Apollo Bay, Victoria 🇦🇺 2026

Date: 9th March 2026 

Travelled: 50 kms from Lorne to Apollo Bay  

Visited: Apollo Bay and Cape Otway  

Stayed: BIG4 Apollo Bay CP, $150pn , N38.53597, E143.97541  

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We manage a swim at Lorne ocean pool, but Pam wasn’t impressed with the claimed 25º. It was a very stressful morning having to adjust Pam’s Apple Watch to the 33.3 metre length of the pool and argue with the attendant over the temperature. But as we had paid $9 entry Pam soldiered on.

Glad to be on the road once again leaving that dust bowl of a caravan park behind us. Apollo Bay is less than 50 kms further along Great Ocean Road and a scenic drive it is. There isn’t a section longer than 500m without a sharp sweeping curve. It takes 90 minutes with a coffee stop mostly 4th and 5th gear.

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We roll into the BIG4 at Apollo Bay finding our spot with a view across the bay. This is a long weekend in Victoria, so sites are at a premium. As we normally only book a few days before arrival there was nothing available at any of the CP around Apollo Bay except this ensuite site which cost a bomb. You’d think after all these years on the road I would have remembered that they still have Labor Day in Victoria. No wonder the place is going broke.

The BIG4 is very nice and well run.

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Apollo Bay, Shire of Colac Otway, Victoria, 3233, Australia

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Once we’ve settled in we go off to the centre of town to do some exploring. According to the census data it about the same size as Lorne but the Main Street is all cafes and restaurants and around lunch time they are all full everyday day of our stay. Don’t know how they all survive through winter ?

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So it’s morning walks every day, but we manage a swim on Sunday morning at the aquatic centre. I found the 30º a struggle after a while but Pam loved it.

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So apart from driving the GOR Cape Otway and its lighthouse are a must to visit. The drive takes about 30 minutes the last 10 kms is single lane made dangerous by the idiots who stop in the middle of the road look up at what may be a koala bear. Mind you we spotted a couple of koalas without trying too hard.

The lighthouse precinct has a $10 entry for concessions.

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Cape Otway Lighthouse went into operation in 1848, we couldn’t get close to the base of the lighthouse as there are renovations underway. Interestingly since the lighthouse started operations 6 ships have still been shipwrecked along the Otway coastline.

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After walking the lighthouse path, visiting the museum we have lunch at the cafe. From there we walk some 800m on to the cemetery. Only a few graves are still visible as a sand dune has covered much of the area. According to the ranger the graves are mostly the children of the lighthouse keeper’s families. There was no road to the lighthouse for many years so supplies and help could only come by ship.

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Cape Otway well worth the drive and a few hours wandering about. Anyway the lighthouse is done and it’s time to make our way back to Apollo Bay.

Just for fun some images from our TV appear below. Travelling we normally watch our TV via the Jayco’s satellite dish. For some odd licensing reason the transmissions come out of the NT. All the same channels you get in Sydney or Melbourne but the advertisements are local NT.

They have some interesting adds and we do have some fun with seeing our tax payers dollars at work.

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So Apollo Bay is done. Pam has enjoyed her ensuite, I‘ve enjoyed some concrete, grass and no dust.

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Michael + Pam