Driftwood Cottage Guidebook for Apollo Bay
Parks & Nature
Explore the beautiful Great Otways National Park, more recommendations & maps available via the Tourist Information Centre on the beach side of the main street.
Great and easy 30 minute circuit walk through old rainforest, beautiful trees & ferns and about 20 minutes drive from the property along the great ocean road.
118 locals recommend
Maits Rest Rainforest Walk
Great Ocean RoadGreat and easy 30 minute circuit walk through old rainforest, beautiful trees & ferns and about 20 minutes drive from the property along the great ocean road.
Marengo rock pools, go for a walk explore the rockpools, kids and adults love these fun for the whole family, surrounded by marine reserve look to the rocks in the ocean can you spot the seals? Park just outside the Marengo caravan park.
Marengo
Marengo rock pools, go for a walk explore the rockpools, kids and adults love these fun for the whole family, surrounded by marine reserve look to the rocks in the ocean can you spot the seals? Park just outside the Marengo caravan park.
Thrilling to find a small redwood plantation deep in Australian wilderness. The Sequoia sempervirens were originally planted in 1932 as a logging experiment but were never cut down.
23 locals recommend
The Redwoods Otways
Binns RoadThrilling to find a small redwood plantation deep in Australian wilderness. The Sequoia sempervirens were originally planted in 1932 as a logging experiment but were never cut down.
Beautiful waterfall Hopetoun Falls a few minutes drive from the Redwoods forest.
33 locals recommend
Hopetoun Falls
Beautiful waterfall Hopetoun Falls a few minutes drive from the Redwoods forest.
Otway Fly Treetop Adventures
This one’s my favourite. Immerse yourself in nature with this beautiful circuit walk.
37 locals recommend
Triplet Falls
Phillips TrackThis one’s my favourite. Immerse yourself in nature with this beautiful circuit walk.
45 minute circuit walk from the Shelly beach picnic area. Walk through stunning forest to get to this beach. The track traverses through fern gullies, coastal scrub, along Shelly Beach and across rocky platforms to Elliot River. Return through a majestic stand of blue gums, inhabited by koalas and nocturnal Yellow-bellied Gliders. Check with the info centre in town on this walk before you go.
7 locals recommend
Shelly Beach
45 minute circuit walk from the Shelly beach picnic area. Walk through stunning forest to get to this beach. The track traverses through fern gullies, coastal scrub, along Shelly Beach and across rocky platforms to Elliot River. Return through a majestic stand of blue gums, inhabited by koalas and nocturnal Yellow-bellied Gliders. Check with the info centre in town on this walk before you go.
Sightseeing
A must do whilst in Apollo Bay and only a couple of minutes drive from the property or if you want a work out park your car at the bottom of the hill and walk up. You get a beautiful view of the whole bay and it is an excellent spot for panoramic photos. Drive to the top of the hill, park your car and have an easy short walk the rest of the way along a meandering path. Anytime of day is good to go at sunset you will see the twinkling lights of apollo bay.
Please note there are no rubbish bins or toilets on this private site please take any rubbish home with you.
71 locals recommend
Marriner's Lookout Car Park
155 Marriners Lookout RdA must do whilst in Apollo Bay and only a couple of minutes drive from the property or if you want a work out park your car at the bottom of the hill and walk up. You get a beautiful view of the whole bay and it is an excellent spot for panoramic photos. Drive to the top of the hill, park your car and have an easy short walk the rest of the way along a meandering path. Anytime of day is good to go at sunset you will see the twinkling lights of apollo bay.
Please note there are no rubbish bins or toilets on this private site please take any rubbish home with you.
This 12-kilometre stretch of road is numbered one of the five most incredible rainforest drives in Australia.
Turtons Track
Turtons TrackThis 12-kilometre stretch of road is numbered one of the five most incredible rainforest drives in Australia.
Tourist Information Centre - There is a twice daily bus from here that goes from Geelong to Apollo Bay and back. You can use this bus to get to different destinations along the great ocean road, eg. shopping in Lorne for a day! Bus tickets can be purchased from the Visitor Information Centre. There are connections to Melbourne trains from Geelong railway station.
30 locals recommend
Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre
100 Great Ocean RdTourist Information Centre - There is a twice daily bus from here that goes from Geelong to Apollo Bay and back. You can use this bus to get to different destinations along the great ocean road, eg. shopping in Lorne for a day! Bus tickets can be purchased from the Visitor Information Centre. There are connections to Melbourne trains from Geelong railway station.
The Apollo Bay Museum is housed in the buildings from which the undersea cable connected Tasmania to the mainland and is operated by the Apollo Bay Historical Society. The museum displays relics from some of the shipwrecks and ships that were essentially the primary means of access before the Great Ocean Road and of the life of what was an extremely isolated community.
Don't forget to check out the Casino's anchor next to the Apollo Bay Distillery. The Casino sank off Apollo Bay and its shell can be viewed from Mariner's lookout.
Open Times: 2pm - 5pm Weekends, Public School Holidays.
49 locals recommend
Apollo Bay Museum
6250 Great Ocean RdThe Apollo Bay Museum is housed in the buildings from which the undersea cable connected Tasmania to the mainland and is operated by the Apollo Bay Historical Society. The museum displays relics from some of the shipwrecks and ships that were essentially the primary means of access before the Great Ocean Road and of the life of what was an extremely isolated community.
Don't forget to check out the Casino's anchor next to the Apollo Bay Distillery. The Casino sank off Apollo Bay and its shell can be viewed from Mariner's lookout.
Open Times: 2pm - 5pm Weekends, Public School Holidays.
Places to eat
Sweets, food & pies, bacon & egg rolls & fresh bread. Home of the famous scallop pie.
70 locals recommend
Apollo Bay Bakery
125 Great Ocean RdSweets, food & pies, bacon & egg rolls & fresh bread. Home of the famous scallop pie.
Delicious greek food with stunning views, get there before sunset to have a drink and appreciate the view.
81 locals recommend
Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant & Villa Accommodation
280 Skenes Creek RdDelicious greek food with stunning views, get there before sunset to have a drink and appreciate the view.
Modern cuisine, relaxed dining with outdoor seating, great spot for breakfast or lunch.
24 locals recommend
Cafe 153
153 Great Ocean RdModern cuisine, relaxed dining with outdoor seating, great spot for breakfast or lunch.
Italian restaurant, lovely ambience, great serving sizes, delicious food.
86 locals recommend
Casalingo
1 Moore StItalian restaurant, lovely ambience, great serving sizes, delicious food.
Fish n chips and crays to eat on their balcony with a view of the harbour.
40 locals recommend
Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-Op
2 Breakwater RdFish n chips and crays to eat on their balcony with a view of the harbour.
Crepes, crepes, crepes! Savoury or sweet, great size servings and very tasty, my kids favourite spot also free wi-fi and charging stations available in house.
8 locals recommend
Waves
143 Great Ocean RdCrepes, crepes, crepes! Savoury or sweet, great size servings and very tasty, my kids favourite spot also free wi-fi and charging stations available in house.
Large diner great for families, pizzas, charcoal chicken, fish and chips
8 locals recommend
George's Restaurant
111 Great Ocean RdLarge diner great for families, pizzas, charcoal chicken, fish and chips
You scream I scream We all Scream for ICE CREAM, award winning ice cream.
21 locals recommend
Dooley's Premium Ice Cream
89 Great Ocean RdYou scream I scream We all Scream for ICE CREAM, award winning ice cream.
Little Crumb Bakery
57 Great Ocean RdA lovely little bakery, great coffee & food
Apollo Bay Distillery
23-27 Great Ocean RdGin and pizzas!
Icaro Wholefood Cafe
1G Moore StBest coffee in town!
125 Great Ocean Rd
125 Great Ocean RoadLocated above the bakery.
Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-operative
You can buy fresh seafood from here to cook at home.
Take a seat, look out over the fishing boats. Fish and chips or lobster lunch here with a view of the harbour.
40 locals recommend
Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-Op
2 Breakwater RdTake a seat, look out over the fishing boats. Fish and chips or lobster lunch here with a view of the harbour.
Places to socialise
Large variety of beers on tap, live music, restaurant & outdoor deck dining, you need to book restaurant in advance during peak periods.
69 locals recommend
Great Ocean Road Brewhouse
35 Great Ocean RdLarge variety of beers on tap, live music, restaurant & outdoor deck dining, you need to book restaurant in advance during peak periods.
Sample local produce and a variety of boutique beers.
31 locals recommend
Tastes of the Region - Apollo Bay
1 McLaren ParadeSample local produce and a variety of boutique beers.
Pub with indoor/outdoor seating and entertainment over peak season.
68 locals recommend
The Apollo Bay Hotel
95 Great Ocean RdPub with indoor/outdoor seating and entertainment over peak season.
Bring your clubs, course by the beach with stunning ocean views.
10 locals recommend
Apollo Bay Golf Club Inc
Bring your clubs, course by the beach with stunning ocean views.
Gin flight for a taste of different gins, pizzas and coffee also available at this establishment.
27 locals recommend
Apollo Bay Distillery
23-27 Great Ocean RdGin flight for a taste of different gins, pizzas and coffee also available at this establishment.
Food & Medical Assistance
FoodWorks Apollo Bay
4 Hardy StLargest supermarket with attached liquor store.
IGA Apollo Bay Plus Liquor
103-109 Great Ocean RdCommunity Care Chemist - Apollo Bay
123 Great Ocean RdPharmacy
Otway Health
75 McLachlan StHospital with 24 hour emergency service.