FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Apollo Bay's local holiday home experts — answering the questions guests and property owners ask most.
BOOKING AND STAYING
Q: How do I book a holiday home with Otway Retreats?
Browse and book all properties directly via the Otway Retreats Website (www.otwayretreats.com.au). Booking direct gives you the best available rate, and you'll receive our local guest guide before arrival. You can also call us on (03) 5292 3631 or email hello@otwayretreats.com.au
Q: What areas do your holiday homes cover?
We manage holiday homes across Apollo Bay, Marengo, and Skenes Creek — all along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria's Colac Otway Shire. Our office is based in Apollo Bay at 1i Moore Street.
Q: Do you have pet-friendly holiday homes in Apollo Bay?
Yes — several of our properties welcome pets. Check individual listings at otwayretreats.holidayfuture.com or email us at hello@otwayretreats.com.au to confirm pet-friendly availability for your dates.
Q: Can I book a property for a retreat or private event in the Otways?
Yes. We manage a number of properties well suited to small retreats, wellness events, corporate gatherings, and private celebrations in the Otways. Contact us at hello@otwayretreats.com.au to discuss your requirements and we'll match you with the right property.
Q: What is included when I book direct?
Every guest who books direct through our website receives our local guest guide before arrival — covering the best walks, restaurants, whale watching spots, hidden Otways locations, and practical information for your stay. You'll also receive our best available rate and access to exclusive direct-booking offers, including our current Winter Special (30% off stays of 3 nights or more with code WINTEROTWAY, valid to 31 August 2026).
LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Q: Can you recommend places to eat and drink in Apollo Bay?
As locals, we know Apollo Bay's food and drink scene inside out — and we share our full recommendations with every guest before arrival. We also own and operate Icaro, Apollo Bay's specialty café, bar, and restaurant on the Great Ocean Road.
By day, Icaro serves St Ali coffee, house-made elixirs, cold-pressed juices, and a chef-led seasonal brunch menu built on locally sourced produce. By night, it becomes an intimate wine bar and dining destination with modern Australian share plates, curated cocktails, and a thoughtfully selected wine list.
Otway Retreats guests receive an exclusive discount and first access to Icaro's private dinners and events. Find us at icaro.au or on Moore Street in the heart of Apollo Bay.
Q: Is whale watching possible from Apollo Bay?
Yes — from May through September, Southern Right whales and Humpback whales migrate along the Great Ocean Road coast to breed and raise calves in warmer waters. Apollo Bay is positioned right in that corridor. The foreshore is one of the best free land-based viewing spots on the Victorian coast — no boat, no tour, no ticket required. The Cape Otway Lighthouse, 30 minutes from Apollo Bay along Lighthouse Road, is another outstanding vantage point. Early morning, before the wind picks up, gives you the best conditions.
Q: What are the best walks near Apollo Bay?
The Otways Ranges behind Apollo Bay are ancient cool temperate rainforest — some of the most biodiverse landscape in Victoria. Our most recommended walks within an hour of town include Mait's Rest Rainforest Walk (45 minutes, fully accessible boardwalk through myrtle beech and tree ferns), Beauchamp Falls (a short but rewarding track to a dramatic waterfall, best after rain), Aire River Walk (flat, scenic, excellent for birdwatching), and the clifftop track to the Marengo seal colony (10 minutes from Apollo Bay — Australian fur seals year-round). Full walk-by-walk directions are included in our guest guide.
Q: What is there to do in Apollo Bay in winter?
Apollo Bay in winter is genuinely excellent — and far quieter than summer. Highlights include whale watching from the foreshore (May–September), Otways rainforest walks with the waterfalls running full and being one of the best places to view interesting mushrooms and fungi, the walks are always full of nature. The Saturday Farmers' and Makers' Market on the foreshore, live music at the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse, and the Apollo Bay WordFEST literary festival in late July. Icaro is open through winter for specialty coffee, brunch, and evening dining. Our guest guide includes a full seasonal activity list tailored to your dates.
Q: How far is Apollo Bay from Melbourne?
Apollo Bay is approximately 185km from Melbourne — around 2.5 hours via the Great Ocean Road from Torquay, or just under 2 hours via the inland Colac route. We always recommend arriving via the coast. The Great Ocean Road drive from Torquay through Lorne to Apollo Bay is one of the most scenic coastal routes in Australia, and Lorne makes an ideal lunch stop if you're leaving Melbourne mid-morning.
PROPERTY OWNERS
Q: Do you manage Airbnb and short-stay rental properties on the Great Ocean Road?
Yes — holiday home management is our core business. We list and manage properties across Airbnb, Booking.com, and more than 50 additional booking channels, using dynamic pricing software to maximise occupancy and nightly revenue for owners year-round. We also manage direct bookings through our own booking platform.
Q: What is included in your holiday home management service?
Everything. Listing creation and professional photography, dynamic pricing across 50+ platforms, bookings management, guest communications, professional cleaning, linen hire, garden maintenance, handyman services, compliance documentation, and detailed monthly financial reporting. Our cleaning and maintenance team is entirely in-house — not outsourced — which means consistent standards and faster response times. You keep the income. We handle the rest.
Q: How does dynamic pricing work for property owners?
We use specialist pricing software to adjust your property's nightly rate daily — based on local demand signals, upcoming events, competitor rates, booking lead time, and seasonal patterns. This means your property earns more on high-demand nights and remains competitive on quieter ones, rather than sitting on a fixed seasonal rate that leaves money on the table in either direction. Dynamic pricing is one of the most impactful changes we've made for owner returns across our Apollo Bay portfolio.
Q: Why should I choose Otway Retreats over other property managers on the Great Ocean Road?
We're genuinely local — our office, our team, and our own businesses are all in Apollo Bay. We manage a deliberately small, curated portfolio so every property gets proper attention, not just a listing. Our technology stack — dynamic pricing, multi-channel distribution across 50+ platforms, AI-assisted guest communications, and real-time operations management — is comparable to operators three times our size. And because we also run Icaro, Apollo Bay's specialty restaurant and café, and offer guests an exclusive concierge, curated discounts locally as part of their booking, that means our guests have a genuine reason to book direct with us over any other platform. That's a difference no other property manager on the Great Ocean Road can offer.
Q: Do you manage residential rental properties as well as holiday homes?
Yes — we offer long-term residential property management for owners along the Great Ocean Road, including tenant selection, lease management, routine inspections, maintenance coordination, and full compliance with Victorian tenancy legislation. Contact us at hello@otwayretreats.com.au to discuss your property.
GETTING IN TOUCH
Q: Where is your office and what are your opening hours?
Our office is at 1i Moore Street, Apollo Bay VIC 3233 — open Monday to Friday, 10am–3pm. Weekend appointments are available on request. Call (03) 5292 3631 or email hello@otwayretreats.com.au and we'll arrange a time that suits.
Otway Retreats — Apollo Bay's boutique holiday home management company. Serving guests and property owners along the Great Ocean Road and Otways Ranges.