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Apollo Bay - Cities, Towns and Localities |
 Nestled
into the picturesque foothills of the Otway Ranges, and
located only 186 km south west of Melbourne on the world
famous
Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay is one of the main towns
on this beautiful coastline. This seaside resort offers
plenty of recreational activities including fishing, horse
riding, eco tours, walking trails, lookouts, museums, as
well as a variety of styles of accommodation to suit all
taste and budgets.
First sighted by Lieutenant Grant, aboard the sailing vessel
Lady Nelson, the bay was named by Captain Loutit in 1845,
who sheltered here in his vessel Apollo. 1840 saw the Henty
brothers establish a major whaling station at Portland and
over the next seven years they had a small whaling station
at Point Bunbury, which is where the Apollo Bay Golf Course
is now established.
Timber cutters moved into the district, with the first major
European settlement occurring about 1850. The timber was cut
and floated out to the ships moored off shore. A number of
sawmills were also established. It was this time that the
settlement was known as Apollo Bay after the schooner
Apollo. Also known as Middleton, then in 1877 the name was
changed to Kambruk. It wasn't until 1952 that the township
became officially known as Apollo Bay.
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Magnificent Cypress Pines and
carved sculptures along the
foreshore |
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On 10th July 1932, Apollo Bay was the scene of one of the
greatest shipping disasters ever witnessed along this part
of the coast. With a number of locals aboard, the coastal
steamer Casino, tried to berth at the towns jetty. It was
suddenly hit by a freak wave, listing, it then sank. Ten men
died as a result. All this occurred in front of the
townsfolk gathered on the jetty. The anchor from the Casino
is today located outside the Apollo Bay Post Office. Check out the great local wood
carvings, crafted by Mark Davies as part of the Creative
Village Project in 1996, located on the foreshores of Apollo
Bay. As well as the Great Ocean Road, there is also the
beautiful Otway Ranges to explore and the spectacular Otway
Fly to experience. For Apollo Bay accommodation
click here. For
up-to-date accommodation, attraction, tours and other information
visit the tourist centre. |
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Apollo
Bay Market
Details: Open every Saturday, where visitors can
browse and buy the freshest seafood that Bass Strait has to
offer.
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Fishing
Details: There are excellent fishing facilities with a
large boat ramp and jetty.
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Lookouts, Walking Tracks and Waterfalls
Details: There are a
number of fantastic scenic walks, looks and waterfalls.
Check out Crow's Nest, Paradise Falls, Mariner's Lookout,
Cape Otway Lighthouse, Cape Otway Cliff Walk, Otway Ranges
and National Park, Beauchamp, Carisbrook and Hopetoun Falls.
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Otway Fly
Tree Top Walk
Ph: 03 5235 9200 Freecall: 1800
300 477
Details: A fantastic 600 metre walkway that takes you
47 metres high, elevated up in the treetops, winding through the temperate
rainforest of the beautiful Otways. There is the lookout, which is ascended via
a spiral walkway through the understorey, emerging amongst the top of the giants
of the forest.
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Apollo Bay Events |
Victoria Events |
Apollo Bay Music Festival
PO Box 128, APOLLO BAY
VIC 3233 Ph: 03 5237 6761
April
Apollo, amongst other ancient
duties, was also god of music and the arts. So Apollo Bay is
the stage for one of Australias popular music festival. It
is a yearly not-for-profit event, powered by the enthusiasm
and dedication of their volunteers and sponsors. Check out
their pictures from last years festival. Held around March.
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