Affectionately known as ‘Paradise by the Sea’, this beachfront town on the Great Ocean Road is truly that: paradise. With coastline voted some of the best in Australia, gorgeous, rolling hills full of wildlife and great places to eat and drink, Apollo Bay is the perfect stop on your next Great Ocean Road trip.

So let Mamma take you through some of the best that this gorgeous region of the Otways has to offer.

Beaches

In 2023, Apollo Bay was voted the fourth best beach in Australia! It’s easy to see why. What Mamma loves about this town is there are so many kid-friendly spots to explore along the coastline.

Mamma’s top picks are:

Apollo Bay Main Beach (the area in front of the Surf Lifesaving Club is patrolled during peak seasons);
Apollo Bay Back Beach (this is where the Barham River connects to the sea - the channel is the perfect swimming spot for little ones);
Wild Dog Creek (this is where Wild Dog Creek meets the ocean, making it another great spot for little paddlers);
Apollo Bay Coastal Reserve (a lovely, protected spot overlooking the harbour);
Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary (the perfect spot to explore rock pools and find hidden treasures - Mamma’s eldest loves searching for starfish!)

Eat

Mamma’s been walking past the glorious homestead on Hardy Street for more than 30 years and has always wondered what the inside looked like. Now that the owners of Shelter Cafe have restored this gorgeous beauty, Mamma has found out - and it is simply stunning!

Perched high upon the hill on Hardy Street, Shelter is a family-run, wholefoods cafe focused on locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients.

With a delicious breakfast menu and amazing space to enjoy it, this is the perfect spot for a good feed and a roam for the kids. With plenty of space for a picnic rug, a table on the veranda, or a seat inside the cosy, revitalised homestead, the beautiful menu complements the gorgeous surrounds. Mamma’s favourite bit? The backyard.

Out the back of the homestead are picnic tables under umbrellas and plenty of green space to roam, complete with cubby, slide and swing under the willow trees and festoon lights. This makes it the perfect spot for littlies. Mamma highly recommends trying out Shelter on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. This is sourdough pizza night and it is very special. Mamma swears by the The Big Italian pizza - it is a game changer.

Play

Behind a predator-proof fence on the stunning Apollo Bay coastline lies a wildlife sanctuary home to native and threatened wildlife. Stepping foot into Wildlife Wonders transports you into a different world where you can experience the stunning Otways before the introduction of non-native flora and fauna.

Visitors are lucky enough to get to embark upon a 75 minute tour of this gorgeous sanctuary, with opportunities to see emus, pademelons, long-nosed potoroos, koalas and more. The tour is pram-friendly and an easy 1.5km return walk. Mamma’s 4 and 2 year olds managed the walk with ease, and Mamma’s 4 year old really enjoyed wearing his own headset and learning all sorts of facts about the surrounding fauna and flora. Tours run daily, with different options including a twilight and photographer’s tour. It’s a beautiful way to see Australian native animals up close and in their natural environment.

Once the tour is finished, Mamma highly recommends hitting the Emu Cafe. With a cake cabinet stocked by local artisans and a seasonal menu with fresh, local produce, a visit here is a must. Mamma highly recommends anything supplied by The Potoroo Pantry, and her littlies absolutely demolish the homemade sausage rolls every time.

Treat

Anyone local to Apollo Bay will tell you that the best ice cream in all of Australia can be found at Dooley’s. Mamma goes so far as to say it’s the best ice cream in the world!

It takes five seconds from setting through the front door to notice the wall clad entirely from awards this delightful shop has won over the years. Made locally on the Great Ocean Road, the ice cream is the creamiest you’ll ever try and the shop has an array of unique flavours. Mamma highly recommends the Vegemite - don’t knock it til you try it! Mamma’s little ones are repeat customers for the unicorn poo flavour and the Milo ice cream with a drizzle of Nutella.

Established in 2000, Dooley’s has been an Apollo Bay institution for more than 25 years and has cemented itself in the region as the best spot for an ice cream. And in 2024, they set up a second shop in Torquay, spreading the delicious Dooley’s recipe up and down the coast road.

So next time you’re on the Great Ocean Road, be sure to stop in for a cone or two. Mamma dares you to stop at just one scoop!

Apollo Bay really is paradise by the sea. It’s a truly special town, worthy of a stop on your next adventure down the famed Great Ocean Road.

Mamma Knows West – Inspiration for local families