Melbourne to Apollo Bay road trip: Best stops, distance & time

Melbourne to Apollo Bay drive: Lorne to Skenes Creek.

Before tackling the Lorne to Apollo Bay leg of the journey, you might want to venture inland from Lorne into the Great Otway National Park forests. There are several excellent bushwalks here. The 7.5km Erskine Falls walk from the town passes several Great Ocean Road waterfalls on the way to the 30 metre cascade, but it’s much quicker if you drive up and take the short walk from the Erskine Falls car park. Sheoak Falls is also worth visiting, but Lower Kalimna Falls, Phantom Falls and Henderson Falls aren’t exactly ugly either.

About halfway along the drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay is Kennett River. Here, you’ll find dozens of brazen cockatoos strutting outside Kafe Koala. Kennett River is best known for its koala population, though. Take a walk along Grey River Road and you’ll spot plenty of koalas up trees.

One of the Kennett River koalas. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

The Cape Patton Lookout offers fabulous coastal views about 5km further along.

The next major stop is Skenes Creek, where Skenes Beach is a popular swimming spot. You can also camp right next to the beach. The Skenes Creek Road heads inland from here for a series of worthwhile attractions. Try canoeing with platypus on Lake Elizabeth, tackling the Otway Fly treetop adventure course and walking to Hopetoun Falls in Beech Forest.

Attractions between Melbourne and Apollo Bay: Skenes Creek to Apollo Bay

From Skenes Creek, it’s about 8km to Apollo Bay. And a cold beer awaits at the Apollo Bay Hotel.

Apollo Bay accommodation options include the budget-friendly Apollo Bay Eco YHA, the in-town Dolphin Apartments and the romantic Beacon Point Ocean View Villas on the hilltop.

The Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary is just outside 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.