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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Australia

Apollo Bay

Stay 1–2 nights as the midpoint of the Great Ocean Road: 2 nights if you walk part of the Great Ocean Walk, 1 if you are driving Melbourne to Port Campbell.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Nov–Apr
avoid Jun–Aug (wet, cool, fewer services)
Airports
MEL · AVV
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Apollo Bay is a small beach town roughly halfway along the Great Ocean Road, between Lorne and Cape Otway. It works as an overnight stop on the drive, a base for the Otway rainforest and lighthouse, and the start of the Great Ocean Walk. There is no airport and no train: you arrive by car or by the daily coach from Melbourne or Geelong.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Apollo Bay, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
  • Street or quick mealCafé breakfastA$15–28 (≈ US$10–19)
  • BeerDraught beer in a pubA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$15–35 (≈ US$10–25)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personA$35 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per roomA$190 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedMotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per roomA$320 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$170 (≈ US$120) · High A$300 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Great Ocean Road midpointGreat Ocean WalkCape Otway LightstationMaits Rest rainforest walkMarriner's Lookout
Airports
MEL Melbourne Airport (About 3 h by car via Geelong and the Great Ocean Road, or about 2 h 30 min via Colac; coach connections from Melbourne city.) · AVV Avalon Airport (Near Geelong; about 2 h by car to Apollo Bay. Check seasonal flights.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Apollo Bay: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

24°C

14°C

8 rd

Feb

24°C

14°C

7 rd

Mar

22°C

13°C

9 rd

Apr

19°C

11°C

11 rd

May

16°C

9°C

13 rd

Jun

14°C

7°C

14 rd

Jul

13°C

6°C

15 rd

Aug

14°C

6°C

15 rd

Sep

16°C

7°C

13 rd

Oct

18°C

9°C

12 rd

Nov

21°C

11°C

10 rd

Dec

23°C

13°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is small enough to walk: beach, shops and cafés are within about 15 minutes on foot. For Cape Otway, Maits Rest and the Otway Fly you need a car; there is no local public transport. Coaches stop in the town centre.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cape Otway Lightstation

go

Door to door: About 45 min each way

Drive via the Great Ocean Road and Lighthouse Rd, about 30 min

Mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse, in use since 1848; entry fee applies, check hours.

Maits Rest rainforest walk

go

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Drive about 15 min west on the Great Ocean Road

Short boardwalk loop through cool temperate rainforest; glow worms after dark.

Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

caution

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Drive inland via Beech Forest, about 45 min

Paid treetop walk and zipline; book ahead in school holidays.

Twelve Apostles

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h each way

Drive west on the Great Ocean Road, about 1 h 15 min

Go early or late: the car park fills from mid-morning in summer.

Lorne

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive east on the Great Ocean Road, about 45 min

Good lunch stop on the way to or from Melbourne.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Great Ocean Road and Pascoe St)

Walk to beach, shops, cafés and the coach stop; motels, guesthouses and hostels within a few minutes.

Marengo, 2 km south

Quieter, closer to the beach and the start of the Great Ocean Walk; a short drive or 25-min walk to town.

Hills above town (Marriner's Lookout Rd)

Holiday houses with views; you need a car for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$150–250 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
High
A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or guesthouse double room1 × 2 nights × A$190A$380
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$170A$680
Coach Melbourne → Apollo Bay, one way2 × A$40A$80
Cape Otway Lightstation entry2 × A$25A$50
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$20A$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$123
Trip total≈ A$338 per person per day, bed includedA$1,353≈ US$900

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
Café breakfastA$15–28 (≈ US$10–19)
Pub or café mainA$25–40 (≈ US$17–30)
Fish and chipsA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17)
Draught beer in a pubA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8)
Fuel, per litreA$1.80–2.20 (≈ US$2)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$15–35 (≈ US$10–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A safe small town; the real risks are ocean surf, wildlife on the road at dusk, and bushfire on hot, windy summer days: check the fire danger rating before you drive inland.
  • No train and no airport: arrive by car or coach, and book the coach seat ahead in summer.
  • Fuel is limited along the Otway stretch; fill up in Apollo Bay or Colac.
  • Swimming is ocean beach surf, not patrolled every day: swim between the flags when lifesavers are on duty.
  • Mobile signal drops on parts of the Great Ocean Road and in the Otway forest.
  • The Marriner's Falls walking track has been closed by Parks Victoria; check before you plan it.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112
Apollo Bay Medical Centre (urgent care)
03 5237 8595

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Apollo BayApollo Bay

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112
  • Apollo Bay Medical Centre03 5237 8595

Embassy

No embassies in Apollo Bay; consulates-general are in Melbourne. US, UK, Canada and New Zealand missions are all in Melbourne (check addresses).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Coach Melbourne → Apollo Bay: about A$40 (≈ US$30), about 3 h 30 min
  • Coach Apollo Bay → Port Campbell: about A$25 (≈ US$17), about 1 h 30 min
  • Cape Otway Lightstation entry: about A$25 (≈ US$17)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • How much is that? — How much is it?
  • Card OK? — Can I pay by card?
  • Which way to the beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Are the flags up today? — Is it patrolled today?
  • Where's the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

Distances are approximate. Fuel, coach times and opening hours change: check before you drive.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Apollo Bay. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (wet, cool, fewer services) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MEL and AVV: coach and drive times field-checked, late-arrival fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: town centre and beach, Marengo and the walk start, Marriner's Lookout, harbour.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and fees (Cape Otway Lightstation, Otway Fly, Maits Rest) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Summer, fire-risk and storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources