Apollo Bay to 12 Apostles road trip: Best stops, distance & time
The best stops on an Apollo Bay to 12 Apostles road trip along the Great Ocean Road include Wildlife Wonders, Melba Gully and Wreck Beach. By car, the distance from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles is 85km, with a driving time of around 1h20m.
The Apollo Bay to 12 Apostles drive covers most of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. The 12 Apostles is where many of the day tour buses turn back for Melbourne at the end of the trip.
This guide is aimed at travellers who are self-driving, and want to plot out the best stops on an Apollo Bay to 12 Apostles road trip itinerary. Click through on the links for more detailed information on the towns and attractions.
Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne
- For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
- To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
- For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
- For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
- For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
- For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.
Apollo Bay to 12 Apostles distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles via the Great Ocean Road is 85km. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 20 minutes.
The best stops on the way from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles include Wildlife Wonders, Melba Gully and Wreck Beach.
7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.
Apollo Bay to 12 Apostles road trip: Marengo and Wildlife Wonders
The Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary comes just after Apollo Bay. This is where Apollo Bay Surf and Kayak runs its Great Ocean Road kayaking tours that visit the Australian fur seals hanging out on the rocks.
Just after Marengo, the Great Ocean Road cuts inland, passing Wildlife Wonders. This special bushland wildlife sanctuary offers guided nature walks that put an emphasis on the conservation projects and the techniques used to take care of native Australian creatures.
No particular animal sightings are guaranteed, but there’s a very good chance of spotting koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and emus.
Click through to the next section: Cutting across Cape Otway.