Why locals say Apollo Bay offers more than your average Melbourne suburb

The Great Ocean Road is a bucket-list destination for many Australians – it’s a world-class drive linking Torquay to Allansford along 241 kilometres of winding coastal road. Known for its dramatic limestone stacks, rugged beaches, rainforest walks and wildlife, it’s a favourite with domestic and international visitors alike.

The coastal villages dotted along its route are among the drive’s highlights. Apollo Bay, tucked between the foothills of the Otway Ranges and Bass Strait, is near the Great Ocean Road’s midpoint.

Far from merely being a pit-stop for road-trippers, Cate Thomas, a local and an agent with Great Ocean Properties, says Apollo Bay offers more for its residents than your average Melbourne suburb.

Festival flavour

Once home to timber workers and farmers, the town is now a magnet for artists, holidaymakers and beach lovers. It has also earned the title “seafood capital” of the Great Ocean Road.

The region holds an annual seafood festival every February, featuring cooking demonstrations from local and celebrity chefs, live entertainment, market stalls and an abundance of seafood.

“There’s a lot happening here, it’s a vibrant and eclectic community with a diversity of skills,” Thomas says. “The community has a very grounded energy and really gets behind events.”

This year the community introduced a mid-year festival, WinterWild, a four-week event championing live music, performance and visual arts.

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Community connection

Thomas says her office fields a fairly constant stream of inquiries from young families and retirees wanting to move to the area, as well as buyers looking for a second home.

“We get what we call semi-permanent locals who have downsized in Melbourne, and seem to see this more as their community than their city base,” she says. “People do seem to be able to find a real connection with community here.”

Abercromby’s agent Jock Langley says the level of services in the region continues to improve.

“The area has become more accessible and the drive is easier since the ring road went in,” he says. “There are lots of really nice eateries between Melbourne and Apollo Bay and it’s a great experience just to get here. Plus, it’s part of the surf coast, a very attractive part of the world.”

Langley says the region is highly sought after for both holiday homes and properties to enjoy in retirement, with expats from Singapore and Hong Kong active in the market.

What to buy

371 Great Ocean Road, Marengo Apollo Bay. Photo: Supplied

Designed by award-winning architect Peter McIntyre, Storm Point Cottage could have jumped straight from the pages of a glossy magazine.

Claiming private access onto Moo Cow Beach and captivating views over Bass Strait, the property has multiple window seats and decks.

Your hardest decision of the day will be where to curl up and enjoy the coastal lifestyle.

Jock Langley of Abercromby’s Real Estate, and Darren Brimacombe of Great Ocean Road Real Estate, have set the guide between $2.85 million and $3 million.

See more of 371 Great Ocean Road, Margengo here or download the Domain app for more listings near Apollo Bay