Apollo Bay & Cape Otway
About halfway along the road, Apollo Bay is a relaxed fishing town and the gateway to the Otways — the natural place to break the drive overnight. Nearby, a detour leads to the historic Cape Otway Lightstation, mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse, on wild cliffs where two oceans meet. Here's what to see and why it's the perfect midway stop.
Harbour town & halfway base
Apollo Bay curves around a wide beach with a working harbour at one end — meaning excellent fresh seafood. Climb Mariners Lookout for a sweeping view over town and bay, stroll the laid-back main street, and use it as your overnight base midway along the road. It's also the eastern start of the Great Ocean Walk, the ~104 km coastal trail to the Twelve Apostles. Relaxed, scenic and well-placed — an easy town to love.
The lightstation & the koalas
A short detour down Lighthouse Road leads to the Cape Otway Lightstation — built in 1848, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia, standing where Bass Strait meets the Southern Ocean. Climb the tower, explore the keepers' cottages and telegraph station, and drink in the views (paid entry). The drive in is also a famous spot for wild koalas in the roadside manna gums — go slowly, look up, and never approach or feed them.
Coast on foot
For walkers, the Great Ocean Walk runs ~104 km from Apollo Bay along wild beaches, clifftops and forest all the way to the Twelve Apostles. Tackle the full multi-day trek (with booked accommodation or campsites) or simply walk a scenic day section — even an hour on the trail delivers big rewards. Combined with the Otways behind town, Apollo Bay makes a brilliant base for anyone who wants to get out of the car and into the landscape.
Apollo Bay & Cape Otway: your questions
Apollo Bay is a relaxed fishing and holiday town about midway along the road — the gateway to the Otways and a natural overnight stop between the surf coast and the Twelve Apostles. It has a sweeping beach, a working harbour (fresh seafood!), the Mariners Lookout for views over the bay, and a laid-back main street of cafés and pubs. It's also the eastern trailhead of the Great Ocean Walk.
Yes — the Cape Otway Lightstation is open to visitors (paid entry), reached via Lighthouse Road off the Great Ocean Road. Built in 1848, it's the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia, perched on dramatic cliffs where Bass Strait meets the Southern Ocean. You can climb the tower, explore the keepers' cottages and telegraph station, and take in huge coastal views. It's a worthwhile detour of a couple of hours.
Lighthouse Road to Cape Otway is a well-known spot for wild koalas in the roadside manna gums — drive slowly and look up into the trees. (Another reliable koala spot is Kennett River, back towards Lorne.) Please never approach or feed them, and take care on the road. See our wildlife guide for the best places to spot koalas, kangaroos and more along the coast.
The Great Ocean Walk is a spectacular ~104 km coastal hiking trail running from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, through the Otways, along wild beaches and clifftops. You can walk the whole thing over several days (with booked campsites or lodges) or do shorter day sections — many people just tackle a scenic stretch. It's one of Australia's great coastal walks, and Apollo Bay is its starting point.
Yes — it's one of the best overnight bases on the road, roughly halfway along, so it breaks the drive nicely and puts you close to the Otways for morning waterfalls and koalas. It has a good range of accommodation and eating options, from motels and holiday parks to B&Bs, plus fresh-off-the-boat seafood at the harbour. Book ahead in summer and over holidays.