Apollo Bay Beach is a sweeping crescent of golden sand on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, sheltered between Cape Patton and Marengo. The beach fronts the town and offers shore-entry snorkeling over sandy seabeds that lead to rocky reef systems, including the nearby Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary and the popular Little Henty Reef (accessible by a 200 m swim from the beach). The nearshore rock pools reveal a hidden world of colourful wrasse, kelp forests, and saddled wrasse amidst vibrant marine plant life, best explored on calm low-tide afternoons.
Apollo Bay Beach
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.2 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 17 knPrecipitation 13 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Dietmar RabichThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Strong tidal currents
Little Henty Reef experiences strong north-flowing tidal currents that can push snorkellers off course. Requires good fitness and situational awareness.
Low risk: Breaking waves on reef
Small to moderate waves break on the seaward side of the reef, creating surge zones and reducing visibility near kelp beds. Conditions can change quickly.
Low risk: Thick kelp beds
Dense kelp forests fringe the reef and can entangle swimmers. Best to swim around or over kelp rather than through it.
Low risk: Isolated rock pools at low tide
Some shore rock pools become isolated from the ocean at low tide, limiting exit options. Others have narrow channels with flowing current.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
3 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Apollo Bay Beach is located along the Great Ocean Road in Apollo Bay, Victoria. Drive into the town centre — the beach runs parallel to the main road and is visible upon arrival. The main swimming beach is opposite the shops and cafes on Great Ocean Road.
Parking & facilities
Street parking is available along Great Ocean Road and side streets. A large car park is located near the Apollo Bay Foreshore Reserve at the eastern end of the beach.
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Free entry. No fees for beach access.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports