History & Heritage

A land explored largely by foot and sea.

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Great Ocean Road History

The building of the Great Ocean Road is a story of resolve and conquest over adversity, and a triumph of great Aussie spirit...

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Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch

Built as a tribute to the soldiers from the First World War who were engaged in the construction of the Great Ocean...

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Apollo Bay History Trail

Discover ten historical points of interest on a walk through the Apollo Bay...

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The Old Cable Station Museum

The Cable Station officially opened on the 1st April 1936, it was the Victorian end of the first submarine telephone cable...

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Shipwrecked Coast

By the 1830’s Bass Strait became an important part of the sea route between Europe and New South Wales, with many ships...

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Follow our stories @visit_apollobay

There are many excellent fishing opportunities available in the Otway region. For general enquiries about fishing regulations phone 13 61 86 or check the Victorian Fisheries Authority website: www.vfa.vic.gov.au. Make sure you come and see us at the Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre in Apollo Bay to grab a Fishing Guide with best spots to fish. 
Thanks for the photo @shadowedvalleyphotography
#fishing #VFA #recreationalfishing #fishingtrip #ocean #seafood #greatopia #visitapollobay #visitotways #visitgreatoceanroad #travelkind #stayclosegofurther #IAMapollobay #IAMgreatoceanroad
The sunsets and sunrises at the Great Ocean Road are priceless... 
📸 @seeseaimages
#ontopoftheworld #redsky #sunrise #sunset #greatopia #visitapollobay #visitotways #visitgreatoceanroad #travelkind #stayclosegofurther #IAMapollobay #IAMgreatoceanroad
"The Aire Valley Redwoods [of the Otway Ranges near Beech Forest] are growing at a phenomenal rate and may well be producing wood volume at a faster rate than any stand of trees anywhere in the world" (Smith, R: 2015). 
Pick up a history  brochure about the Redwoods at the info centre in Apollo Bay for more info or visit our website www.apollobay.vic.gov.au. 
📸 @the_clarkes_wild_ride
#roadtrip #familytime #redwoods #sequoia #otwayranges #forest #greatopia #visitapollobay #visitotways #visitgreatoceanroad #travelkind #stayclosegofurther #IAMapollobay #IAMgreatoceanroad
We can't get enough of bird's eye view photos of our region! Enjoy the awe-inspiring coastline and make sure you pop into the GOR info centre in Apollo Bay for a chat with a local. 
📸@hireakombi
#dronepic #birdsview #helicopter #ruggedcoast #greatoceanroad #roadtrip #greatopia #visitapollobay #visitotways #visitgreatoceanroad #travelkind #stayclosegofurther #IAMapollobay #IAMgreatoceanroad
The Southern Ocean is the only ocean that stretches unbroken by any landmass around the globe. This is why its winds and currents are amongst the most powerful on Earth. Source: Australia Remastered: Australia's Oceans
Watch out for rip currents which can pull you out to sea, be aware of changing conditions and if unsure please swim between the flags at patrolled beaches. 
📸 @tallemmens
#southernocean #circumpolarocean #wildsea #caution #strongcurrents #greatopia #visitapollobay #visitotways #visitgreatoceanroad #travelkind #stayclosegofurther #IAMapollobay #IAMgreatoceanroad
Apollo Bay - "The land was originally called Krambruk, which is an Aboriginal word for Sandy Place, then around 1850 the Europeans renamed it to Middleton, thirty years later the name changed again to Apollo Bay after the schooner the Apollo. The Apollo was sailed by Captain Loutit who used the bay as a refuge on a trip between Melbourne and Warrnambool in 1845." Source: www.intown.com.au and The Apollo Bay Museum
📸 @greatoceanphotography
#sandyplace #krambruk #apollobay #middleton #greatopia #visitapollobay #visitotways #visitgreatoceanroad #travelkind #stayclosegofurther #IAMapollobay #IAMgreatoceanroad
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain!" Vivian Greene 
#rainydays #rainbow #danceintherain #rainforest #greatopia #visitapollobay #visitotways #visitgreatoceanroad #travelkind #stayclosegofurther #IAMapollobay #IAMgreatoceanroad

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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.