Sitting in the shadows of the Otway Ranges, Apollo Bay is a picturesque holiday and fishing village about 112 km South West of Geelong. The township is located around the centre of the Great Ocean Road and the first major town heading South West from Lorne, being situated on the eastern side of Cape Otway and the edge of the Barham River. The township is home to around 1800 permanent residents and thousands more during the summer season when the town swells with hundreds of holiday makers.
Apollo Bay is probably best known for its annual music festival which is held mid Autumn and always features an amazing assortment of artists from all over the world, attracting thousands of visitors for the three day event. The event began in 1993 and is that renowned worldwide, even Australia Post produced a special postage stamp featuring the festival a few years back.
The Great Ocean Sports Festival held in early February is another of the town’s major events. This event sees a whole range of water based races including swims, kayak, canoe and paddle. The event is a whole lot of fun attracting a large number of entrants and spectators from all parts of the country.
With a strong heritage of fishing, Apollo Bay has a large boat harbor and fishing fleet. Some of the freshest seafood including crayfish can be found both fresh and at some of the townships cafes and restaurants. Many holiday makers also make use of the good boating facilities and also fish on the piers and long sandy beaches.
The rugged ocean and surrounding rolling hills of the Otways offer spectacular sightseeing in the area. A favourite for photographers is the scenic Mariners Lookout which is located at the northern end of the township.
The town is ideal for families with so much to see and do around the township or only minutes away. The beautiful crescent shaped beach is a relatively safe place for swimming and is patrolled over the summer period. Many people enjoy horse riding along the beaches at sunset, a very popular attraction on warm summer evenings. Many people also enjoy surfing at many of the beaches around Apollo Bay.
The foreshore is home to a Saturday morning market; here you can purchase a wonderful selection of fresh local produce and some unique locally made arts and craft. The foreshore also plays host to a carnival with several thrilling rides and attractions over the summer holiday weeks.
