Almost two centuries after a Victorian village was named Apollo Bay, locals have tentatively renamed it ‘Greatopia’ – a cross between the greatest place on earth and their own personal Utopia.
Apollo Bay, 190km southwest of Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road, was given its name in 1845 by a sea captain who sheltered his ship the “Apollo” there during one of the savage storms that batter the eastern side of Cape Otway.
As a popular tourist destination, Apollo Bay now offers the awesome power of the Southern Ocean against the towering majesty of the surrounding forests. Ancient flora and bubbling streams come down to meet astonishing cliffs shaped by waves that have crashed relentlessly into them since the dawn of time.
Apollo Bay is also fertile ground for the accommodation industry.
Andrew Cronin, from Tourism Brokers, has been marketing the 26-room Best Western Apollo Bay with a 30-year lease for $1,495,000.
Last year Mr Cronin sold the 21-room Seaview Apartments which are just a minute’s walk away, and he is now marketing the exquisite Captain’s at the Bay just around the corner.
Captain’s at the Bay offers 12 rooms with a 4.5 star rating including 10 doubles (one with king bed), one two-bedroom and one three-bedroom apartment. The largest apartment would make a very comfortable manager’s residence.
There is also a fully licensed restaurant with a separate bar, seating for 70 people and a commercial restaurant kitchen. The space is ideal for functions and conferences.
There is a business laundry with four commercial dryers and a guest laundry with three commercial washing machines and two domestic dryers.
The property has landscaped gardens, barbeque facilities and entertaining area, wireless internet and a Tesla charging station.
Mr Cronin said even taking into account the pandemic, Captain’s at the Bay had a 68 per cent average occupancy over the last five years.
The tariffs range from $140 to $725 a night. The property returned an adjusted net income of $333,572 for 2018/19, the last non-COVID-19 impacted financial statement.
The listing price is $1.25m.
“Captain’s at the Bay presents like new,” Mr Cronin said, “and all the stylish rooms are of very high standard. The property is ideally situated a block from the Great Ocean Road with ocean views and within walking distance to restaurants, cafes, a supermarket and all the great aspects that Apollo Bay has to offer.
“There is nothing to spend on capital improvements as all the hard work has been done.
“Apollo Bay has always being very popular as a tourist destination because it has the ocean at the front and the forest at the back. It's a beautiful location.”
The town of 1500 people is midway along the majestic Great Ocean Road on the lowest slopes of the Otway ranges. The nearby valleys are full of rainforests, streams, waterfalls and fireflies. The hills are occupied by artists, holiday makers and beach lovers. The area offers protected bays for swimming, endless Great Otway National Park trails to explore, and some of the best seafood in Australia – including the local scallop pies.
From winter to spring, southern right whales visit Apollo Bay to breed and to bear their calves. Humpback whales can also be seen off the coast.
The area became a popular tourist destination after the completion of the Great Ocean Road in 1932.
Apollo Bay also represents the start of The Great Ocean Walk of just over 100km between Apollo Bay and the iconic Twelve Apostles, the great limestone pillars jutting out of the sea off Port Campbell.
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