Apollo Bay is a rural locality on

Bruny Island Bruny Island is a coastal island of Tasmania, Australia, located at the mouths of the Derwent River and Huon River estuaries on Storm Bay on the Tasman Sea, south of Hobart. The island is separated from the mainland by the D'Entrecasteaux C ...

, in the local government area (LGA) of

Kingborough Kingborough Council is a local government body in Tasmania, and one of the five municipalities that constitutes the Greater Hobart Area. Kingborough is classified as an urban local government area and has a population of 37,734, it covers the ...

in the

Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...

LGA region of

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

. The locality is about south of the town of

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

(by road and ferry). The 2021 census recorded a population of 38 for Apollo Bay.

History

Apollo Bay is a confirmed locality. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Apollo Bay was named after the brig ‘Apollo’ (105 tons) built in 1826 for Captain J Laughton and which was sadly wrecked in 1827 at the north end of

Maria Island Maria Island or wukaluwikiwayna in palawa kani is a mountainous island located in the Tasman Sea, off the east coast of Tasmania, Australia. The island is entirely occupied by the Maria Island National Park, which includes a marine area of o ...

Geography

The

D'Entrecasteaux Channel The D'Entrecasteaux Channel is a body of water located between Bruny Island and the south-east of the mainland of Tasmania, Australia. The channel is the mouth for the estuaries of the Derwent and the Huon Rivers and empties into the Tasman ...

forms the western boundary, and most of the northern and southern boundaries. Apollo Bay also have a beach located along Apollo Bay Rd, shortly after the turn off to Mulcahys Road. Apollo Bay has two major zones Environmental Living and Rural Resource where existing natural and landscape values are to be retained. It is characterised by native vegetation cover.

Road infrastructure

Route B66 (Lennon Road) passes to the north-east. Access is provided by Apollo Bay Road. Apollo Bay is located approximately 4.5 km from the ferry terminal on Bruny Island making it a short 7 min drive.

Tourism

Apollo Bay is part of Bruny Island but situated along a no-through road meaning tourists rarely explore the locality. Whilst the permanent population in Apollo Bay is small, there are many houses and blocks of land dotted across the area making it a popular holiday destination for locals visiting their "shacks". Apollo Bay is a close drive to Bruny Island's growing food, wine and tourism businesses, Bruny Island oyster farm, vineyards, smokehouse, the oldest continuous lighthouse (Cape Bruny lighthouse) and breathtaking beaches. The island offers a wide range of tourist adventures which attract local, national and international visitors. Accommodation in Apollo Bay is limited. Increasingly popular is the opportunity to explore Bruny Island using a hired campervan, via bike or in a car with a tent. There is a campground which sits on land inhabited by the famous eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) which is thought to be extinct on the Australian mainland.

References

Towns in Tasmania Localities of Kingborough Council Populated places on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel {{Tasmania-geo-stub