Apollo Bay to Port Campbell drive: Best stops, distance and time
The best stops on the Apollo Bay to Port Campbell drive include Wildlife Wonders, Johanna Beach, Melba Gully and the Twelve Apostles. By car, the distance from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell is 97km, with a driving time of around 1h27m.
The drive from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell is a leg on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road – arguably the most famous driving route in Australia. Both Apollo Bay and Port Campbell make for excellent stops if you’re taking the Great Ocean Road slowly.
For Apollo Bay accommodation, hunt for good deals here. Find your ideal Port Campbell accommodation here.
Apollo Bay to Port Campbell distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell is 97km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 27 minutes.
The best stops on the Apollo Bay to Port Campbell leg of a Great Ocean Road road trip include Wildlife Wonders, the Maits Rest Conservation Walk, Melba Gully, the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
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 Port Campbell road trip: Marengo Reefs and Wildlife Wonders
Leaving Apollo Bay, the Great Ocean Road soon passes the Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary. 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.
The Marker Beacon Lookout in Marengo is a good spot for coastal views, too.
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.
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 Port Campbell drive: Shelly Beach Walking Track
The route from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell runs along the boundary of the Great Otway National Park, cutting across the heavily-forested Cape Otway. Going to the cape itself, and the Cape Otway Light Station, requires a reasonably hefty detour. But there are some shorter diversions that stay much closer to the route.
The first comes just as you hit Great Otway National Park, where the Shelly Beach Walking Track is one of the best short walks along the Great Ocean Road. It’s a 2km loop, which goes through blue gum forest and fern gullies on the way to coastal views from rocky platforms. Plenty of koalas and gliders hang out here.
Click through for the next section: Maits Rest and Castle Cove Lookout.