Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve

The Great Ocean Road is open for visitors, and we’re open too.

Located along the iconic Great Ocean Road, approximately 2.5 hours from Melbourne, Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve is an ideal base for a relaxed coastal getaway or outdoor adventure. Positioned just outside the Apollo Bay town centre, the park sits beside the Barham River, next to the local football oval, and directly across the road from the beach, offering the best of river, coast and town in one convenient location.

The reserve features a variety of spacious camping options, including family-friendly and dog-friendly campsites, with select sites located right along the Barham River or overlooking the footy oval. For a unique stay, guests can enjoy Great Ocean Road glamping in the park’s new Eco Safari glamping tents, set within a dedicated glamping precinct. These modern tents offer a peaceful river setting and include options with private ensuites, river views and accessible features, delivering comfort while staying close to nature. Our Eco Safari glamping tents have also been featured by Australian Traveller in a guide to new accommodation along the Great Ocean Road, showcasing Apollo Bay as a standout glamping destination.

Clean and functional amenities are available throughout the park, making it easy to settle in and relax. From the campground, it’s less than 1 kilometre to Apollo Bay’s town centre, where you can explore local cafés, restaurants, shops and the 9-hole golf course - all within easy walking distance.

A short stroll across the Great Ocean Road leads to the beautiful Mounts Bay beach, popular for swimming, surfing and fishing, while excellent river fishing is available right at your doorstep along the Barham River.

If you are travelling the Great Ocean Road with your pet, dogs are welcome year-round on our dog-friendly campsites, making Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve a great option for pet-friendly holidays.

When you stay at our Great Ocean Road Parks, your camping fees not only go into maintaining the campground, they are also reinvested back into the magnificent Great Ocean Road coastline in which you are staying. Your fees will go towards maintaining a wide range of public facilities, assets and infrastructure and vital coastal projects that protect and preserve the stunning Great Ocean Road coastline for future generations.

Looking for more inspiration? Read our Blog for top things to see and do along the Great Ocean Road.

Fishing is an important local industry so seafood is often on the menu at the local cafes and restaurants. Take a stroll into Apollo Bay and try a few out. Weekend visitors will love the regular Saturday foreshore market for local crafts, artworks, and fresh produce. Apollo Bay and the surrounding Otway National Park is a mecca for nature-based activities including some unique experiences such as walking through nearby Melba Gully rainforest at night to check out some Glow Worms. Hike the Great Ocean Walk between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles. Or snorkel or dive Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary with resident Seal Colony.

• Swimming and surfing
• Fishing in Barham River
• Koalas and wildlife spotting
• Bird watching
• Scuba diving
• Beach fun
• Bike riding
• Whale watching
• Great Otway National Park
• Melba Gully glow worms
• Wildlife Wonders
• Cape Otway Lightstation
• Otway Fly Treetop Adventures
• The 12 Apostles
• Apollo Bay Aviation and Scenic Flights
• Apollo Bay Surf School
• Viewpoints & Lookouts
• Waterfalls
• The Great Ocean Walk
• Markets and Shopping
• Apollo Bay Seal Kayak Tours
• Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary
• Great Ocean Road Brewhouse
• Apollo Bay Distillery
• Apollo Bay Fisherman's Co-Op
• Apollo Bay Seafood Festival
• Apollo Bay Winter Wild Festival
• Sweet View Confectionery Shop
• Dooley’s Ice cream
• Treetop Adventures
• Redwoods in Beech Forest

Looking for more inspiration? Read our Blog for top things to see and do along the Great Ocean Road.