tackle Shop.
A perfect day

If you have a single day in Apollo Bay

6:30am — Drive 5 minutes up to Mariners Lookout. Watch the bay light up at sunrise.

7:30am — Coffee and breakfast at Bay Leaf Café.

9:00am — Drive to Cape Otway via Lighthouse Road. Take the koala drive slowly. 90 minutes at the lightstation.

12:30pm — Picnic lunch at the cape, or back in Apollo Bay at La Bimba.

2:30pm — Stop at Maits Rest on the way back for a 30-minute rainforest walk.

4:00pm — Visit the harbour as boats unload. Buy fresh fish and chips from the Fishermen's Co-op.

5:30pm — Beer tasting at the Apollo Bay Brewing Co.

7:30pm — Dinner at La Bimba (book ahead) for upstairs Italian with bay views.

Frequently asked

Apollo Bay things-to-do FAQs

What are the top things to do in Apollo Bay?
Walk the harbour at sunset (4–5pm when boats unload), drive Lighthouse Road for koala spotting and the Cape Otway Lightstation, visit Mariners Lookout for the aerial view of the bay, do the Otway Fly Treetop Walk inland, and walk a section of the Great Ocean Walk from town. Eat at La Bimba and the Fishermen's Co-op. Combined, this is two full days of activity.
Is Apollo Bay good for kids?
Yes — one of the most kid-friendly towns on the road. The patrolled main beach is gentle and protected. The harbour is fascinating to children (boats unload most afternoons). The Otway Fly is a major hit for families. Mariners Lookout has an easy short walk. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve (75 minutes west) lets kids see kangaroos up close.
How do you see koalas at Apollo Bay?
Drive south on Lighthouse Road toward Cape Otway. The 12 km road through manna gum forest is one of the highest-density koala areas in Australia. Drive slowly, pull over wherever you see other cars stopped, and look 8–15 metres up in the forks of trees. Late afternoon (the last 90 minutes before sunset) is the most productive time. The drive itself takes 90 minutes round-trip from Apollo Bay.
What is the Otway Fly Treetop Walk?
A 600-metre elevated steel walkway 25 metres above the rainforest canopy in the Otway Ranges, plus a 47-metre spiral lookout tower. About 45 minutes' drive inland from Apollo Bay. Allow 90 minutes on-site. Great for kids and accessibility (the walkway is mostly flat and step-free). Entry around AU$30/adult.
Are there walks near Apollo Bay?
Many. The Great Ocean Walk's eastern end is in Apollo Bay — easy day sections include Apollo Bay to Marengo (5 km return) and Marengo to Elliott Ridge (12 km return). Mariners Lookout is a 30-min uphill walk. The Otway forest has Maits Rest (30-min boardwalk), Triplet Falls (1.5 km loop), Hopetoun Falls and Beauchamp Falls. For bigger fitness levels, the Apollo Bay to Cape Otway thru-hike (32 km, 2 days) is the classic.
What can you do in Apollo Bay when it's raining?
The harbour is genuinely better in rain — drama, drama, drama. The Apollo Bay Brewing Co is a comfortable indoor afternoon. Many cafés on Great Ocean Road accommodate sit-and-watch-the-rain time. The Apollo Bay Visitor Centre and the Eco Centre have decent free indoor exhibits. The Otway rainforest walks are arguably better in light drizzle — Maits Rest in particular comes alive.
Can you go fishing from Apollo Bay?
Yes — the harbour has multiple charter operators running half-day and full-day trips for snapper, flathead, gummy shark, and bluefin tuna in season (March–June). Land-based fishing is good off the harbour wall and the Marengo rocks. Buy bait and tackle at the Apollo Bay Tackle Shop on Great Ocean Road.
Are there waterfalls near Apollo Bay?
Yes. Triplet Falls (35 minutes inland), Hopetoun Falls (35 min), Beauchamp Falls (45 min) are the classics. Sheoak Falls (Lorne direction, 35 min) and Marriners Falls (15 min) are closer alternatives. All are within day-trip distance. Best after rain. Wear closed-toe shoes for the wet boardwalks.

Plan a 2-day Apollo Bay base

Where to stay → 3-day classic itinerary