Wrestle a fighting salmon from the Barham River mouth and dive amongst the rocks spying the glaring eyes of a wary lobster. Or, trusting the expert team of fisherman and chef to serve up the ‘catch of the day’.
Plucked from the shores of Bass Strait moments before the dinnertime rush. Crayfish are the specialty of Apollo Bay and come as fresh as you will find anywhere in the world. A stroll down to the harbour will see the days catch of crayfish being hauled ashore. Follow the watery trail to the Fisherman’s Co-Op to hand select your own banquet of underwater delicacies; crayfish, prawns and snapper, to be enjoyed amongst good company and sand between your toes. Local chefs are a match for Apollo Bay’s reputation as the crayfish capital. Find a restaurant advertising ‘Fresh Fish’ and you are sure to be on to a winner. Looking for that something special? Book in an eve at Chris’s for crayfish matched with a locally crafted Sauvignon Blanc and a epic view over the very coastline your dinner was plucked.
For a town with a reputation for the freshest of fresh seafood, local chefs promise not to disappoint with a range of restaurants serving up ‘catch of the day’ delights for lunch and dinner.
Dining options are broad in Apollo Bay and well worth the holiday on their own. But if you only have a few meals to share, let your tastebuds lead you to the local faves renowned for serving up local fresh seafood.
Teaming with treasures of the sea, commercial fishing in Apollo Bay dates back to the 1930’s when road improvements first made transporting a catch of barracoutta to the city plausible. Today the fishermen of Apollo Bay predominantly fish for rock lobster (crayfish), snapper, scallops, squid, salmon, flathead and trevally. Head down to the Fisherman’s Co-Op as the boats arrive into harbour for a true boat to BBQ ‘catch of the day’.
You don’t need a boat to find your own fish in Apollo Bay. Both the surrounding rivers and coastlines are abound with fish for your skillful taking. Drop a lure off the harbour wall and you are likely to catch a trevally or squid. Cast a line from Marengo surf beach or the Barham River entrance and you might snag a salmon, bream or mullet. (A Victorian Recreational fishing License is required by law) Find your sea legs and reel in something a little larger from the productive waters of Bass Strait. Out at sea you will be hunting salmon, pike, barracoutta and gummy sharks. Fishing charters operate from the Apollo Bay harbour. Booking information can be found at the local Visitor Information Centre.
Ready to add to your ‘best ever’ list? You’d better be, because this pie will soon be your new fave.
The flavour is Scallop Pie and the location is the Apollo Bay Bakery located right on the Great Ocean Road. Made with local fresh scallops, the all important gravy is a light cream (not to buttery) with a hint of curry that complements rather than over powers the more delicate flavours. The pastry is flaky, nothing to heavy, packaging everything to a treat.
Apollo Bay Bakery has a long list of round #2 pie flavours (1 x visit is never enough) including the standards plus a few gourmet varieties. Some standouts are the lamb, honey, mustard and rosemary pie, the seafood pie and the vegetable and chickpea korma pie.
Apollo Bay Bakery is open from 6am – 4pm daily.
Delivering everything you would expect from a town famous for seafood, the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival and Local Produce Festival is an aquatic smorgasbord serving up all the deliciousness supplied in abundance from the local waters. On the menu you can expect fresh crayfish, abalone, calamari, mussels, flake, scallops, snapper and land based treats like raspberries, shitake mushrooms, olives, wines, beers, truffles, cheeses, vegetables and meats all locally sourced.
Staged on the picturesque foreshore, Apollo Bay Seafood Festival has been held each February since 2011. The day kicks off with cooking demonstrations from local and celebrity chefs, live entertainment, market stalls, wine, beer and of course – seafood in abundance! Joining in on the action, local restaurants and venues fill up with punters, creating an exciting festival vibe around town.
Unfortunately for varying reasons, the 2024 Apollo Bay Seafood Festival will not go forward as planned next February at the Apollo Bay Harbour.
A series of special seafood dinners for that weekend will still be going ahead, showcasing fresh local seafood at the region’s best restaurants. Details will be made available shortly through our social media channels, website and from the local businesses taking part.
We look forward to seeing you all back at the Apollo Bay Harbour in 2025.
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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.
